Alex Palou is the current titleholder and has had a remarkable start to the 2025 IndyCar season, securing victories in four of the first five races, including a win at the prestigious Indianapolis 500 last Sunday. Beyond IndyCar, Palou has shown interest in exploring other forms of racing. Recently, he voiced his curiosity about Formula 1 competition, and when asked on “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour” if he would consider trying NASCAR, Palou enthusiastically said yes. He expressed a particular interest in NASCAR’s road and street courses, acknowledging that these tracks offer a unique challenge compared to the oval races traditionally dominated by NASCAR drivers.
The remaining 2025 NASCAR schedule includes five road and street course events: Viva Mexico 250 (June 15), Chicago Street Course (July 6), Toyota/SaveMart 350 (July 13), Bowling at Glen (August 10), and Bank of America Roval 400 (October 5). Palou has some past experience in Formula 1 as he participated in McLaren’s test program in 2022 but never raced. Since his Indy 500 victory, Palou has been celebrating his achievements widely, including attending the Indiana Pacers’ playoff game and throwing the first pitch at a New York Mets game.
In the Indianapolis 500 race, Palou started sixth and quickly took the lead on lap 14, maintaining it until the finish to secure his first Indy 500 win. Continuing his strong season, Palou aims for his sixth win out of seven races at the upcoming Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
Fan Take: Alex Palou’s interest in racing NASCAR’s road and street courses is exciting news for NASCAR fans as it could bring a fresh level of competition and excitement to the sport. His varied racing background and success in IndyCar suggest he could shake things up and attract new audiences to NASCAR, particularly in the growing road course segment.
