By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

Three-time/reigning INDYCAR champion Alex Palou figures to be easy to locate during the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season.

In addition to typically racing in the lead pack, Palou’s No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda again will feature its familiar Postyellow and DHL Red livery during the 17-race schedule. Postyellow is a spot color used by DHL in its design and printing. Postyellow also is an element in DHL’s “Gradient Module” design, used to highlight the logo and draw attention to key messages.

Alex Palou – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix – Photo by Joe Skibinski

Developers of the DHL logo associated the yellow color with a sense of speed, certainly appropriate for a racing team as well as a worldwide logistics company. Additionally, the logo’s italic font represents a strong sense of movement.

The No. 10’s updated livery is designed to reflect Palou’s consistency, with additional yellow areas and larger DHL branding enhancing an already iconic look for DHL, CGR and Palou.

“I’m looking forward to the 2025 season with the No. 10 DHL Honda team,” said Palou, a native of Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Catalunya, Spain. “The competition will be tough. We won the last championship with only two wins, so that shows how competitive it is in INDYCAR. The goal is to try and repeat that, improve a bit and try to win the Indianapolis 500.”

Alex Palou at the Indianapolis 500 Testing – Friday, October 11, 2024. Photo by Joe Skibinski

Victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway remains the one item missing from Palou’s otherwise brilliant domestic open-wheel resume.

Primary sponsor DHL celebrated its first championship in September 2024 after joining CGR as a partner in December 2023. “Our first season with Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Honda was nothing short of spectacular,” said Mike Parra, DHL’s head of global sponsorships. “We take immense pride in seeing our vibrant colors emblazoned on the car, symbolizing our commitment to delivering with speed and passion around the world.

Alex Palou – Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250 – Photo by Chris Owens

“As Alex Palou defends his title, we’re excited to inspire our fans, customers and employees to reach new heights with us in what promises to be another thrilling chapter of our partnership.”

Palou raised the Astor Challenge Cup after winning INDYCAR championships in 2021, 2024 and 2025 – all for team-owner Ganassi. Palou continued to embellish his INDYCAR resume during the 2024 season-finale at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., where his third championship in four years began drawing comparisons to the sport’s all-timers.

Alex Palou and the Astor Cup – Big Machine Music City Grand Prix – Photo by Joe Skibinski

To that point, Palou heads into the 2025 season attempting to become the first driver to win three consecutive INDYCAR championships since Dario Franchitti. The popular Scotsman drove the No. 10 CGR Honda to consecutive titles from 2009-2011. Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais is the only INDYCAR driver to have won four consecutive season championships (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007).

Palou’s teammates this season are again led by six-time series champion Scott Dixon – CGR’s longest-tenured driver in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda – and Kyffin Simpson, a native of the Cayman Islands and driver of the No. 8 Journie Rewards Honda.

For the record, Palou placed 11th in the 2024-season ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, a finish that was more than enough to clinch the crown. At 27 years, 5 months and 14 days, Palou became the second-youngest driver to win three INDYCAR championships. Only Team Penske’s Sam Hornish Jr. was younger – 27 years, 2 months and 8 days – in 2006. Palou will turn 28 on April 1.

Alex Palou – Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix – Photo by Paul Hurley

Palou finished 31 points (544-513) in front of native Californian Colton Herta in the final standings. Herta won the season-ender in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda fielded by Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian. Herta’s initial series oval-track win delivered the first oval victory for former INDYCAR star Michael Andretti’s organization since another native Californian, Alexander Rossi, won in 2018 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

Palou’s world-class race craft was on full display during the 206-lap/273.98-mile finale on Sept. 15 around Nashville Superspeedway’s 1.33-mile concrete oval. Palou started 24th on the 27-car grid after his team incurred a nine-place penalty for an unapproved engine change. That infraction failed to rattle either Palou – who failed to lead a lap in the event – or a team led by strategist Barry Wanser and crew chief Ricky Davis.

P1 Award Winner Alex Palou – Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo

Palou moved up to as high as third during the closing stages en route to becoming the 13th driver in history to earn at least three INDYCAR championships, and just the seventh to win three titles in four years.

In addition to Franchitti and Palou, Ganassi’s list of INDYCAR champions includes Jimmy Vasser, a native of Canoga Park, Los Angeles (1996), Alex Zanardi of Italy (1997-98), Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia (1999) and New Zealander Dixon (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020).

Palou’s latest championship allowed Chip Ganassi Racing to continue its ascent into rarified INDYCAR air by winning its 16th series championship, including four in the last five seasons. Only Team Penske – with a 23-year head start on CGR – has logged more open-wheel titles (17). CGR, however, has claimed the most INDYCAR championships of any team since it entered the sport in 1990 – seven more than the next-best team and nearly half of all INDYCAR championships awarded since 1990.

Alex Palou – XPEL Grand Prix at Road America – Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo

Since the unification of open-wheel racing in 2008, the Ganassi juggernaut has recorded 11 titles – nearly 75 percent of the championships during that time-span. Palou’s championship also was CGR’s 23rd across all forms of motorsports. Wanser, Palou’s team strategist, won his 15th championship with CGR and sixth with the No. 10 car. Crew chief Davis claimed his 16th championship with CGR and sixth in that role.

Primary sponsor DHL supports small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMEs) that make up the fabric of communities around the world. DHL and CGR will utilize their partnership this season to highlight that drive at multiple races in 2025.

Alex Palou. Photo by Karl Zemlin

Beginning with last season, the “Accelerating with Alex” program recognized top-performing DHL employees across North America. Continuing in 2025, honored employees will receive a message from Palou and see their names on the rear wing of the No. 10 DHL Honda at select INDYCAR events.

DHL and CGR also are taking steps to minimize carbon footprints. CGR’s use of 100 percent renewable racing fuel through INDYCAR is a testament to that shared commitment.

Alex Palou – Sonsio Grand Prix winner – Photo by Amber Pietz

A part of DHL Group, DHL decisively is positioned as “The logistics company for the world.” DHL’s divisions offer a wide-ranging portfolio of logistics services including national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport and industrial supply chain management. DHL is staffed by approximately 395,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

This year, all 17 NTT IndyCar Series races will be broadcast via new partner FOX Sports, beginning with the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on the Streets of St. Peter in Florida on Sunday, March 2. The NTT IndyCar Series is the only premier motorsports series in North America with all races set for broadcast on network television. All races also will be available on the INDYCAR Radio Network.

Penske Entertainment Corp. and Big Machine’s Scott Borchetta have announced an updated event structure for the 2025 season-ending Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Penske Entertainment has assumed responsibility for promotion of the race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn. Big Machine remains the event’s entitlement partner, continuing the event’s connectivity to the entertainment industry and downtown Nashville.

In addition, Penske Entertainment executive Anne Fischgrund has been appointed president of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.

Big Machine served as the event’s original entitlement partner across its first three editions and stepped up in an additional promoter capacity as the race weekend transitioned from a downtown street circuit to Nashville Superspeedway last year.

Moving forward, Big Machine’s continued involvement as entitlement partner will showcase the brand’s artists, products and community endeavors. Big Machine CEO Borchetta will serve as liaison to Nashville’s entertainment community and civic leaders.

The event weekend also will include the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone finale on Aug. 31, preceding the NTT IndyCar Series championship race.

“Year One at Nashville Superspeedway was a tremendous success, thanks in great part to the terrific partnership and strong leadership exhibited by Scott Borchetta and his team at Big Machine,” said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment Corp. president/CEO. “As we grow our event portfolio at Penske Entertainment, it’s strategically important to take the reins of our season-finale at such an exciting and renowned racetrack. And to see the relationship with Big Machine carry forward through this continued partnership only underscores the growth opportunities before us in the Music City.”

The 2024 edition of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix championship finale produced the best INDYCAR numbers on record at Nashville Superspeedway – including most on-track passes, passes for position, passes in the top-10 and passes in the top-five. Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport scored his first win on an oval while Chip Ganassi Racing ace Alex Palou celebrated his third NTT IndyCar Series championship in four years.

The event weekend added a street festival among Nashville’s iconic honky-tonks, including the Battle on Broadway Pit Stop Challenge, to begin the championship weekend.

“We’re very proud to continue our relationship with INDYCAR and build from our record-breaking 2024 season-finale as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix becomes a true crown jewel for Nashville, Middle Tennessee and global motorsports fans,” Borchetta said. “We will also continue to produce the incredibly successful downtown street party, which will serve as the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix kickoff event, on Friday, Aug. 29.”

Meanwhile, veteran motorsports executive Fischgrund assumes the role of event president. Fischgrund is relocating from Indianapolis to Nashville after her successful tenure as general manager of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway in Newton.

Penske Entertainment continues to prioritize an enhanced NTT IndyCar Series calendar, leveraging new partnerships and strategic investments. In October, Roger Penske’s organization announced the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, Texas, for 2026 featuring a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. That street venue replaces Texas Motor Speedway’s high-banked/1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth on the schedule.

In November, Penske Entertainment announced acquisition of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach street race ahead of its landmark 50th anniversary edition in April.

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES BROADCAST COVERAGE SCHEDULE

Sunday, March 2 – Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. (FOX, Noon)*

Sunday, March 23 – The Thermal Club, Thermal, Calif.  (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, April 13 – Streets of Long Beach, Calif. (FOX, 4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, May 4 – Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Ala. (FOX, 1:30 p.m.)

Saturday, May 10 –  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road-Course (FOX, 4:30 p.m.)

Sunday, May 25 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Oval (FOX, 10 a.m.)

Sunday, June 1 – Streets of Detroit (FOX, 12:30 p.m.)

Sunday, June 15 – World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, June 22 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis. (FOX, 3:30 p.m.)

Sunday, July 6 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Saturday, July 12 – Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 1 (FOX, 5 p.m.)

Sunday, July 13 – Iowa Speedway, Newton, Race 2 (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, July 20 – Streets of Toronto, Canada (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, July 27 – WeatherTech Raceway, Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif. (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 10 – Portland (Ore.) International Raceway (FOX, 3 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 24 – The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wis. (FOX, 2 p.m.)

Sunday, Aug. 31 – Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tenn. (2:30 p.m.)

*NOTE  – All times Eastern. Dates and times subject to change.

Final 2024 NTT IndyCar Series point standings  – 1, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, 544; 2, Colton Herta, Andretti Global, 513; 3, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske, 505; 4, Will Power, Team Penske, 498; 5, Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren, 460; 6, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing, 456; 7, Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global, 420; 8, Josef Newgarden, Team Penske, 401; 9, Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing, 367; 10, Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren, 366;

11, Christian Lundgaard, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 312; 12, Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 306; 13, Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing, 300; 14, Marcus Armstrong, Chip Ganassi Racing, 298; 15, Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global, 297; 16, Linus Lundqvist, Chip Ganassi Racing, 279; 17, Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 260; 18, Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 251; 19, Pietro Fittipaldi, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 186; 20, Sting Ray Robb, A.J. Foyt Racing, 185;

21, Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing, 182; 22, Christian Rasmussen, Ed Carpenter Racing, 163; 23, Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren, 154; 24, David Malukas, Meyer Shank Racing, 148; 25, Jack Harvey, Dale Coyne Racing, 143; 26, Conor Daly, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 119; 27, Augustin Canapino, Juncos Hollinger Racing, 109; 28, Theo Pourchaire, Arrow McLaren, 91; 29, Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing, 61; 30, Tom Blomqvist, Meyer Shank Racing, 46;

31, Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing, 45; 32, Toby Sowery, Dale Coyne Racing, 45; 33, Callum Ilott, Arrow McLaren, 39; 34, Luca Ghiotto, Dale Coyne Racing, 27; 35, Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing, 26; 36, Kyle Larson, Hendrickcars.com Arrow McLaren, 21; 37, Takuma Sato, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 19; 38, Tristan Vautier, Dale Coyne Racing, 12; 39, Juri Vips, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, 11; 40, Colin Braun, Dale Coyne Racing, 10;

41, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing-Cusick Motorsports, 6; 42, Hunter McElrea, Dale Coyne Racing, 6; 43, Marco Andretti, Andretti Herta with Marco & Curb Agajanian, 5.