Overview
- Palou clinched the title after the Milwaukee Mile double-header on Sunday when two top-10 finishes extended his lead to an insurmountable 100 points with one race remaining.
- His 2026 season stats include six wins, eight poles, seven podiums, 12 top-five finishes and 673 laps led across 17 races, figures that underpinned the championship.
- At 29, Palou is the youngest driver to reach five series championships and did so faster than any driver in American open-wheel history, completing his fifth in six seasons and a fourth straight title.
- The title moved Palou to third on IndyCar’s all-time list and gave Chip Ganassi Racing a record 18 drivers' championships while reports credited Honda with its 22nd drivers’ championship this year.
- Palou celebrated with on-track donuts and credited his team for the run, and with one race left at Laguna Seca attention will turn to whether changes such as the 2028 chassis or team moves alter the series long-term balance.