Alex Palou’s Detroit Crash Extends Indy 500 Winner’s Curse
Alex Palou’s recent performance at the Indianapolis 500 has grabbed plenty of attention. Not just for his historic win, but also for his crash in the next race.
This kind of thing seems to happen a lot with Indy 500 winners. Let’s take a look at how past champions have fared in the races right after their big victories.
Alex Palou’s Historic Win and Subsequent Crash
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Alex Palou made headlines as the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500. That’s a huge deal in motorsports.
But his shot at back-to-back wins didn’t pan out. In Detroit, Palou crashed into a barrier on Turn 1 with 28 laps left, ending up 25th—his lowest finish of the season and a DNF.
The Crash Details
Palou crashed after the leaders pitted under caution and the race restarted. David Malukas made contact with him, and that was that.
This ended Palou’s hopes of snapping a streak—no one’s won the Indy 500 and the next race in the same series for over 25 years.
A Look Back at Indy 500 Winners’ Performances
The track record for Indy 500 winners in the very next race? It’s all over the place. Some come close, others just don’t have it that day.
Here’s how winners have done since 1994:
Recent Performances (2020-2025)
- 2025: Alex Palou, 25th, did not finish at Detroit
- 2024: Josef Newgarden, 26th at Detroit
- 2023: Josef Newgarden, 10th at Detroit
- 2022: Marcus Ericsson, seventh at Detroit
- 2021: Helio Castroneves, no race the week immediately after; did not run the next scheduled race
Notable Performances (2010-2019)
- 2020: Takuma Sato, second and ninth at World Wide Technology Raceway
- 2019: Simon Pagenaud, sixth and 17th at Detroit
- 2018: Will Power, seventh and second at Detroit
- 2017: Takuma Sato, eighth and fourth at Detroit
- 2016: Alexander Rossi, 10th and 12th at Detroit
- 2015: Juan Pablo Montoya, 10th (twice) at Detroit
- 2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay, 16th and 19th at Detroit
- 2013: Tony Kanaan, 13th and 12th at Detroit
- 2012: Dario Franchitti, second at Detroit
- 2011: Dan Wheldon, no race the week immediately after; did not run the next scheduled race
Memorable Performances (2000-2009)
- 2010: Dario Franchitti, fifth at Texas Motor Speedway
- 2009: Helio Castroneves, 11th at The Milwaukee Mile
- 2008: Scott Dixon, second at The Milwaukee Mile
- 2007: Dario Franchitti, second at The Milwaukee Mile
- 2006: Sam Hornish Jr, 12th at Watkins Glen
- 2005: Dan Wheldon, no race the week immediately after; sixth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 2004: Buddy Rice, no race the week immediately after; 15th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 2003: Gil De Ferran, no race the week immediately after; eighth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 2002: Helio Castroneves, no race the week immediately after; fourth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 2001: Helio Castroneves, 26th at The Milwaukee Mile (back in CART)
- 2000: Juan Pablo Montoya, won at The Milwaukee Mile (back in CART)
Historical Performances (1994-1999)
- 1999: Kenny Brack, no race the week immediately after; 13th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 1998: Eddie Cheever, no race the week immediately after; 26th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 1997: Arie Luyendyk, no race the week immediately after; first at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
- 1996: Buddy Lazier, no race the week immediately after; end of the season
- 1995: Jacques Villeneuve, sixth at The Milwaukee Mile
- 1994: Al Unser Jr, won at The Milwaukee Mile
Breaking Down the Trends
Winning the Indy 500 doesn’t mean you’ll win the next race. Why is that?
- Fatigue: The Indy 500 takes a lot out of you, both physically and mentally.
- Pressure: Everyone expects a repeat performance, and that’s a lot to carry.
- Technical Issues: Mechanical failures and crashes, like Palou’s, can strike anytime and ruin your day.
Notable Exceptions
Still, a few drivers have managed to win both the Indy 500 and the next race. Al Unser Jr. did it in 1994, and Juan Pablo Montoya pulled it off in 2000.
These rare cases show it’s tough, but not impossible, to keep that winning streak alive.
Conclusion
Alex Palou’s crash at Detroit might’ve dashed his chances of breaking that old trend. But honestly, it just reminds us how wild and unpredictable motorsports can get.
Winning the Indy 500 is huge. Yet, stringing together wins after that? Not many have really pulled it off.
If you’re into the numbers and wild stories behind all this, check out the full article on the history of Indy 500 winners and their subsequent race performances.
IndyCar racing never really lets up. Every race feels like a new shot at glory—or disaster, depending on the day.
Fans and analysts alike keep watching, hoping for more of those jaw-dropping moments. That’s just the nature of the sport, isn’t it?
