Palou Dominates at Java House Grand Prix of Monterey
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey — Alex Palou reinforced his position at the top of the IndyCar standings with a commanding victory at the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, leading 84 of 95 laps and finishing 3.7 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. This win marks Palou’s eighth triumph of the 2025 season.
From the start, Palou showcased his dominance, quickly pulling away from the pack. The only disruption in his lead occurred when local driver Nolan Siegel briefly took command during a caution period, leading for 11 laps before ultimately falling behind once the race resumed. Palou comfortably extended his lead to between 5-7 seconds throughout the race.
“It was another magical day for us,” said Palou, who celebrated his third win at Laguna Seca since joining the series in 2021. “This was probably the best weekend ever. It felt like we had a big pace advantage. Could not be happier.”
The race featured five caution periods, but Palou’s skillful management of tire strategy and pace ensured he faced minimal challenges. The final restart on lap 87 further solidified his victory.
Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren secured second place after a strong performance, moving from seventh to the podium. “It was a very similar race to Barber,” Lundgaard noted. “Always a fun race.” Colton Herta from Andretti Global rounded out the top three, finishing 4.6 seconds behind Palou.
“I’m pleased to secure my second podium of the season here,” said Herta, who emphasized the historic significance of the race venue. “For me, this is my favorite racetrack in the country, and it’s a treasure to bring IndyCar here.”
Pato O’Ward finished fourth, falling further behind Palou in the championship race. Callum Ilott achieved PREMA Racing’s best finish with sixth place, while Christian Rasmussen finished ninth after a late surge.
Despite the lack of intense competition at the front, Palou’s historic performance this season continues to set records and maintains a solid lead in the championship standings.
Race Results
- Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing)
- Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren)
- Colton Herta (Andretti Global)
- Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren)
- Will Power (Team Penske)
- Callum Ilott (PREMA Racing)
- Marcus Ericsson (Chip Ganassi Racing)
- Christian Rasmussen (Ed Carpenter Racing)
- Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske)
- Alexander Rossi (Arrow McLaren)
