Celebrating With The Champions including NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou and INDY NXT By Firestone Champion Dennis Hauger

Bruce Martin:
IndyCar fans, it's time to skirt your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcast. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series. Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans an insider's view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport. I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as NBCSports.com, SI.com, ESPN SportsTicker, Sports Illustrated, AutoWeek, and SpeedSport.

Bruce Martin: So let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy.

Bruce Martin: Welcome to Pit Pass Indy as we continue our fifth season of giving IndyCar fans an inside look at the most exciting form of racing on the planet, the NTT IndyCar Series. On today's special championship edition of Pit Pass Indy, we celebrate with the champions, including 2025 NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, and 2025 Indian X5 Firestone champion Dennis Hauger of Andretti Global. Both drivers had dominating seasons in their respective series. Alex Pillow's accomplishments are among the very best in the history of IndyCar, as the driver from Spain won eight of the 17 races on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule, including the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25th. Pillow's 2025 IndyCar Series Championship is the fourth of his career since 2021, including the last three seasons. Dennis Hauger came to Indynext as an accomplished driver in Formula 2. It didn't take him long to become the Norwegian Nightmare in Indynext. The 22-year-old Hauger scored six wins, five additional podiums, seven poles, 13 top 10 finishes, and 301 laps led in 14 races for Andretti Global. Additionally, Hauger set multiple qualifying records in 2025, recording the fastest laps in track history on the streets of Detroit, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and the Milwaukee Mile. Hauger's on-track success allowed him to clinch the 2025 Indynext Championship at the penultimate race of the season at the Milwaukee Mile. That domination earned the driver from Norway an IndyCar Series ride with Dale Coyne Racing for 2026. Also, Dale Coyne Racing has formed a technical alliance with Andretti Global and IndyCar. Hauger led Andretti Global's Indynext team in 2025. Both deals were announced on Tuesday, September 23rd. On today's Pit Pass Indy, we're going to celebrate with the champions. First up is my exclusive interview with NX5 Firestone champion Dennis Hauger, which was conducted after the season ended, but before the announcement that he was stepping up to IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing on September 23rd. Some people call our next guest a Norwegian nightmare, but I have a better description for him. How about 2025 IndyNex by Firestone series champion. It's Dennis Hauger of Andretti Global. Outstanding rookie season in the IndyNex series. You wrapped it up at the championship. Six victories. seven polls, there wasn't anything that you couldn't do when you came over to the United States to race Indy next. In your wildest imaginations, did you think it'd be this successful?

Dennis Hauger: I mean, after the first test, I think it was clear what our goals were. But obviously, coming over here, first year in the States, and just seeing everything for the first time, obviously, with the tracks, with the team, and also just building up a good foundation with the team, obviously, to go for the championship is a new thing as well this year. So it was, for sure, A lot of good moments and obviously just a big honor to be driving with Andretti and getting in the championship with them was pretty unreal.

Bruce Martin: Does it show the caliber of talent that competes in Formula 2 just how good they are when a driver can come over to Indynext such as yourself and really pick up the game really quickly? There was a difference in cars as you described after the final race of the season. But when you consider your background, how you've come up, you had to expect you were going to be successful here.

Dennis Hauger: Yeah, I mean, I think there is a difference between obviously hoping and actually doing. And obviously, I was hoping I would be in this position fighting for the championship and getting the title. That was the goal. I didn't really have a plan to go for two years. There was a one-year plan. try to make it happen in the first one. And we made it happen, so I'm really happy we were able to execute and actually perform at the top. And hopefully that will, you know, get me the opportunity in IndyCar. That will be, you know, a dream.

Bruce Martin: That is the dream for everybody in the Andi Next series. And for you, it can become reality. There are some people interested in you. In fact, Andretti Global team owner Dan Towers mentioned in the championship ceremony that you're going to be back next year. So maybe you know something we don't. But you've been asked that a lot since he said that. What do you think it means?

Dennis Hauger: That's a good question. I mean, hopefully something good. No, for sure. It's a work in progress right now. Nothing is written in stone, but we are working towards next year and hopefully we can, you know, come to an agreement and go and send it in IndyCar. That would be pretty cool.

Bruce Martin: Well, that would be cool. When I look at the drivers that are already on the team, obviously there would have to be an opening. There has been a driver in the IndyCarSeries team that has been mentioned to maybe spend some time in Formula 2. Just to throw a hypothetical here, how different are the cars in IndyCar from what someone will experience if they went from IndyCar to Formula 2?

Dennis Hauger: That's an interesting question. I think it's hard to say if it's easier or harder. I do think the tracks in Europe, like if someone, for example, goes from IndyCar to F2, it's going to be a lot of new tracks. Tires are going to be very different. So those factors are going to be pretty big, I think, when you go to a series like F2. Yeah, I mean, it was the same for me this year, obviously new tracks, new car and everything. And I think it worked out pretty well. So nothing is impossible, but it's obviously something you really have to progress yourself into.

Bruce Martin: Well, in Indy Nikes by Firestone, they use Firestone tires. Formula 2 uses Pirelli's. How big of a difference is there in the tires, the way they're constructed, the way they feel, the compounds, the way they race?

Dennis Hauger: For sure they're quite different. I do think the Firestone tyres allow you to be a bit more harsh and drive a bit harder. You don't have to worry too much about degradation. I mean, there is an element to it, but it's just a bit of a different style of pushing the tyres. The Breda tyres are very sensitive, very soft, and you really have to be so smooth with it. If you go sideways, have some wheelspin one lap, it can destroy the whole race. That's definitely something that's not the case, I think, in IndyCar and IndyNext. It's for sure a different type of racing and a different way of managing the tires. I think that would be probably one of the bigger differences if you would go from IndyCar to Formula 2.

Bruce Martin: So with your success in the Indian X by Firestone series with the championship, have you heard from some of your former competitors in Formula Two that might want to come over here and try what you did?

Dennis Hauger: Haven't heard too much so far. I mean, they still got quite a bit of the season left, so I think for them it's just full focus on that right now. But it would be so cool to see some of the European F3, F2 guys come over to the States and try to make it happen over here. That would be cool to see. Obviously, if I was a part of making that happen as well, that would be quite nice.

Bruce Martin: So how did it happen for you? How did you decide that you wanted to make a dramatic change to go from Formula 2 to the United States and compete in the IndyNex by Firestone series with the hope that you could What made you decide to end up in IndyCar?

Dennis Hauger: We were looking at different opportunities to be honest last year. Um and it was a wide range of different things that at the time. Um but it was pretty early on. I think in the the coolest thing and something I would enjoy really chasing to get there. We were even looking at the IndyCar at some point, but we don't have the budget or the margins to jump straight in there. So, IndyNex was a great opportunity for me to build my own name in the States, I think, and in the paddock. And obviously, as I said before, there is a difference between saying and doing, so I'm really happy we were able to do it. It looked like a great series to really build up the career over here.

Bruce Martin: If you're going to drive for an IndyNex team, one of the top teams you want to drive for would be Andretti Global. You were able to get that ride. work with Rob Edwards and a lot of the people who oversee the IndyNex team over there. What is it about their operation? Most importantly, what is it about Andretti Global's commitment to the IndyNex series? Because they've been very committed to IndyNex since the beginning.

Dennis Hauger: It's really cool and it's one of the most committed teams I've ever seen. Really putting in the work in the young development series. Just for the young drivers like us. This year, for example, looking at IndyCar, getting help, getting experience through them to learn as much as possible has been really great. Obviously, they're doing a pretty good job. They've got seven titles in IndyNex now. Yeah, they're really making, I think, the young drivers progress as fast as possible. So to be a part of that and to be an Andretti driver is a privilege itself.

Bruce Martin: And you lived up to that privilege and that honor with your competitiveness, but you also had some very competitive drivers you had to contend against all season. Lockie Hughes, Keo Collette. I mean, it was a lot of competition. Miles Rowe, Salvador de Alba. You can go right on down the list. There was a lot of competition, especially at the end of the year. Do you think that was a situation where. They had started to catch up to the high bar that you had said at the beginning of the season.

Dennis Hauger: I think so. I think for sure. HMD found something in the second half of the year. Um, Colette just got to a different level after that, Yeah, it's been a good year. I mean, in the first half of the year, we were for sure on it, lucky as well. We're always up there in the top three. And I'm happy I made it stick towards the end as well, with a lot of podiums and a few wins. So it was just about keeping consistency in the end. That was the most important thing. But I mean, I've raised Kyle since I was a kid or since we were kids. I know he's a quick guy. and he can make it happen out there. So yeah, it was for sure a tough field, but I'm happy we made it happen.

Bruce Martin: Highlight of the season for you, if you were going to pick a race that stood out over the others, what would it be?

Dennis Hauger: I would say probably from a championship standpoint, it would be Portland, obviously. Getting from third to first in that first lap was, I think, pretty crucial for the championship, just to gain back momentum. kind of crushed a bit of hopes, I think, going into the two last races. So that was probably one of the most important races, I would say, in terms of a mindset. So that was probably a big one. And I think we have a lot to be proud of this year overall, in general, with the six wins. So there's a few to pick, but probably that one.

Bruce Martin: So I'm going to ask you a tough question. If you were going to pick a competitor that was the fiercest driver that you raced against, who would it be?

Dennis Hauger: Oh man, that's hard. There's been so many drivers up through the years that I've raced against and fought hard with. That's hard. I'm not sure. There's too many to say one, to be honest.

Bruce Martin: Well, one of those drivers won the final race of the season, Miles Rowe. It was his second Oval victory of the year. He's committed to returning to another year of Indynext racing. When you look at his career and also the backing that he's got behind him, the support with the Force Indy effort,

Dennis Hauger: I mean, he's got everything going for him, at least, um, to make it happen. Um, it's just about getting in the results for him this next year. Um. He's done a really good job this year, especially on the ovals. Um and I think able have good cars as well. So it's just about getting that. Last bit in, I think for the road courses, especially and, um, get up there in 2027. He's done a really good job this year, to be honest, so we'll see how we get on.

Bruce Martin: In any development series, it's important to be able to trust your competitors, the trust factor. How long did it take for you to learn and get the trust factor, not only for yourself, but the other drivers competing against you, to where you know where you can race this guy, how deep you can go in a turn, how much you can really trust him to race you cleanly? Because everybody wants to get the IndyCar. Everybody wants to make a name for themselves. So how important is developing the trust factor in a developmental series?

Dennis Hauger: I wouldn't say I trust anyone on track, to be honest. I think we all got our different type of styles for the racing. I think I'm a pretty clean guy, but I can be aggressive when I need to. And I think that's been an important part of the season as well, like in Portland. But yeah, it's obviously a big part of it is understanding your competitors and understanding how they race. And obviously there's been quite a few new competitors for me this year. So it's been a build-up, but in the first four of the five races, I mean, we were winning most of them and we didn't have to fight too much. And I think in the second half of the season, we for sure learned a bit more about it.

Bruce Martin: So how did it begin for Dennis Hauger? How did you get involved in racing?

Dennis Hauger: Started pretty young. I mean, I was watching my dad do rally back home in Norway when I was already one year old. And when I was two, I got my first quad. So I was driving around with diapers. And then four motocross, five karting. And karting was obviously the main thing for me, that's what I really enjoyed. From then on, it was just me and my dad. My dad is a mechanic, driving around and doing what we love. And then, yeah, at some point we… kind of randomly ended up doing some racing in Italy. I got an opportunity with the team there. We were testing some engines and they saw I was pretty good on lap times. And suddenly I was in Italy and doing races there. And it's just kept on building from there, to be honest, up to this point. So, yeah, started pretty early and yeah, loved it ever since.

Bruce Martin: What is the level of motorsports interest in Norway?

Dennis Hauger: For sure, especially in terms of Formula 1. The series helped a lot and I was kind of building up in my career at that point as well, in like in 2021 when I won the F3 championship. It sort of came at the right moment for me and that created a bit of momentum for me as well in Norway. So it's definitely growing. I think if we get a Norwegian guy in the car, I think that would be a big interest growth. So yeah, I mean, it's getting bigger and bigger. And I feel like just looking back five years ago, how much it's grown already, it's pretty crazy. So I'm looking forward to see what the future brings.

Bruce Martin: What was your first recollection of the Indianapolis 500?

Dennis Hauger: If I have to put one word into it, it was just insane. I mean, it's something I've never experienced before on a racetrack, just the crowds. the atmosphere, the intensity of the race and the build-up to the race with all the preparation. They have 10 days of testing before they get on track to do the race. Some guys don't even make it through the first corner. There's so much intensity to it. I think that just made it even cooler. It was a pretty cool experience.

Bruce Martin: But as a kid, do you remember seeing it on TV or watching it with your dad?

Dennis Hauger: Yeah, for sure. I mean, it was my first Indy 500 live, but I've been watching it on TV with my dad. It was like Indy 500 and NASCAR, actually. I was watching when I was a kid. I think I've said it before, but I was watching Jeff Gordon. He had number 24. And that was my first number as well. So I was watching a lot of IndyCar and NASCAR as a kid together with Formula One. So it was pretty unreal to see it live and hopefully next year we'll be driving there.

Bruce Martin: Do you do any Nordic sports?

Dennis Hauger: Yeah, I mean, winter sports is pretty popular in Norway, because half of the year it's snowing. So I do downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and a bit of that. It will be pretty fun when we, I don't know if you would call that Norwegian sports, but ice driving when I get back home to Norway, that would be pretty fun. So yeah, anything with winter sport, we're there. Hockey? I mean, I do play some hockey when I'm home on the ice. I've never been on a team, but yeah, I'm trying to stay away from injuries right now, but for sure that's been a part of my life growing up.

Bruce Martin: And how different were the cultures between Norway and the United States? And even though you're in the United States, they have subcultures, such as the Midwest, where Indianapolis is at. Indianapolis is different than the East Coast or the West Coast. So what was the cultural difference like for you?

Dennis Hauger: Not too bad, to be honest. When I first came over here, obviously a bit different. I wouldn't say like everything is different, a couple of things here and there, but it felt pretty natural when I came over here to be honest. I think for sure when we got more to the south, for example, It was interesting driving five hours and then you hear suddenly a dialect change and all that, for example, you don't have that in Norway in the same way. So, yeah, it's been a cool part of the experience this year to see so many different states and different places. But it's not been too bad, too bad on me at least.

Bruce Martin: Well, before this interview, when we were getting breakfast, you were a little curious about biscuits and gravy. You couldn't really understand how it was a thing. So what are some of the Norwegian food items that people in the United States might scratch their head over or not really understand?

Dennis Hauger: I don't know, to be honest.

Bruce Martin: Because they seem natural to you.

Dennis Hauger: Yeah. I mean, we don't have that many Norwegian dishes. Or we have some, but I probably don't like them, to be honest. We got Norwegian salmon, obviously, which is quite common, I would say. So that's probably the standout for me that I eat. But yeah, I mean, yeah, when you go to the breakfast table and you just see a bunch of gravy, it's not really normal to me. I mean, yeah, it's a culture, culture difference for sure. Something to get used to, but yeah, I don't think I would, I would go for that for breakfast.

Bruce Martin: Well, there are some parts of the United States that probably don't know what biscuits and gravy are either, but it is a Southern and a Midwestern staple. You're not going to spend much time though in the United States being able to celebrate your championship because you're leaving later tonight after this interview is done and you do some more media opportunities. You're going to head back to Norway and you're going to compete in a race this weekend. What's it going to be?

Dennis Hauger: Yeah, I'm going back home tonight, back home to Norway with friends, family and girlfriend. That would be very nice to see everyone. And yeah, straight into a race weekend again with the Porsche Carrera Cup. I usually go back home to Norway to do that race as a guest driver. So we won it last year, so hopefully we can keep that trend going this year.

Bruce Martin: And finally, just to be able to return to Norway as the 2025 Indynext by Firestone champion, it's an accomplishment and an honor to be very proud of. If you see the starting grid for IndyCar, it's full of former Indynext by Firestone drivers. So now to be part of that group, how important is that to your career? It's got to be the highlight so far.

Dennis Hauger: I mean, yeah, it's probably one of the most important wins of my life right now, if that gives me a shot in IndyCar. So, yeah, it's been a great year and hopefully we can, you know, keep that momentum going when I get home as well to get ready for 2026.

Bruce Martin: And hopefully we'll know what those plans are for 2026 real soon, but we wish you the best. We look forward to seeing you on the IndyCar starting grid somewhere in 2026, hopefully the full season. But anyway, Dennis Hauger, once again, congratulations on winning the 2025 IndyNex by Firestone Championship. Enjoy your trip back home to Norway. And thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy.

Dennis Hauger: Thank you for having me.

Bruce Martin: We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break. Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy.

Bruce Martin: And now let's hear from the driver who dominated IndyCar in 2025, this year's IndyCar champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, Alex Pillow, who joins me for this exclusive Pit Pass Indy interview.

Alex Palou: Hello, Alex. Hey, Bert.

Bruce Martin: So after three weeks, now you can finally celebrate the championship. Yeah. I asked you earlier, was it a little bit like a kid who snuck in and found out where mom was hiding the Christmas present, knowing what you're going to get for Christmas a month in advance, but not getting a chance to play with it until Christmas Day?

Alex Palou: Yeah, a little bit. It was kind of good. Um, I think that, uh, that kept us locked in and kept us focused on, on the next two races that came after clinching at Portland. Um, and we, we, we just pushed and gave our best at Milwaukee and also Nashville. So it's actually good that we didn't really get the full celebration until now. Um, so we can enjoy even more the celebration, uh, after just trying everything that we could, uh, the last two races.

Bruce Martin: I know you've told me in the past that you're not a drinker, but you've said several times after this, you're going to have some champagne, you're going to do this, you're going to New York, you're going to have some sushi. What is Alex like if Alex has too much alcohol?

Alex Palou: I've never got drunk in my entire life, like fully drunk. I got happy, but I wouldn't consider myself that I've ever got drunk. So I don't know. I don't know. I think it would be… I don't know. I don't know what that would be like. I think I would be a disaster even more. So, yeah, I'm not going to try it. I'm not going to try it.

Bruce Martin: But moving on, though, historic numbers, four NTT IndyCar Series championships, three in a row. The numbers are just so impressive and everybody says the best is yet to come. Well, if the best is yet to come, is it going to be like total domination?

Alex Palou: I wish, I wish it was that way. Unfortunately, I think it's going to be really, really tough to continue that form that we've had. It's not easy to get everything right. It's not easy to get the fastest car at almost every single weekend, to get the best strategy, to have that luck that you need sometimes in the weekends to be able to execute perfectly. I hope we will try and work to get even better, but I know it's going to be tough.

Bruce Martin: When will you be returning to Spain?

Alex Palou: I think towards the very end of the year, like a little bit before Christmas to celebrate with the family. I have a lot of family there, but I think I've been lucky enough to have them at some races, like they've been a lot this year at May and also here in Nashville. So yeah, I'll enjoy until it gets very, very cold in Indianapolis, and then I'll go back to Spain.

Bruce Martin: For your first two championships, you didn't have Lucia as your daughter to witness it and experience it with you. As she gets older, she becomes more inquisitive and curious. Saw some photos from Victory Lane, her admiring or wanting to touch the Astro Cup. As a dad, does that almost become as much her championship as it is yours?

Alex Palou: Oh, absolutely. I think she has changed me. a lot the way that I've been able to think, to motivate myself, to work harder and just to take it a little bit easier and nicer. So it's been a blessing to have her and I can't wait for her to be a bit older to realize what We've been able to achieve, or what we're achieving hopefully, to get her in victory lane whenever she knows. Like now she's been to victory lane a lot, but unfortunately I think she doesn't realize what's going on. She just thinks it's a big party.

Bruce Martin: You've won so many championships and made them look so easy, and you've won so many big races, and you made them look so easy, that it's reminiscent of a former teammate of yours in 2021, 2022, Jimmy Johnson. He had a historic streak of seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, maybe didn't get the credit he deserved for being such a great driver, because a lot of the fans didn't really get that excited about whenever Jimmy Johnson won another championship. You told me in 2021 he taught you how to be a champion, not so much by driving an IndyCar because he struggled a little bit with driving an IndyCar, but you said everything that it takes to focus and everything outside of the car that it takes to be a champion. How much of your career really reminds you a little bit of what Jimmy Johnson did in NASCAR?

Alex Palou: Yeah, I mean, I was not fortunate enough to like be here in America and follow all his career. Obviously, I know all about it, but not like in the present moment. I would have loved to see that and to cheer for him. He's such a great person, such a great driver. But yeah, he's taught me a lot about winning, about keeping always pushing for a little bit more to try and get more wins, more championships and just to still have that fire inside. And yeah, I'm just lucky that I got to share a couple of years as a teammate with him.

Bruce Martin: What was the one thing that stands out from what Jimmy told you?

Alex Palou: He said, uh, that I just had to be myself. Uh, he said that the best thing that his dad told him was that, uh, he had, he said, Hey, Jimmy, just be yourself, idiot. Um, and it's funny. It's, uh, that was before his first championship, uh, battle. And that's what he told me before my first championship battle at long beach. So, It kind of makes you realize that at the end of the day it's only racing and we only need to do our best to try and beat them all.

Bruce Martin: He went back to NASCAR, became a NASCAR Cup Series team owner. He runs some races here and there, but for the most part, Jimmy has moved up into the ranks as a team owner. He's a little bit like a Chip Ganassi now. Do you still keep in touch with Jimmy Johnson?

Alex Palou: Yeah, we don't speak like every week, but yeah, I exchanged a couple messages whenever he sent me a couple of Congress messages this year at the 500. I saw him at the 500. and he's such a great guy. Um and I cannot, uh, yeah, I cannot wait to see him again.

Bruce Martin: So what did Alex below think? Meeting Tom Brady at the Indianapolis 500. It was cool.

Alex Palou: I loved it. He was one of those persons that you just want to keep talking with. He was so interested in the sport. He had no idea about IndyCar what was separating a good driver to a normal driver to a bad driver and how we were going to use the hybrid during the 500, how do we overtake and all that stuff. So he was a very interesting person and I had a great conversation with him.

Bruce Martin: But they play a different brand of football in Spain. I know, I know. Tom Brady wouldn't have been able to use his arm.

Alex Palou: I know. Well, only if he was a goalkeeper, but yeah.

Bruce Martin: The stats that you are putting up, the career records, you're not even 28, you're 28, you're not even 30 yet. Everything now becomes multiples. Multiple Indy 500 wins, multiple IndyCar Series championships. Do you look at yourself as, I want to be an AJ Foyt, Rick Mears, Al Unser?

Alex Palou: that's what we're pushing for. Um. I would love one day to look back at my career and say that we've won multiple in the 500 and to have more Yeah, I'm going to give everything I have to try and be part of that amazing group. I know it's going to be tough. These people have been able to do it, not in like five, six years. They've been able to do it in a 15 to 20 year career span. And I think that's what's most difficult.

Bruce Martin: Well, how long do you want to race?

Alex Palou: As long as I'm allowed to. Honestly, as of now, I don't. I've been racing since I was five, so I don't really know. how to have fun or how to be myself without driving a race car at some point during the year. So yeah, I don't see myself finishing before 45.

Bruce Martin: Do you look at Scott Dixon and see him as somebody that that you can be fast, fearless and a winner at the age of 45.

Alex Palou: Yes, but I think that he's an exception. He's not. He's not normal. I mean, to be able to do what he does at the age that he's at and after so many wins after so many championships like the fire that he has to continue. To push himself every single day. It's remarkable. So I wish I wish I could be somewhat close to what he's doing.

Bruce Martin: So let's go back to the previous decade. When you were involved with Team Go, you were racing in Japan. You had an opportunity to come to North America and have an IndyCar test at Mid-Ohio. I know a lot of people were talking about, they were there testing, and a lot of people had heard of Alex Polo from your accomplishments. in international racing but didn't really know what you were like on the track, they said by the end of the day everybody was up against the fence wanting to see this guy race because you were already finding the fast line in such a short period of time. What was it about IndyCar that really lured you to come to North America and say this is where I want to race?

Alex Palou: I remember as a kid growing in Europe, I would watch primarily F1, but my dad would start watching something that was crazy. It was like running in circles and that was the Indy 500. That was when I was very, very young. And I started obviously asking, what are you watching? What is this? Like, what are they doing? How does it work? and I got interest. So obviously for me, when I was in Japan, even before that, it was a goal of me to try and go to America, try and see if we could be part of IndyCar. But yeah, being in Japan, being with Honda, with a brand that was racing in IndyCar with some ties with Team Go that had been previously sponsoring an IndyCar car. So I was like, man, you guys need to take me there.

Bruce Martin: between your IndyCar Series championship rings, your Indianapolis 500 ring, or you can open a jewelry store. How are you going to display these things? Because they look pricey.

Alex Palou: I don't know. I keep them at my nightstand.

Bruce Martin: Don't give away your secret.

Alex Palou: It's cool, it's cool to be able to have them and to see them every now and then. I have my replicas or cups as well at home and I see them when I work out every morning. So it's good, it's good motivation, it's good fuel to keep on chasing more rings.

Bruce Martin: Now that you've won a fourth, I understand there's going to be a big party at Chip's place in Pittsburgh and generally they don't take place there. So how excited are you about that?

Alex Palou: I'm excited. I'm excited. I think he, whenever he saw that obviously we won the 500 and we won the championship, he was like, ah, maybe it's time to throw a really big party. So it's good. I'm excited that I might or might not let you know how it goes.

Bruce Martin: Have you been to Chip's place before?

Alex Palou: No, I've never been. I've been to Pittsburgh many times, but not to his place.

Bruce Martin: Well, finally, I'm going to ask Alex Pillow, how do you top all this success? I think I know the answer, but I want to hear it from you.

Alex Palou: Just try and replicate what we did, try and get another Indy 500 consecutive. And I don't know if anybody has done four consecutive IndyCar championships in a row.

Bruce Martin: Well, Dario Franchitti is going to claim he did, but there was a year break in there, but he was trying NASCAR at that time. Yeah, that's not, that doesn't count. He thinks it was four straight IndyCar seasons.

Alex Palou: Unfortunately, it's not.

Bruce Martin: Unfortunately, it's not. You agree. I understand and I do agree, but I do have to ask one final question. The numbers you put up this year, Is there any moment where you sit back and go, impress yourself with the numbers you put up this year?

Alex Palou: Yeah, when you look back, for sure. I mean, it's, uh, yeah, I don't know. It's been like 11 podiums or 12. I don't know. Um, like it's been a lot, uh, eight race wins. I don't know how many laps led. It's been a crazy, crazy season. So yeah, looking back, you're like, wow, how did we do this? How did we get to this point?

Bruce Martin: Well, we got to this point because you're a great driver and Chip Ganassi runs a great team and it was a great season, one that we'll all remember, the era of Alex. But Alex Palou, congratulations on another outstanding season, your fourth IndyCar Series championship. Hey, go enjoy the off season.

Alex Palou: I will. Thank you, Bruce.

Bruce Martin: And we'll see even more success out of you in 2026, but thank you for joining us on Pit Pass Indy.

Alex Palou: Absolutely. Thank you.

Bruce Martin: That puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy.

Bruce Martin: We want to thank our guest, 2025 NTT IndyCar Series Champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing. and 2025 Indy Next by Firestone champion Dennis Hauger of Andretti Global for joining us on today's podcast. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests helped make Pit Pass Indy your path to victory lane in IndyCar. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at X, previously known as Twitter, at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. This has been a production of Evergreen Podcast. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Sean Rule Hoffman and Nathan Corson. Learn more at evergreenpodcast.com. Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.