During the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, two-time defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou faced an unexpected setback when a restart incident ended his race prematurely. While restarting seventh with 28 laps remaining, Palou’s No. 10 Honda was struck from behind by David Malukas as they approached the opening corner of the street circuit, pushing Palou’s car into the tire barrier along the track’s outer wall.
Palou was unable to restart his vehicle after the collision, bringing his race to an abrupt and surprising end. Despite a weekend where he found himself off his usual pace—running fourth before the previous caution shuffled the field—Palou was still in a position to contend late in the race.
Penalty Issued and Impact on Palou’s Track Record
The contact that ended Palou’s race led to Malukas receiving a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact. This incident forced Palou to finish 25th, marking the end of an extraordinary period of success for the 28-year-old Spaniard. Prior to Detroit, Palou had been virtually unstoppable in the current season, featuring five wins and a runner-up spot across six races, including his first Indianapolis 500 victory.
Palou Reflects on the Incident and Season Performance
Regarding the collision, Palou stated,
“I haven’t seen it yet, but for sure somebody hit me from behind,”
conveying his surprise over the incident. He acknowledged the positive strides his team had made during the weekend and his hopes of securing a podium finish. He added,
“Doesn’t feel great. But nothing we could have done there, I think.”
Context of Palou’s Dominant Season and Historical Significance
Leading into the Detroit race, Palou boasted a remarkable average finish of 1.17, winning five races and securing one second-place finish, putting him in a commanding position atop the championship standings. He had also been chasing a rare achievement—becoming the first Indy 500 winner to follow up with a victory in the next race since Juan Pablo Montoya managed the feat in 2000.
Instead of extending his dominance, Palou’s result in Detroit marked one of the lowest finishes for an Indy 500 winner in the immediately following race over the last decade. His 25th-place finish was only marginally better than Josef Newgarden’s 26th at the same venue in 2024.
Rarity of Palou’s DNFs Highlights the Unexpected Nature of the Incident
This outcome represented Palou’s first Did Not Finish (DNF) since the opening leg of July’s Iowa Speedway doubleheader in 2024, making it only the third DNF in his career since the start of the 2022 season. Such a rare failure to complete a race emphasizes both Palou’s consistency and how unforeseen the Detroit incident was during an otherwise strong season.