MONTEREY, Calif. — Alex Palou arrived at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with the championship already secured, but the final weekend of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES offered a fitting stage to celebrate the Alex Palou fifth IndyCar championship milestone and another historic achievement for Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver closed the season as a five-time IndyCar champion, adding another title to a remarkable run that has established him as one of the defining drivers of the modern era.
A Season Built on Control
Palou’s path to the championship was defined by consistency across an 18-race season. Driving the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, he finished the year with six victories, 12 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 results, securing the championship by 86 points.
Laguna Seca Becomes the Stage for the Celebration
The Alex Palou fifth IndyCar championship had already been secured before the NTT INDYCAR SERIES arrived at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the season finale. His fifth career title also marked his fourth consecutive championship, matching the record for four straight titles set by Sébastien Bourdais from 2004 through 2007.
At Laguna Seca, Palou qualified second behind Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin went on to win the 95-lap Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey, while Palou finished eighth and closed the weekend celebrating another championship with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Alex Palou Fifth IndyCar Championship Joins Elite Company
With five championships, Palou now trails only A.J. Foyt, who won seven, and Scott Dixon, who has six, on IndyCar’s all-time championship list. At 29, Palou is also the youngest five-time champion in series history. His 2026 title gave Chip Ganassi Racing a record 18th IndyCar championship.
Palou’s championships have come in 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. Four straight titles have placed him alongside Sébastien Bourdais as the only drivers to achieve that streak at this level of American open-wheel racing. As the series turns toward 2027, Palou remains the benchmark the rest of the field is trying to catch.
Written and photos by Gustavo Medeiros
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