Five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Alex Palou is set to return to the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour, rejoining Lone Star Racing for the upcoming endurance classic at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After making his debut in the event in 2024, Palou is eager to get back behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3, bringing with him a greater appreciation for the eight-hour race, a new perspective on the Brickyard, and unfinished business from his previous outing.
For Palou, the opportunity to return has been in the works for quite some time. Conversations with Lone Star Racing and Mercedes-AMG have remained ongoing since his initial appearance in 2024.
“I’ve always really loved this race,” Palou explained. “I had so much fun, learned a lot, and it’s during my IndyCar off-season, so I had to do it again. Both Lone Star and Mercedes-AMG were keen on having me again, so it’s a great opportunity.”
His first experience in the Indianapolis 8 Hour was not without its challenges. Despite the excitement surrounding his debut, technical issues affected the team's efforts early in the race, preventing the lineup from achieving the result it had hoped for. However, Palou views those difficulties as part of the unpredictable nature of the race rather than something that necessarily requires a significant change in approach.
“It’s tough racing, right? It’s a long race, but at the same time it can feel like a sprint,” he reflected. “It’s not on the scale of a 24-hour race, so that means you’re going hard all the way through.”
“We had some technical issues already from the beginning of the race, so it was a bit of a shame,” he elaborated on his 2024 outing. “But there’s not much that we could take away in terms of what we could have done differently. We just had technical issues that weren’t really anybody’s fault. I think we were just a little bit unlucky that day.”
With Lone Star Racing having spent considerable time preparing for this year's event, Palou is hopeful that the team can put those previous setbacks behind them and deliver a stronger performance in the 2026 edition of the event, especially as Indianapolis will play host to the eight hour contest for the final time before it switches to Circuit of The Americas in 2027.
“The team has been preparing a lot for that race, and hopefully we can end it on a high.”
The 2026 entry will also bring a new teammate into the fold. While Palou will once again share the car with Luca Stolz, the addition of a new Silver-rated driver creates a different dynamic compared to his previous appearance alongside Stolz and Fabio Schiller.
Having not yet met his new teammate, Palou is looking forward to getting acquainted with the full lineup ahead of the race.
“I've never met him, never seen him, so I'm excited to see them both next week,” he exclaimed.
Beyond the opportunity to return to GT3 competition, Palou's 2026 appearance carries an added layer of significance following his historic success at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Since his last Indianapolis 8 Hour start, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has added an Indianapolis 500 victory to his long list of triumphs, accompanying his numerous wins in IndyCar on the road course layout at the historic venue.
Now, with the opportunity to pursue another victory at the Brickyard in an entirely different category of racing, Palou is embracing the possibility of adding another memorable result to his Indianapolis legacy.
“This place is super cool. I think if you have the chance to win in any series, it's super exciting,” Palou said. “I've been fortunate enough to win the GP and then the 500, so it would be great to add another one.”
The international event also continues to attract interest from drivers across a variety of disciplines, including several familiar faces from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. With fellow Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson recently confirmed for the event, the 2026 edition will feature another connection to the open-wheel championship.
Palou revealed that he had already been in contact with Ericsson leading up to the announcement, expressing enthusiasm for seeing more INDYCAR competitors explore opportunities beyond their primary championship.
“It's very fun to see more and more drivers doing this event when there's seats for us,” he said. “I know that Will Power did it last year, and wanted to do it again. But I think it's awesome to have IndyCar drivers doing other stuff as well.”
For Palou, the appeal extends well beyond a single appearance. If his schedule allowed, he would gladly take on more opportunities in sports car racing, although the demands of competing at the highest level across multiple championships make a full season difficult to manage.
“I would do more if I had more time. I would do the full season if it was up to me,” he added. “But obviously, with the traveling and how compact the championships are, it's not possible.”
One of the most distinctive aspects of the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour is its transition from daylight into darkness, making it a unique experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While Palou initially admitted he had not considered that particular distinction, he quickly embraced the prospect of returning to the circuit under the lights.
Night racing is something the Spaniard particularly enjoys, especially given how rarely he encounters it throughout his INDYCAR career. The changing conditions bring a different atmosphere to familiar circuits, offering a fresh challenge even for drivers with extensive experience at a venue.
“I love driving at night,” Palou shared. “We're not very used to it in IndyCar, so any track at night kind of feels very different, and it feels very fun. Especially at Indy, it's super fun.”
Although the circumstances of his previous appearance made it difficult to fully appreciate the experience, Palou recognizes the additional excitement that comes with competing at Indianapolis after sunset. With another opportunity to race beneath the lights awaiting him, the focus is firmly on making the most of the occasion this time around.
And while the experience itself is something he looks forward to, Palou is under no illusions about what would make the return even more special.
“It's a little bit sad when the race is not good in terms of results,” he said. “But I feel like if you win, it's even better. So hopefully we can win.”
With a previous Indianapolis 8 Hour appearance behind him, an Indianapolis 500 victory now added to his career achievements, and a renewed opportunity with Lone Star Racing, Palou returns to the Brickyard with plenty of motivation. As the five-time INDYCAR champion steps into a different racing discipline once again, his goals are clear as he aims to take in all the unique aspects of the eight-hour contest and add another Indianapolis victory to an already remarkable legacy.
To see the multi-time champion take on the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour and go for glory at the Speedway yet again, get your #Indy8H tickets now.