Alex Palou has done it again.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver officially clinched his fifth NTT IndyCar Series championship Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, continuing one of the most dominant stretches in modern IndyCar history. Palou secured the title with a 10th-place finish in the second race of the Milwaukee doubleheader, while his closest championship challenger, Kyle Kirkwood, failed to close the gap.
The championship is Palou’s fourth consecutive title, putting him in elite company. He becomes only the second driver in IndyCar history to win four straight championships, matching Sébastien Bourdais’ run from 2004 through 2007. Palou is also now a five-time champion at just 29 years old, making him the youngest driver in series history to reach five championships.
Palou entered the Milwaukee weekend with a commanding advantage in the standings. While the weekend did not produce his best finishes, he did exactly what was necessary to protect his championship lead. He finished fifth in one race and 10th in the other as Pato O’Ward swept both Milwaukee victories.
The championship adds another impressive chapter to Palou’s career. He has now won five titles, placing him third on IndyCar’s all-time championship list behind only A.J. Foyt, who has seven, and his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon, who has six.
Palou has also been one of the fastest drivers on the grid throughout the 2026 season. He entered the championship weekend with six victories and eight pole positions, leading the series in wins, poles, top-five finishes and laps led.
For Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing, the championship is another example of their incredible consistency. The title is also the organization’s record 18th IndyCar championship.
With one race still remaining at Laguna Seca, Palou can now celebrate without championship pressure. The newly crowned five-time champion will look to finish his historic season on a high note.