INDYCAR is hitting up two brand-new tracks in the next couple weeks, and guess who’s already got the targets on his back for both? Yeah, Alex Palou, the dude everyone expects to dominate the first run at Markham this Sunday, August 16. It’s no shocker given his season, but the way he’s favored at both Markham and then D.C. next week is just insane.
Palou Is A Certified Problem For The Field
This guy is a machine, plain and simple. DraftKings Sportsbook has Palou at 7/4 to win at Markham, and honestly, can you blame them? He’s the reigning champ, already stacked up six wins this season, grabbed six poles, and he’s rocking a massive 110-point lead on the next closest driver in the championship. Betting against him right now feels like a bad idea.
The rest of the field is pretty much looking up at him from the start. Christian Lundgaard is the closest contender at 3/1, which tells you just how far ahead Palou is. Then you’ve got Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Ericsson both sitting at 11/2. David Malukas is at 8/1, Louis Foster at 9/1, and then Kyle Kirkwood rounds out the top tier at 10/1. Guys like Scott Dixon (14/1), Rinus Veekay (20/1), and Dennis Hauger (30/1) are way down the board. Even veterans like Will Power, Pato O’Ward, and Josef Newgarden are all way back at 50/1. It’s almost like everyone else is racing for second place before the green flag even drops.
Kirkwood Is The Only Wildcard Who Can Mess With The Champ
Now, if there’s *anybody* who might throw a wrench into Palou’s perfect plan at Markham, it’s gotta be Kyle Kirkwood. He’s sitting at 10/1 odds, and while that’s not exactly short, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Here’s why you gotta keep an eye on him: Kirkwood is currently 110 points behind Palou for the championship, so he needs to make moves.
But here’s the real kicker: earlier this season, Kirkwood snatched a win at Arlington, which was also an inaugural street course on the 2026 INDYCAR circuit. And guess what Markham is? Yep, another inaugural street course. That’s not just a coincidence, is it? Could Kirkwood pull off that same magic and get into the Winner’s Circle again as the series takes on the streets of Markham for the very first time? It’s a huge “what if” that adds some serious drama to a race that Palou is expected to just walk through.
The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham kicks off Sunday, August 16, at noon ET on FOX. Will Kirkwood snag another inaugural street course win and put a dent in Palou’s insane championship lead, or will the reigning champ just cruise into D.C. next week with another W? We’ll find out soon enough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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