Indianapolis, Indiana – Alex Palou began May with a spectacular display of skill and strategy, capturing his third consecutive Sonsio Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on May 10. Driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Palou not only claimed the victory but also earned the NTT P1 Award, continuing his remarkable mastery of one of the most challenging circuits on the INDYCAR calendar.
The race concluded with Palou crossing the finish line 5.4840 seconds ahead of Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. While the margin seemed decisive, it likely would have been even larger if not for a late-race caution that bunched the field for the first time since the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Two-time series champion Will Power finished third in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, 8.4529 seconds behind Palou, followed by teammate Scott McLaughlin in fourth in the No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet. Six-time champion Scott Dixon rounded out the top five in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, demonstrating the depth of competition in the field.
Palou’s performance combined strategy, patience, and relentless pressure. He led 29 laps, second only to Graham Rahal’s race-high 49, and spent much of the event in pursuit rather than control, shadowing Rahal with precision and avoiding unnecessary risk. From pole position, Palou allowed Rahal, driving the No. 15 Fifth Third Bank Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, to make an aggressive move at Turn 1 on Lap 2 to seize the early lead. Rahal maintained control through much of the first half of the race, aside from pit cycles, but Palou never allowed him to build a gap.
A key element of the contest was strategy under new INDYCAR SERIES rules, which required each driver to use two sets of both Firestone primary and alternate tires. Palou opened the race on scuffed alternate and primary tires in his initial stints, while Rahal utilized fresh sets of both compounds. The pivotal moment arrived during the second round of pit stops on Lap 41. Palou’s team opted for new primary tires, while Rahal’s crew went with scuffed alternates. Although Rahal initially maintained the lead due to better grip on the alternates, Palou’s durable primaries and strategic advantage in remaining Push to Pass activations allowed him to steadily close the gap.
Palou launched his decisive move on Lap 58, attempting passes through Turns 1 and 2 before successfully diving inside Rahal at Turn 7. Once clear, he quickly extended his advantage, building a 4.1075-second lead in just four laps and appearing poised to cruise to the checkered flag. That momentum was briefly interrupted on Lap 70 when David Malukas, driving the No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, stopped on the grass at Turn 10, triggering the first full-course caution of the season after 408 consecutive green-flag laps.
The restart on Lap 72 saw Palou execute flawlessly. He defended his position into Turn 1, reestablished control, and quickly expanded his lead to 2.4781 seconds by Lap 76. From there, he maintained his advantage, never letting the pursuing drivers mount a serious threat. By the closing laps, it was evident that on the IMS road course, Palou remains the benchmark—relentless, precise, and strategic—forcing every competitor to chase his pace.
With this victory, Palou not only secured a third straight Sonsio Grand Prix win but also reinforced his reputation as a driver who combines raw speed with exceptional tactical acumen. The win sets a strong tone for the month of May, historically one of the most celebrated periods in American open-wheel racing, and positions Palou as the driver to beat as the season continues to unfold at Indianapolis and beyond.
