Alex Palou Woke at 3am Restless After Indy 500 Win

Alex Palou experienced one of the most memorable nights of his career after winning the 109th Indianapolis 500. Just hours after taking the checkered flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Palou found himself wide awake at 3 a.m., unable to sleep from the excitement.

He called the win “spectacular” and described how he slept for only about four hours before returning to the track for more photos and interviews. Palou said he had “about three minutes to eat” during a non-stop day of celebrations that had yet to slow down.

With three championships in the last four IndyCar seasons, Palou knows what it takes to win. This victory, however, was special.

He explained that the Indy 500 brought a new level of media coverage, even reaching people who typically don’t follow motorsports. Palou pointed out that while series championships mean a lot to IndyCar fans, the global impact of the 500 is even bigger.

The significance was underscored when Spain’s King and Queen sent him a letter of congratulations, a moment that made Palou smile.

Palou admitted he still hadn’t fully processed what he accomplished. He and his wife exchanged shocked looks before going to bed, barely able to believe that he was now an Indy 500 champion.

That night, he woke up at 3 a.m., his mind racing with happiness and pride, making it tough to fall back asleep. The realization of what he’d achieved kept him restless and energized.

The win was decided late in the race, when Palou made a bold pass on Marcus Ericsson in Turn 1 with just 14 laps to go. He kept the lead, helped slightly by backmarkers trying to stay on the lead lap.

Palou said that move was “decisive” and called it a game changer. He didn’t want to wait until the final laps and believed he surprised his opponents by making his move earlier than expected.

Despite not thinking he or Ericsson were the fastest at the end, Palou felt confident his car would be strong with the right strategy and pit stops.

This victory marked Palou’s first-ever win on an oval in IndyCar, a feat he narrowly missed in 2021 when he finished second to Hélio Castroneves.

Palou said he felt only a little pressure to notch an oval win, knowing that if his team kept working hard, their time would come. With wins now on ovals, street tracks, and road courses, along with multiple championships, Palou expressed pride but said his motivation for more remains strong.

Palou will return to racing at the Detroit Grand Prix next weekend, aiming to build on his historic 2025 season. The days ahead will be packed, with a celebration dinner, a media tour in New York City, and then travel back to Indianapolis before heading to Detroit.

It’s a busy stretch for the Spanish driver but one he welcomes as he looks to add more wins to an already remarkable year. Palou’s Indy 500 triumph has boosted his standing as one of the series’ brightest stars and highlighted his ability to deliver when it matters most.

As the season continues, all eyes will be on Palou to see just how far he can go. For detailed race outcomes, the 2025 Indianapolis 500 results give a comprehensive overview of the key moments and driver performances.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.