Alex Palou is a driver known for being versatile, rising to the challenge, and getting things done. But he’s never able to sit behind the driver’s seat of a single genre for long. However, no matter where he chooses to race, he will bring success. Palou recently ended his 2024 season behind the wheel of the No. 10 Dallara Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. He has brought the team three IndyCar titles in four years for the first time since Indy icon Dario Franchitti. Yet, he’s getting antsy to add to his experience as a racer and is exploring other options.
One of Palou’s recent quests was reconnecting to test with GT3’s Lone Star Racing in Indianapolis’s 8-hour Endurance race. But this wasn’t enough. Palou’s continued yearning has him considering moving toward the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) Class in IMSA, World Endurance Championship (WEC) racing in the Hypercar Class, and more recently, NASCAR. The driver feels it will allow him to compete at new levels across circuits globally, but he’s most eager to get inside a stock car.
The Reason a Potential NASCAR Move Interests Palou
A potential move to NASCAR would allow Palou to beef up his resume and combine his experiences from IndyCar, GT3, Super Series GT, and Formula 1 to pilot a Next Gen NASCAR stock car on a road course track like New York’s famed Watkins Glen International or Austin Texas’ Circuit of the Americas. But his real idea for the move stems from the desire to learn the technical contrasts between a stock car and an open-wheel vehicle, just as he’s done with all others he’s piloted.
In particular, he’s fascinated with learning the differences among the Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) systems responsible for preventing wheel locking and uncontrolled skidding. He’s also interested in giving the driver more control over the vehicle and the Traction Control Systems, which are active safety features on most vehicles, preventing wheel spin and equal detection of speed to prevent slippage. Palou is optimistic about this opportunity, expressing that he would love to be behind the wheel of a stock car if it presents itself.
“I would like to try other cars, like NASCAR cars. I would love to get in a NASCAR on a road course and just try how it feels. But as well, only with preparation. Only if a good opportunity comes up.” Palou, Stated.
Will Alex Palou Test with NASCAR Eventually
After already redirecting his career back to GT3 temporarily after a 5-year gap and facing some minor challenges driving the Mercedes AMG-GT3 for Lonestar Racing, Palou is eager to expand his endurance racing horizons. He has his eye on races like the Repco Bathurst 12-hour in Bathurst, Australia, which includes lineups of Gt3 and GT4 vehicles on a public road-turned-race track for a few events out of the year. After a five-year hiatus, he is also considering returning to Japan to run in Super GT’s Suzuka 1000 km endurance race.
So it’s pretty clear 27-year-old Palou is not shying away from endurance races anytime soon and is inviting the chance if time prevails. He hasn’t been shy about his desire to race each weekend in a different setting. Still, he won’t let this take away from his commitment to Chip Ganassi Racing and plans to run for the recently downsized three-manned team in the No. 10 Dallara Honda for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, this means the prospect of testing with NASCAR will be put on hold, but not indefinitely. So, expect to see him on a NASCAR road course track at some point.
“The plan is to try and do more endurance races when time allows.” I won’t do anything that takes too much time, even though I would love to be racing every single weekend, I cannot allow that to take any time from my IndyCar season. I’ll add more races, as long as they don’t take too much time.”, he said.
Final Thoughts
Though Alex Palou plans to continue his stint in IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing, he intends to pursue more endurance courses when time allows. However, this isn’t stopping him from possibly testing behind the wheel of a Next Gen NASCAR stock car in the future. Still, if he is seen behind the wheel of a stock, he’ll most certainly be doing so on road courses, as this is where he has the most experience, so stay tuned.
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