With Lawsuit Behind Him, Palou Looks To the Future
Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
As the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season gets underway this weekend with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Alex Palou can completely focus on racing, and not off-track issues.
Since 2023, when Palou signed a contract to race for the Arrow McLaren Indycar Team, despite already being contracted to Chip Ganassi Racing, legal issues have been lurking in the background. In a trial in the UK in December, a judge sided with McLaren and its claim of $30-million in damages.
Friday, it was announced that the two sides had come to an undisclosed settlement, thereby ending the case.
For Palou, it was a weight lifted off his shoulders.
“Yeah, it's the first time I can finally say that it's over,” commented Palou. “I can finally focus on what's important, which is just to race, win races. Very happy about that. Very happy that everything that had to be said has been said. We can finally move forward and focus in this season.”
In a statement announcing the settlement, Palou blamed bad legal advice, and his own naiveté, for the hot water he found himself in.
“I found myself pulled in various directions and had the wrong people around me back then who I believe did not have my best interests at heart,” Palou said. “I believe back then that I was provided with the wrong advice or no advice at all. In hindsight, had I reached out to Zak (Brown, McLaren Racing CEO) directly, perhaps things may have played out differently.
“McLaren and Zak supported me in many ways, they fulfilled every obligation, went above and beyond and delivered on everything they said in their contracts. I was never misled by McLaren and very much respect their organization.”
In his availability with the media on Friday at St. Petersburg, Palou cited the six-week trial as something he wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“I don't recommend that to anybody. It's not a very exciting experience for your life.
“Learned a lot. I'm glad it's now over and that it's in the past. So yeah, honestly, I think I've gone through a lot in the last two and a half or three seasons. Yeah, ready to get started now in 2026.”
With his legal issues in the rearview mirror, the four-time series champion is eager for a reset and a chance for another title.
“Well, the good thing about this sport, I would say all sports, is you get a new chance every year. We all start from zero. I wish I could carry some points from last year, obviously, carry some momentum, but INDYCAR said that's not allowed,” Palou joked..
“Honestly, I think it's always tough. It's tough because we need to redo all the work that we did in the past couple seasons. It's exciting. Chip actually told us yesterday, we had a meeting, very quick meeting, of we had to do all the work all over again. Just because we were really good last year doesn't mean anything in 2026.
“I think that's what everybody at Chip Ganassi Racing thinks. That's why they've been able to win 17 championships in INDYCAR. We're ready for more.
“We're excited. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us. We know we have all the tools, as well, to try and have another great year.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.