Indianapolis, Indiana – The checkered flag fell on a day filled with speed, history, and emotional milestones as Alex Palou powered his way into racing lore by winning the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. In front of a packed crowd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Palou delivered a masterful performance that not only brought him his first Indy 500 victory but also made him the first Spaniard to win the prestigious race.
Palou, competing in his sixth Indianapolis 500, drove the No. 10 car for Chip Ganassi Racing and held off a talented field to claim the win. The 28-year-old Barcelona native not only broke new ground for Spanish drivers but also joined a select group of recent under-30 victors at the Brickyard. In fact, he became only the second driver under 30 to win the race in the last decade, joining Alexander Rossi, who won at 24 years old in 2016.
“This is a dream come true,” Palou said following the race, beaming as he kissed the bricks on the iconic track. “Winning here, on this stage, with these fans and this team—it’s unbelievable.”
Palou’s victory added to Chip Ganassi Racing’s impressive resume, marking the sixth Indianapolis 500 win for the team. Team owner Chip Ganassi is no stranger to Victory Lane at Indy, having previously celebrated wins as an owner in 2000, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2020. His own personal Indy 500 legacy dates back to 1989, when he co-owned the Patrick Racing entry driven to victory by Emerson Fittipaldi.
This year’s win was also significant for the number itself. Car No. 10 had previously only won once, back in 2010, when Dario Franchitti took the checkered flag—also driving for Ganassi. And while starting position often plays a major role in victory, Palou’s win from the sixth starting spot continues a rare but growing trend: he’s just the sixth driver in race history to win from that position, the most recent being Dan Wheldon in 2011.
From a manufacturer standpoint, the win was another jewel in the crown for Honda. With Palou’s triumph, Honda engines now account for 16 Indy 500 victories, second only to Offenhauser’s 27.
Beyond the headlines made by Palou, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 featured a number of standout stories. Veteran Helio Castroneves added another chapter to his legendary career. Making his 25th start in the race, he became just the fourth driver in Indy 500 history to reach that mark, joining greats like A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Al Unser. Castroneves also recorded the fastest lap of the day—clocking in at 226.178 mph on Lap 175—and extended his own record by completing the full 500-mile distance for the 19th time.
Meanwhile, rookie Louis Foster earned the honor of top-finishing first-time driver by coming home in 15th place, a solid debut on such a big stage. And Kyle Kirkwood delivered an impressive drive of his own, making up more positions than anyone else in the field—climbing from 23rd on the grid to finish in sixth.
A variety of drivers had the opportunity to taste the lead for the first time in their Indy 500 careers. Devlin DeFrancesco, Christian Rasmussen, Jack Harvey, David Malukas, and Robert Shwartzman each added their names to the books as first-time leaders in the iconic race. With 14 total lap leaders, this year’s edition tied for the third-most in race history.
Shwartzman, in particular, made an immediate impression. In his Indy 500 debut, he led the very first lap—a rare feat shared with only a handful of drivers in history, including Tony Stewart and Teo Fabi.
Pato O’Ward continued his streak of strong finishes at Indianapolis, crossing the line in fourth place. It marked his fourth top-four finish in five years, though he’s still searching for that elusive win.
Other notable moments included the early and late race cautions—both the first and 200th laps were run under yellow, a rarity last seen in the 2010 race. Fan favorite Scott Dixon had a tough outing and was unable to complete the full distance for the first time in eight years. He still managed to extend his record for consecutive starts in car No. 9, now up to 21.
Takuma Sato also made his presence known, leading a race-high 51 laps—the most he’s led in a single Indy 500. He now has 138 career laps led at Indy, spread across seven different races.
And in a testament to durability and dedication, Ed Carpenter moved up the all-time mileage chart. After completing 199 laps, he brought his career Indy 500 mileage total to 9,975, enough to surpass Tony Kanaan and land him fifth on the all-time list.
With all the drama, triumph, and heartbreak that the Indianapolis 500 never fails to deliver, the 109th running of the race added yet another memorable chapter. For Alex Palou, it was the ultimate breakthrough—a long-awaited victory that places him firmly among the legends of the Speedway. And for fans around the world, it was a powerful reminder of why “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” lives up to its name year after year.
