Alex Palou continued to make IndyCar racing history by securing his fourth title in five years with a third-place finish in Portland last weekend.
Palou’s 2025 campaign was nothing short of exceptional: he secured victory in five of the first six races and has so far won a total of eight, including the Indianapolis 500, his first oval win.
His early run of victories established a commanding lead in the championship standings, and his consistency meant no rival ever got close before the Spaniard secured the title in Portland with two races to spare.
With two races to go, Palou holds a 151-point lead over Pato O’Ward, one of the largest points gap since the reunification of IndyCar in 2008.
Previous eras had different or more generous points allocations, so a 100-plus point margin in the modern 50-points-for-a-win system is particularly rare, highlighting how dominant Palou’s campaign has been.
Palou could win up to 10 races this year
Palou’s 2025 season stands out particularly because of the challenges unique to the modern IndyCar environment, including tighter competition, greater technological parity, and increased strategic complexity.
His ability to maintain a win rate above 50 per cent while delivering consistent podium finishes highlights an exceptional blend of driver talent and team efficiency rarely seen.
At just 28 years old, Palou is only the fourth man to clinch three titles in a row alongside Ted Horn (1946–1948), Sebastien Bourdais (2004–2007), and Dario Franchitti (2009–2011).
To appreciate the magnitude of Palou’s feat, it helps to look at other dominant IndyCar champions.
A.J. Foyt – 1964
Foyt on his way to victory at the Indy 500
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Foyt’s 1964 IndyCar season remains one of the most dominant campaigns in the history of American open-wheel racing.
During that year, Foyt won 10 of the 13 races on the calendar, equating to a remarkable 77% win rate – an unparalleled level of dominance.
His season included victory in the Indianapolis 500, and he clinched the championship well before the season’s end, underscoring his superiority over the competition.
Foyt’s performance in 1964 is remembered as the gold standard for domination in IndyCar, showcasing not just an exceptional number of wins but a consistency and control that few drivers have matched since.
Al Unser Sr – 1970
Unser Sr won10 races, including the Indy 500
To this day, Al Unser Sr.’s 1970 season is widely regarded as one of the most dominant campaigns in the series’ history.
That year, Unser won an 10 of the 18 USAC Championship races he entered, including a spectacular showing at the Indianapolis 500 where he secured pole position and led 190 of the 200 laps, one of the most commanding performances in the event’s history.
His success was backed by a strong partnership with his team, particularly with crew chief George Bignotti and car owner Parnelli Jones, whose car was considered the fastest and most reliable on the grid.
The combination made Unser virtually unbeatable in 1970, scoring over twice as many points as his closest rivals.
Michael Andretti – 1991
Andretti’s 1991 season got him closer to F1
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Andretti’s 1991 IndyCar season was not a typical display of dominance, as the championship fight was alive until the final race of the season.
However, over the 17-race schedule, Andretti secured eight wins and eight pole positions, leading more than half of the laps throughout the year. He also won the all-star Marlboro Challenge.
Andretti endured a slow start with two early retirements and a second-place finish at the Indianapolis 500, but he surged ahead mid-season, winning four of the last five races.
Ultimately, he clinched the title at Laguna Seca when his closest rival, Bobby Rahal, dropped out due to overheating.
Sébastien Bourdais – 2007
Bourdais remains the only driver to win four titles in a row
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Bourdais’ 2007 Champ Car season completed the Frenchman’s four-year dominance of the championship.
Driving for Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing, Bourdais won eight races during the 14-event season, clinching the title by 83 points.
His four consecutive titles remains a record in American open-wheel racing history.
The 2007 season was also notable for being the last in the Champ Car World Series before its unification with the Indy Racing League, marking the end of an era with Bourdais firmly as its most successful driver.
