At the time of his first crowning as an IndyCar series champion in 2021, Alex Palou was a bright new star who rocketed from anonymity to American open-wheel racing's mountain top. Two years later, after a season of utter domination in which he won more races than any driver in 2023, Palou sealed and delivered his second championship for Chip Ganassi Racing, which has elevated the smiley kid from Spain who loves coffee and fried chicken -- and not as a combo, thankfully -- to the lofty distinction of being the best of IndyCar's next generation.
Since he joined Ganassi's team, Palou has captured nine wins and 24 podium finishes in three seasons of work.