Bobby Travis · NASCAR/IndyCar Correspondent
The newly crowned five-time champion will run a special retro paint scheme to honor a motorsport legend at the season finale, and a significant milestone awaits him right there on this very track.
Álex Palou heads into the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca Raceway in a distinctive retro livery, with Chip Ganassi Racing paying tribute to Alex Zanardi, who passed away on May 1, 2026. The Spaniard arrives fresh off his fifth championship title in the California hills, and another record is within striking distance.
Five Titles in Five Years, Faster Than Ever
Palou has claimed his fifth IndyCar championship, but the timeframe is what really catches the history books' attention. From his first title in 2021 to his fifth in 2026 spans fewer years than any driver in series history. No one has gone from one championship to five faster than he has.
For the rest of the field, it's an ominous signal heading into next season. Anyone trying to match Ganassi and Palou in this era is fighting not just a car, but a dominance that seems to strengthen rather than fade with each passing year.
The Lightning Returns
For the Laguna Seca finale, Palou won't wear the familiar Ganassi colors, but instead a retro livery featuring a lightning bolt design inspired by Alex Zanardi's 1996 appearance. The Italian driver passed away on May 1, 2026, and the team's tribute at this race is far from a casual gesture.
Zanardi holds a special place in American open-wheel racing history. The fact that the series' currently most dominant driver honors him with this design at the season finale adds another layer of meaning to the weekend that transcends the championship race itself.
Just Twelve Laps Until the Next Record
On paper, Laguna Seca is long past being just another circuit for Palou. He needs only eighteen more laps led to overtake Colton Herta's all-time record for most laps led at this track. Given his form this season, it's a mark that could well fall within reach if he can get to the front early.
For the field, it means whoever wants to stop Palou at Laguna Seca has to beat him where he's historically been among the strongest already. If he does crack the record, the season finale would write itself into the history books twice over, as both a tribute to Zanardi and the stage for another Palou milestone.
