In a masterclass of race strategy and driving prowess, Alex Palou extended his championship lead to a commanding 97 points on Saturday, securing his third consecutive victory at the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver now has four wins from the first five races of the 2025 IndyCar season, continuing Honda’s perfect start to the year with their fifth straight triumph.

“I cannot describe the amazing season we’ve had so far. I owe everything to the team and everyone working behind the scenes to make me look so fast,” a humble Palou said after the race, acknowledging the collective effort behind his success.

The day initially belonged to Graham Rahal, who jumped polesitter Palou at the start and controlled the race for 48 laps. As Rahal appeared poised to end his nearly eight-year victory drought, the race dynamics shifted dramatically when CGR race strategist Barry Wanser deployed the same tire strategy that had proven successful at The Thermal Club earlier in the season.

While Rahal opened fast with new alternates and closed on the slower primary tires, Palou’s team made the brilliant decision to save their best rubber for last. After starting on low-mileage alternates and running two stints on primaries, Palou finished the race on fresh alternates – the faster compound that gave him the decisive edge.

The turning point came on lap 59 when Palou, despite being on the supposedly slower primary tires, hunted down Rahal and made the decisive pass at Turn 7. From there, Palou’s lead expanded dramatically, a pattern that has become familiar to IndyCar fans this season.

After an extraordinary 408 consecutive laps of green-flag racing across multiple events, the streak ended when David Malukas parked his No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet with an apparent engine problem on lap 68.

The resulting caution bunched the field and gave Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward a chance to challenge for the win. However, Palou maintained his composure on the restart and quickly reestablished his dominance, ultimately crossing the finish line 5.4 seconds ahead of O’Ward.

“This is a great points day,” O’Ward conceded after securing second place. “We need to do something to stop the No. 10 car. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it.”

Team Penske’s Will Power rounded out the podium, finishing 8.4 seconds behind Palou but securing his ninth podium finish at the Indianapolis GP.

The warm 80-degree day featured impressive performances from drivers who had qualified poorly. Scott Dixon, Palou’s teammate, surged from 16th to finish fifth, while New Zealand countryman Marcus Armstrong climbed from 15th to seventh for Meyer Shank Racing.

Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood advanced from 21st to eighth, reclaiming second place in the championship standings. The most remarkable recovery came from Dale Coyne Racing’s Rinus VeeKay, who navigated from 24th on the grid to finish ninth.

With Palou’s championship lead now approaching two full races worth of points, the focus shifts to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Teams and drivers will have just two days of rest before Indianapolis 500 practice begins on Tuesday.

As the paddock prepares for the crown jewel of the IndyCar calendar, the question on everyone’s mind is whether anyone can challenge Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing’s extraordinary momentum as they seek their first Indianapolis 500 victory since Takuma Sato’s win in 2017.

For now, the competition can only marvel at the dominance on display. Between Palou’s driving brilliance and his team’s strategic acumen, the No. 10 Honda team has established itself as the combination to beat in 2025.