Alex Palou is close to securing a second straight NTT IndyCar Series title, though the numbers only reveal part of the picture.
He has claimed six of the 13 races this season. The remaining seven wins are divided among five other drivers. Yet Palou holds a 110-point lead over Kyle Kirkwood in second place. Eleven drivers, including past champions Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power, still have a theoretical chance to win with five races left.
The math that keeps the chase alive
This weekend’s Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, a temporary street circuit in the Toronto suburbs, could narrow the field. Any driver trailing Palou by 216 points or more after Sunday’s 90-lap race will be out of contention. The 2.19-mile (3.52-kilometer), 12-turn track is new to every team, increasing uncertainty.
The reigning four-time series champion appears unfazed. While rivals prepare for the unfamiliar layout, he spent part of the week filming a viral video for DHL, his Chip Ganassi Racing sponsor, promoting Canadian ketchup chips. The snack, not the circuit, filled his social media posts.
Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull, a longtime supporter of street racing, described the challenge. “The driver has to perform on a street race,” he stated. “There’s no margin for error. When you hit the concrete, you can’t undo it.”
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Palou’s strategist, Barry Wanser, remains confident. After the most recent race in Portland, Wanser observed that Palou “still had over half of his overtake” available while most drivers had used theirs up. “He had an easy day,” Wanser said, leading Palou to joke about saving the comment for later.
His career record supports the confidence. In 111 starts, he has 25 victories and 51 podium finishes. He dismisses the stats, attributing success to the team’s work. “I don’t take it for granted,” he said. “We’re fortunate to be here. At some point, it will end.”
Rivals have started to notice his consistency. Palou refuses to assume anything. “It’s tough for drivers and teams,” he said. “We have no experience here. The simulator helps, but it’s not the same as knowing every bump.”
Palou’s resilience has shaped the season. After a summer stretch where six different drivers kept him off the podium, he answered with consecutive wins at Nashville and Portland. The run led him to call this season possibly “more special” than last year’s title.
He isn’t relying on luck. “A win gives you many points,” he said. “Just as we gained a big lead in the last two races, someone else could do the same. We have to keep pushing.”
Adapting to an unknown track
The Markham circuit tests more than skill—it tests how quickly drivers adjust. Teams have spent days in simulators, but the real track will demand instant decisions. For Palou, that challenge is part of the appeal.
The race could shift the championship in unexpected ways. A single error can erase a 100-point advantage. A flawless performance can turn an outsider into a threat. With five races remaining, the room for mistakes is shrinking.
If his recent form continues, Palou may not need a perfect day. But in IndyCar, especially on temporary layouts, nothing is certain. The series moves next to Washington, D.C., for another first-time track, this time with landmarks lining the route.
For now, Palou is focused on the task ahead. “We’ll do our best,” he said. The rest of the field is watching for any opening.