Alex Palou

Born on April 1, 1997, in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, Álex Palou Montalbo began his motorsport journey at age six when he started karting in 2003. His natural talent behind the wheel quickly became evident as he progressed through the karting ranks in Spain and internationally.

Palou's karting career reached its peak in 2012 when he claimed his only international karting title in the KF3 category of the WSK Euro Series. That same year, he finished as runner-up to George Russell in the highly competitive CIK-FIA European Championship, establishing himself as one of Europe's most promising young talents.

The transition to open-wheel racing came in 2014 when Palou made his debut in the Euroformula Open Championship with Campos Racing. His rookie season was nothing short of spectacular, bookending the campaign with victories in both the opening race at the Nürburgring and the season finale at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Adding a third win at the Hungaroring, Palou finished third in the championship standings, missing second place by just a single point to Artur Janosz.

Palou's rise to IndyCar prominence culminated in a historic run of success with Chip Ganassi Racing. The Spanish driver made history in 2021 by becoming the first Spanish racing driver to win a national championship in American open-wheel racing. His dominance continued with championship victories in 2023, 2024, and 2025, establishing himself as one of the series' most successful drivers.

The 2025 season marked the pinnacle of Palou's career achievements when he captured his first Indianapolis 500 victory, becoming the first Spaniard to win the prestigious race. This triumph, combined with his fourth IndyCar championship that year, solidified his place among the elite drivers in American motorsport history.

Beyond IndyCar, Palou also made his mark in European racing by becoming the first Spanish driver to win in the GP3 Series, demonstrating his versatility and speed across different racing categories and continents.