Winning the Indianapolis 500 as a driver gets you put on a very prestigious list. Once you achieve that, the goal is to join an even shorter list: multiple-time Indy 500 winners, which is only 21 drivers long.
Going into the 2026 iteration of the Indy 500, Alex Palou has his sights set on an even shorter list, back-to-back champion.
One doesn’t have to look too far into the past to see the most recent back-to-back champion, with Josef Newgarden completing the feat in 2023 and 2024 before Palou dethroned him as the 2025 champion.
The month of May…
As we get closer to the Indy 500 on May 24th, we start to think about the top racers that we think will ultimately end up winning the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Winning the race just one time puts your name into the history books forever, achieving one of the most coveted crowns in the entire racing world. But what sets you apart from other past champions?
Winning the race multiple times.
The Indy 500, a world class event
Looking to another sport for a quick comparison, we can think about the recent Master’s Tournament, which was just held in Augusta, Georgia and can be considered a fairly comparable event.
Golfers who win the tournament are known forever as Masters’ Champions and will always be invited back year after year to compete in the event. It’s something that sets golfers apart from the pack and is considered by many as the top event in the sport to win.
There are plenty of 1-time champions of the Master’s, but this year we got to see Rory McIlroy win his second by becoming a back-to-back champion.
I like to think about this as a good comparison because it is a tournament with the most talented field in the sport, and one that, when you win once, can help you mentally in the future and possibly even make it easier to win a second.
Can Palou pull it off?
This is where I believe Alex Palou is right now. He has the 2025 Indy 500 Championship, helping him understand that he can do it and keeping any doubt that may arise at bay.
He will be coming into this year’s race considered one of the best drivers around, with many of the top Canadian betting apps favouring him to repeat, with odds around +400 to +500.
The experience gained from winning last year and having the mentality that you know you can do it because you have done it already can be a massive advantage.
In a race like this, being able to trust your gut and know that you have what it takes can be all that’s needed to help elevate your game for those few hours on Sunday in May.
Making history
For Palou, the path to history will likely require him to stay near the front, avoid mistakes, not get caught in a wreck, and be sure to position himself well for a late race push when it becomes winning time.
What separates him is his composure in these moments. His experience will allow him to let the race unfold and not try to overextend or force any moves prematurely. The race is as much a chess match as it is a test of mental fortitude and endurance under pressure.
That approach has already made him a champion, so he should feel confident trusting his strategy and gut during crunch time. A second straight Indy 500 win would place him firmly among the greats of the sport.
However, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a way of humbling even the best. And that’s what makes this pursuit so fascinating. Palou may be the favourite, and he may be at the height of his powers, but in a race defined by unpredictability, nothing is ever guaranteed.
