Who Won the Indy 500 2025? Alex Palou’s Dramatic Last-Lap Charge Delivers Historic First Victory

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou answered the burning question “Who won the Indy 500?” by etching his name into motorsports history on Sunday, May 25, 2025. The 28-year-old Spaniard powered the No. 10 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing to victory in the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, becoming the first driver from Spain to claim the Borg-Warner Trophy. Fast facts from the 2025 Indianapolis 500 • Official Indy 500 winner: Alex Palou • Margin of victory: 0.722 seconds over Marcus Ericsson • Laps led: Palou 62 of 200 • Average speed: 190.312 mph • Prize purse (preliminary): estimated $3.1 million for the winner A decisive move with 14 laps to go After a frenetic afternoon featuring 47 lead changes among 12 drivers, Palou made the race-winning overtake on 2022 Indy 500 champion Marcus Ericsson in Turn 3 on Lap 186. Utilizing superior tire life and a well-timed “overcut” pit strategy engineered by Barry Wanser, Palou built enough momentum to complete the pass on the high line, then defended the lead through a late restart triggered by a four-car incident involving Kyle Larson. Historic milestones • First Spanish winner in Indy 500 history • Fifth victory in the opening six events of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season, solidifying Palou’s championship lead • Chip Ganassi Racing’s seventh Indianapolis 500 triumph, tying them with Team Penske for most wins in the last 20 years How the 2025 Indy 500 unfolded Early domination by pole-sitter Scott Dixon evaporated when a slow Lap 123 pit stop dropped the six-time series champion into traffic. Josef Newgarden, aiming for back-to-back wins, saw his chances end on Lap 150 after brushing the Turn 2 wall. The final caution on Lap 190 compressed the field, but Palou’s Honda launched cleanly on the green flag, while Ericsson fought off David Malukas for second place. Conor Daly rounded out the top ten, giving hometown fans another Indiana native in the top tier. What the win means for Alex Palou Already a three-time series champion, Palou’s maiden oval victory elevates his résumé and intensifies speculation about a potential Formula 1 test later this year. “To drink the milk at Indianapolis is a dream every driver shares,” Palou said in Victory Lane, clutching the famed bottle of 2% and draped in a wreath of white carnations. “I grew up watching this race at 3 a.m. in Barcelona. Now my face will be on the Borg-Warner — unbelievable.” Looking ahead The IndyCar circuit heads to Detroit next weekend, where momentum traditionally swings away from oval specialists and toward street-course aces like Will Power and Pato O’Ward. Yet with five wins in six events, the 2025 Indy 500 winner has established himself as the title favorite. Fans searching for “who won Indy 500” can now shift their curiosity to a new query: How many races can Alex Palou win in 2025?