Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2025 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

Alex Palou wasn’t just chasing a fourth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2025; he was chasing legends.

A.J. Foyt holds the sport’s all-time record for race wins in a season with 10, and Al Unser matched that total in 1970. Palou’s pursuit of those marks was the story of this year, especially after jumping out to such a big lead early in the season, and he nearly pulled it off.

Palou’s victory in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge was his fifth win in the first six races, and he earned his sixth win at Road America in the year’s ninth race. One win that slipped away was the ensuing race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course when his late-race bobble allowed Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon to get past and hang on to the position.

Palou earned his seventh win of the season at Iowa Speedway from the pole, and his eighth came in the same fashion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. At that point, Palou only needed to win two of the season’s final three races to get level with the four-time Indy winners.

Under any other circumstances, Palou’s final three performances were spectacular – he ended the year with finishes of third, second and second -- but he fell short of the single-season win record. No matter. Another Astor Challenge Cup was in hand, clinched with two remaining races, a first for the sport since Cristiano da Matta in 2002.

Palou’s fourth series championship tied for third-most in INDYCAR SERIES history. Mario Andretti, Sebastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti had as many, and only Foyt (seven) and Dixon (six) won more.

“I say all the time, we’re spoiled,” team owner Chip Ganassi said. “I’m spoiled with Palou and (Dixon) and Franchitti. It spoils me.”

The series title was CGR’s 17th, all since 1996. It has as many as Team Penske.

Franchitti was the last series driver before Palou to win three consecutive championships and the most recent to win both the “500” and the season title in the same season – that was in 2010 – until Palou matched both feats this year.

“Every single weekend it was getting better and better,” said Palou, who pushed his career race win total to 19. “We’ve won so many races. We won the ‘500.’ The feeling you get after winning that race, (it’s) an explosion of amazing feelings. People keep reminding you about that every single day when you wake up, which makes it feel even more special.”

Palou’s eight wins tied for the third-most in a single season. He also started in the top six in 15 of the 17 races, an average grid position of 3.3. He earned six NTT P1 Awards, the same number he had in his previous five seasons combined. He started on the front row eight times.

Palou ended the season with 196 points more than second-place Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren, the most dominant year the series has seen since Bourdais’ four-peat (2004-07).