Ganassi honors Palou, team behind Chip Ganassi Racing's record 18th championship

 INDIANAPOLIS — Chip Ganassi gathered his organization for lunch Wednesday to celebrate another championship, but the team owner did not have to look far to illustrate just how routine winning has become at Chip Ganassi Racing.

Ganassi told the room that 94 employees have been with the organization for four years or less. None of them has experienced an INDYCAR season that did not end with a championship.

“There’s 94 people in the room that don’t know anything but winning championships,” Ganassi said. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I think it’s good in some ways, but I think this is what people have come to expect.”

Alex Palou’s fifth INDYCAR championship gave Ganassi its fourth consecutive series title and the organization’s 18th championship overall, adding another trophy to a stretch that has established CGR as INDYCAR’s winningest team.

The luncheon at the team’s Indianapolis headquarters was intended as a celebration of that accomplishment and the people behind it. Ganassi made a point of recognizing key members of the organization and emphasizing that championships are not won by a driver alone.

“We’re in a performance business, ladies and gentlemen,” Ganassi said. “These are the guys that are about performance. We obviously have other great people in the company, but these are the guys that really make it happen. … We owe a lot to these people.”

Then Ganassi turned his attention to Palou.

Ganassi recalled how his assessment of the Spaniard has evolved since Palou joined CGR in 2021. First, Ganassi thought he had signed a good driver. After Palou won the championship in his first season with the team, Ganassi realized he might be better than that.

A second title convinced Ganassi that Palou had a substantial INDYCAR career ahead of him. A third made him exceptional.

Then came the 2025 season, when Palou won the Indianapolis 500 and a fourth series championship. Palou wrapped up title number five – his fourth consecutive and five in six seasons since joining CGR – with one race remaining this year.

“We really have something special here on our team as a driver,” Ganassi said. “He wins his fifth championship, and we arguably have the best driver that INDYCAR racing’s ever seen.”

Ganassi also praised the qualities Palou has maintained through the success.

“He stays humble. He stays with his feet planted on the ground,” Ganassi said. “His feet are on the ground. He stays humble. He’s just a normal guy from Zionsville, Indiana.”

What interested Ganassi most, though, was what Palou told him after completing another championship season.

Ganassi said he approached Palou at the season-ending banquet to congratulate him on the year. Palou responded with another goal.

“I want to go for the record,” Ganassi recalled Palou telling him.

Ganassi asked which one.

“I want Foyt’s record,” Palou replied, referring to A.J. Foyt’s record seven INDYCAR championships.

“I’m like, ‘OK,’” Ganassi said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. He’s not done. He’s got more in his tank. We have a tremendous opportunity.”

Ganassi then put the challenge to the rest of the organization.

“That’s the new standard that we’re looking for,” he said. “I hope you’re all in for it because I’m up for it, and that’s what I want to do, and I hope you are too.”

Palou had initially told the group he did not want to give a speech. But when handed the microphone he used it to redirect Ganassi’s praise toward the employees surrounding him.

“I really wanted to say thank you,” Palou said. “Thank you to every single person that is here, everybody that is part of the team that is not here now. I feel very, very fortunate and lucky to be in the position I am.”

Palou rejected Ganassi’s description of him as exceptional and instead credited the organization.

“I do not feel like I’m exceptional,” Palou said. “I think you guys are exceptional and make me look exceptional on track every single weekend.”

Palou said he sees the work being done throughout the shop every day and every season. Then, like Ganassi, he made clear that the luncheon was as much about the next championship as the one they had gathered to celebrate.

“I just want to ask you for a little bit more,” Palou said. “It’s very cool to win. It’s the best thing. It makes us so, so happy. But once you get it, you’re like, ‘OK, we want to keep on feeling the same way that we’re feeling now.’”

He encouraged the organization to enjoy what it had accomplished before turning its attention toward doing it again.

“Celebrate a little bit, feel super proud of the amazing work that you all guys do,” Palou said. “Hopefully we can go for another championship, another Indy 500 next year, and hopefully we’ll have more of these lunch celebrations.”

The celebration also included random drawings for signed boards commemorating Palou’s Portland victory and championship. Employees were given posters and T-shirts recognizing the team’s 150th INDYCAR victory as they left the luncheon and Palou took time to autograph them for those who asked.

For an organization celebrating its 18th championship, the message from both the owner and the driver was essentially the same: Enjoy lunch. Appreciate what it took to get there.

Then go after No. 19.