I’m really excited about this year’s Indy 500 coming up, and seeing Álex Palou secure the pole position reminded me of our great conversation right after he won last year. I wanted to share that interview with you all ahead of this year’s race.

After Álex Palou won the Indy 500 in 2025, I watched through the glass that separates the broadcast booth with victory circle, as Álex and his racecar were lifted up to the celebratory stage where professional photographers snapped countless rounds of images of Álex and his team celebrating the moment that no doubt changed their life.

I loved watching his wife Esther hand over their daughter Lucia to celebrate with her dad and I found myself wondering what he would do next – after this portion of pomp and circumstance was over. What would his reaction be behind closed doors? I knew he’d be exhausted, rolling in on a couple hours of sleep if he was lucky, but I was so grateful to sit down with Álex the next morning; hours after winning the Indy 500, I expected adrenaline and exhaustion. What I didn’t expect was how much heart he’d bring into that conversation and what his answer to the “thing no one tells you” highlighted about his family commitment.

This episode is about more than speed. It’s about the quiet sacrifices. The money burned on tires and fuel, the long days chasing a dream across continents, and the people who made it possible.

From the stands inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway packed with Spanish flags to the emotional moment his father ran toward him on the track after his win, Álex opens up about the power of team, tradition, and staying level in the moments that matter most.

What You’ll Hear:

• The emotional celebration that started with a run down the track (5:49)
• Why winning the Indy 500 changes everything, even for a three-time champion (7:04)
• Álex’s family's sacrifice and what it really took to get here (10:51)
• The surprising habits that keep Álex sharp (14:39)

Álex gives us a rare glimpse into the life of a champion, and the grounded perspective that might just keep him winning. He reminds us that greatness doesn’t just happen on the track. It’s built over years of figuring out how to show up day after day, amid failures and setbacks, even when no one is watching.

This one is for anyone who wants to know more about the moments that don’t make the highlight reel; check out Álex’s inspiring story.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/19v7uCjBPEY

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/alex-palou-48

Check out more from Álex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexpalou/

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@lindsaycz

[00:00:22] So, I think a lot of people just see how we celebrate and how- How emotional it is ... yes, how good times we have. But, I would say we have a lot of tough times. So that's why we get super emotional, and we celebrate so much. We lose our voices. And it's only because of one, one day, one win.

[00:01:16] And here's why. Actually, this is one that we're pulling from our TNOTY vault, and it just made sense because going into this week's Indy 500, this time last year, we ran an episode with the winner. The morning after the race, I sat down with Alex Palou, a Spanish IndyCar driver, who is just an amazing person.

[00:02:07] And he talks in this episode about why it's life-changing, about the thing no one tells you about his journey, and what it takes to get to the top. But you guys, what's wild is this season he has already won three races, and in fact has just claimed the pole position for this year's Indy 500. So that means he will be starting from the very first spot, and it's incredible to watch someone's dominance like that.

[00:03:04] And we asked every one of them, because of how dominant Alex Palou has been, "What's one word you would use to describe Alex?" And it was so funny, because it ran the gamut from, like, determined, like, you know, precise, annoying. Like, just because he wins so much. Really, what we're watching in this sport is someone who is not only super sound and strong as a driver, but the team of Chip Ganassi Racing has it all going on.

[00:03:56] But as you listen to this conversation of Alex Palou, I hope that maybe it stays with you as you're watching one of the IndyCar races moving forward. But I think there's so much value in hearing what a superstar athlete really thinks and what goes on inside their mind. So here is my conversation the morning after Alex Palou won the Indy 500.

[00:04:23] Alex: A little bit. Not much. Okay. But I got, like, four or five hours, yes. I love it.

[00:04:45] And when I was watching you get out, get on top of your car, you know, and throw your hands in the air, and then you ran down the racetrack, and I was like, what was... I just instantly wanna know, like, what were you feeling in that moment?

[00:05:11] 2.5 miles and saying hello to the fans. But when I stopped the car, and I heard the fans for the first time, it was just awesome. And then I saw my team running towards me. Yeah. So

[00:05:26] Alex: It was, yeah, it was just so fun. It was amazing.

[00:05:48] Lindsay: Yeah, 'cause, like, the team component.

[00:06:05] Alex: So I thought I was, like, a lot closer to them. That's why I started running. You ran really far. Yeah. I ran really far. But in my mind, it's... Honestly, I just wanted to scream and be with them. Like, I was just wanting to celebrate. Obviously, there's that relief feeling of, like, we did it. Like, it's.

[00:06:37] Lindsay: And you had never won on an oval, by the way, , which makes it even more difficult.

[00:06:43] Like, yeah, you've never won on an oval, you've never won a 500, obviously. So yeah, I was just happy, and I just wanted to celebrate with somebody. And all of my team was running towards me.

[00:07:04] Like, why is this I mean, you've, you're a three-time champion. You swept through the season starting, you w- you've won five of the first six. Like, what... But this, you always said it wasn't complete without this. Like, so why is one race such a big deal? I mean, people get the Super Bowl, they get all that. Why is the Indy 500 equal to that?

[00:07:43] Like, it's an endurance race, 500 miles, 200 laps. Like, everything needs to be perfect that day for you to win. Your team, your car, yourself a little bit of luck here and there. So to have all that in one day just feels amazing.

[00:08:10] But, like, when you see an opportunity, what is that like for someone who will never drive a race car, you know, to be in that moment?

[00:08:38] So yeah, that was, I saw a gap. It was a small gap, but I went for it. I knew that Marcus was not gonna be overly aggressive because it was still, like, 14 laps to go. So it was my last chance, in my opinion, because my tires were a little bit worse than Marcus's, so I knew that it was just gonna get tougher from there.

[00:09:08] Alex: Yeah.

[00:09:15] Alex: So we're doing the parade laps before the three parade laps. Sorry, yeah. I kept saying practice.

[00:09:20] Alex: At that moment, you're saluting the fans and you're watching the stands for the first time full and I was surprised at how many Spanish flags there were. Really? Yeah. And it was, like, different spots, so it was not only one group.

[00:09:41] Lindsay: I mean And they were all there after you won. I mean, they had your face on big cardboard cutouts. There were so many- Yeah ... fans. So, what is something in your mind that no one tells you about what your journey has been like for you?

[00:10:02] Alex: It's tough to say, but I would say my career has been all over. Like, I started in Europe, then I went to Japan, then here in the US. I would probably say how hard it is sometimes.

[00:10:33] Lindsay: How emotional it is.

[00:10:35] But, I would say we have a lot of tough times. So that's why we get super emotional, and we celebrate so much. We lose our voices. And it's only because of one, one day, one win.

[00:10:51] Alex: I would say probably when I was a kid, I would say it was tougher than nowadays.

[00:11:26] as a race car driver. As a kid, that was, I had everything. But I mean- Sure ... as a race car driver. I knew it was tough on them. But, yeah, nowadays it's easy. Like me, even though I've been on one-year contracts.

[00:11:48] Lindsay: And what made that the toughest thing, seeing your parents not being able to? Is it just knowing that they want to be able to give you that, or?

[00:12:12] So seeing him, like, in a normal job and then working as a mechanic. So, yeah, looking back now, obviously, I realize that was the toughest. When you're a kid, you realize a little bit, but probably not the full, you don't really- Yeah ... get the full picture.

[00:12:32] that came over to be here. What was the most special moment of being able to celebrate with them?

[00:12:46] Lindsay: Oh my gosh, yeah. Yeah.

[00:12:52] Lindsay: And your daughter kissing the ring vaguely was such a highlight for people watching. What was your dad's reaction or your parents' reaction when you-

[00:13:10] "We did it," yeah. Yeah. Like, there's no, yeah, there's no conversation. It's just like, "Let's go," and just big hugs, obviously. And, he was crying. Oh ... I had some tears. But, yeah, it's just how emotional it is.

[00:13:44] Alex: Oh, it's a tough question. I would say just to keep on working. Like, as a kid, I would see these drivers winning or having these amazing positions in racing teams, and I wanted to be there, and I thought it was impossible. But when you take it day by day,y and you try and do your best-

[00:14:39] Lindsay: What are three things no one knows about you?

[00:14:54] Lindsay: Do you think they don't realize that?

[00:15:02] Like, there are a lot of people that, I don't know, you see it in fans, but then when they get to know you, they are like, "Oh my God, like you're, you love this sport a lot." And- Yeah ... I love spending time with my mechanics, my team, the fans as well. Like, for me, it's a dream every day that I show up to a racetrack.

[00:15:25] Lindsay: That's an interesting thing to say, though, that you think the fans didn't always know how devoted you were.

[00:15:40] Okay. Probably they don't know that.

[00:15:45] Alex: Just biographies from people, yeah.

[00:15:49] Alex: Yeah. Okay. Some stuff, some good stuff, just to learn-

[00:15:53] Alex: What they went through.

[00:15:56] Alex: The last one I would say was Shoe Dog.

[00:16:15] Lindsay: You don't have one?

[00:16:18] Lindsay: I was actually told to ask you about your organizational skills.

[00:16:22] Lindsay: And that you possibly clean your shoes with your toothbrush. Is that true?

[00:16:28] Lindsay: Okay, sorry. My source, Alex from IndyCar, threw that out.

[00:16:38] Lindsay: Really?

[00:16:42] Lindsay: Like, clean, freak type of organizing?

[00:16:46] Lindsay: Like in... Okay.

[00:16:48] Lindsay: Which I'm sure translates into things that only benefit you as a driver. Is that right, would you say?

[00:16:56] Lindsay: Have you always been that way?

[00:17:05] everything that he had, and, yeah, I just took it to an extreme now.

[00:17:31] Alex: It's tough, but I would say just the work and probably the attitude of not being super high whenever you have good moments, and not being low whenever you have bad moments. That's

[00:17:55] It almost seems like there's a book that pro athletes have. Do you know what I mean? Yeah.

[00:18:13] It's fine." But, yeah, probably that.

[00:18:38] Should I stop? And I love how honest he was about just what it was like. And I can tell you that watching and observing and knowing now, being around the sport, is critical, the family aspect that these drivers have, and the team that they have around them. And oftentimes, the team is the family, too.

[00:19:18] Thank you. Please, leave a comment, like, subscribe, rate, review, and listen to an episode with a friend for my daughter and me. Thanks for listening and watching. And we will see you next week.