Indy 500 Winner 2025 Revealed: See the Dramatic Finish, Standings & Record Shattered

Alex Palou stormed to victory in the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, 2025, claiming his first-ever win on an oval and etching his name into racing history. The 27-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing driver held off 2022 champion Marcus Ericsson in a tense final-lap duel, crossing the iconic Yard of Bricks just 0.412 seconds ahead of the Swede. Keyword-rich recap The 2025 Indy 500 winner started from the middle of the front row and led 62 of the 200 laps, expertly managing tire wear during a rare 47-lap green-flag run to the finish. With temperatures hovering in the mid-80s and track temps soaring past 120 °F, Palou’s crew opted for a three-stop strategy that proved decisive when the race’s final caution flew on Lap 147 for Colton Herta’s Turn 2 spin. Historic first oval triumph Although Palou owns two NTT IndyCar Series championships, the Spaniard had never conquered an oval before Sunday. “This is the one every driver dreams of,” he said in Victory Lane, after the traditional swig of two-percent milk. “We’ve been close, but today everything clicked—strategy, pit stops, and pure speed.” Championship implications Palou’s Indy 500 win is his fifth victory in the opening six rounds of the 2025 IndyCar season, boosting his championship tally to 299 points—74 clear of second-place Scott McLaughlin. The result positions him as the clear favorite heading into the Detroit Grand Prix double-header next weekend. Key race moments and stats • Fastest lap: Josef Newgarden—39.840 s (Lap 58). • Average race speed: 181.938 mph. • Lead changes: 16 among 7 drivers. • Cautions: 5 for 21 laps. • Payout projection: Palou is expected to pocket roughly $4–5 million of the projected $20-million purse. Top-10 finishers 1. Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) 2. Marcus Ericsson (Arrow McLaren) 3. Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren) 4. Scott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing) 5. Josef Newgarden (Team Penske) 6. Felix Rosenqvist (Meyer Shank Racing) 7. Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske) 8. Romain Grosjean (Andretti Global) 9. Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global) 10. Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) Legacy watch Palou becomes the first Spaniard ever to win the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. He is also the third Ganassi driver this century to kiss the Bricks, joining Dixon (2008) and Dario Franchitti (2010, 2012). With his victory, Palou qualifies for a lifetime bid in every future Indy 500, securing his place among motorsport’s elite. What’s next for the new Indy 500 champion? The series heads to Belle Isle Park, where Palou aims to extend a blistering run that already has pundits talking about a potential third series crown. If his Indianapolis form is any indication, the road and street circuits that make up the summer stretch may be an even clearer path to dominance. Fans can relive every overtake and pit-lane twist via IndyCar’s on-demand platform, while highlights of Palou’s milk-drenched celebration continue to trend across social media. One thing is certain: the 2025 Indy 500 winner has transformed the championship landscape—and set Google searches ablaze with the name Alex Palou.