Alex Palou started from pole position and maintained control throughout the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday, earning his eighth IndyCar win of the 2025 season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. This win boosted Palou’s lead in the championship standings to an impressive 121 points, with only three races remaining in the season.
With this victory, Palou secured his third win at Laguna Seca, having previously won there in 2022 and 2024. His dominant performance further cements his likely third consecutive IndyCar series title and fourth overall championship.
Race Details and Competitor Performance
Palou led 84 of the 95 laps, yielding the lead only during pit stops, where Nolan Siegel briefly took the front for 11 laps. Ultimately, Palou’s No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda reclaimed the lead and held it to the finish line. He crossed the finish line 3.7965 seconds ahead of Christian Lundgaard from Denmark, who took second place. Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward of Mexico, and New Zealand’s Scott Dixon completed the top five.
Lundgaard, driving the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, celebrated his fifth podium finish of the season, highlighting his consistent performance.
Championship Implications and Driver Reflections
Despite Palou’s dominant position, second-place Pato O’Ward remains mathematically in contention, although a comeback appears unlikely after finishing fourth in Sunday’s race. Palou’s eighth win in a single season places him among elite company; the last IndyCar driver to achieve this feat was Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais in the now-defunct Champ Car series.
It’s been an awesome weekend, awesome year overall,
Palou said.
Yeah, today was something else. It was super fun to be here, one of my favorite tracks for sure. Couldn’t be happier right now.
—Alex Palou
I obviously knew that the pit sequences were really key around here,
Lundgaard commented.
We went into this race not knowing if it was gonna be a red race (on alternate tires) or our primaries. It ended up being a red race, and I just can’t thank this team enough. Apparently this is the most podiums we’ve had in a year.
—Christian Lundgaard
Looking Ahead in the Season
Palou’s commanding performance at Laguna Seca has nearly sealed his third consecutive IndyCar championship, as he prepares for the remaining races of the 2025 season. His ability to consistently dominate the field while managing crucial pit stops and race strategy highlights his strength as a championship contender. Rival drivers, including O’Ward and Lundgaard, continue to push hard, but Palou’s lead creates a significant challenge for anyone hoping to close the points gap in the final stretch.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did McLaren sue Alex Palou over $47.5 million contract dispute?
A. McLaren breaks a 26-year title drought. After the Daytona 24-hour race, three-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou has to travel to London for mediation with McLaren. The race team is suing him for a contract dispute, seeking at least $47.5 million in damages.
Q. What does Alex Palou’s wife do?
A. Esther Valle is a team manager. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is in the motorsport industry, similar to her husband. Between 2018 and 2019, she served as an assistant team manager at Jota Sports.