Alex Palou didn’t even need to win in Milwaukee to make history, folks. He just became the first INDYCAR driver to snag five championships in six years, tying the record for four straight titles and clinching it all with one race still left in the 2026 season! This Chip Ganassi Racing phenom finished fifth and 10th in the two races at The Milwaukee Mile on Sunday, but those results were more than enough to etch his name into the record books.
Palou’s Historic Run Is Just Unreal
After a tough 20th-place finish in Washington where he made some mistakes, Palou was playing it cool about the title heading into Milwaukee. But after the first race on Sunday, once he ran well enough to just need a top-20 finish, you could tell he tasted it. “We’ll see if we can get it home early,” Palou told reporters, adding, “That would be cool. … As long as we get it at some point this year, I’ll be happy.” That “some point” came about four hours later, and boy, was he happy. “It’s tough to put into words. … It’s been incredible,” he said post-race. Palou has piled up 14 wins in the last two years alone, and he’s just soaking it all in. “We’re having more fun and more fun each day,” Palou shared. “It’s been an absolute joy of a year. The last two years have been just magical for us.” Five championships in six years, with four consecutive titles? That’s just dominance, plain and simple.
Pato O’Ward Pulled Off A Double Miracle
While Palou was cementing his legend, Pato O’Ward wasn’t just sitting back. He absolutely swept both events at The Milwaukee Mile, a 1-mile asphalt oval, in one incredible day! The weekend was a bit wild; rain suspended Saturday’s race after 90 laps, forcing INDYCAR to run it to completion on Sunday after the scheduled second race. O’Ward made some history himself, becoming the first driver since 1981 to win two INDYCAR races in a single day. This was a season-changer for the Arrow McLaren driver, who only had one podium finish all year, a win at Mid-Ohio, before this Milwaukee blitz. He even jumped from fifth to fourth in the standings with those two victories. “I’ve dreamed of weekends like this before. … I’m just so happy that we were able to get back in our oval form because we’ve been slacking all year,” O’Ward said in his FOX Sports interview. “What a way to end our 2026 season after some tough challenges.”
The Milwaukee Mile Left A Trail Of Broken Hearts
Not everyone left West Allis, Wisc., with a smile. Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas both pushed O’Ward hard, but ultimately came up short of second place. Kirkwood was the only other driver with a shot at the title after the first Milwaukee race, but his finishes of sixth and 15th meant he was the last one eliminated from championship contention. Malukas probably felt the worst, especially after O’Ward rocketed past him on the final restart of the race. Malukas, whose car has Chevrolet power like McLaughlin’s, was clearly frustrated, stating, “We’re just cursed. I literally believe I have some sort of curse. Everything was in our favor there and this weekend. Both races, we were having”. What a brutal way for his weekend to end.
What a wild ride at The Milwaukee Mile. Palou’s locked up his historic championship, O’Ward salvaged his year with an epic sweep, and we’ve still got one race left in the 2026 season to see who else makes some noise. You can bet these drivers are already looking to make a statement heading into the final checkered flag.
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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