Alex Palou, the 29‑year‑old IndyCar champion who is on pace to claim a fifth season title, recently toured the White House and the Oval Office with President Donald Trump. The Spanish‑born driver said the encounter was “incredible” and something he hopes to recount to his children and grandchildren.
White House visit
Palou and several other NTT INDYCAR SERIES competitors were invited to the White House in July, a month before the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix. During the visit, Palou was shown the historic Oval Office and even experienced a light‑hearted moment when the President’s cologne was sprayed on the group.
“I was like, ‘Really? For real?’ … Just being able to be with the President and his team, being at the Oval Office. We got sprayed with Presidential cologne, which was pretty funny,” Palou said. He added that the experience will be a story he shares with his family for years to come.
Freedom 250 Grand Prix on the National Mall
Later this month, Palou will race on a 1.7‑mile circuit that winds down Pennsylvania Avenue and circles iconic landmarks such as the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The event, billed as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, marks the first auto race ever held around the National Mall.
“To know that we’re going to be racing around it — it’s going to be incredible,” Palou said. He expressed excitement not only for his own performance but also for his fellow drivers, including Pato O’Ward and Graham Rahal, who will share the historic course.
Palou’s career highlights
Palou entered the season with a strong record: six wins, eleven top‑five finishes and twelve top‑ten finishes in fourteen starts. He currently leads the championship by a wide margin, holding 542 points compared with the nearest challenger, Kyle Kirkwood, who has 409 points. Only Sebastien Bourdais has won four straight season championships (2004‑07), a feat Palou is poised to match.
Beyond the track, Palou emphasized how grateful he feels for the opportunities the United States has provided. “I know I’m not from this country, but this country has given me so much… to create a family and build a family here in the U.S. It’s been incredible,” he said.
What’s next
The Freedom 250 is expected to draw a large crowd and significant media attention, showcasing both the sport and the capital’s historic sites. Palou said he can’t wait to see how the race unfolds, noting that the event promises “lots of changes on strategies with leads and stuff.”
Fans of IndyCar and Washington, D.C. history alike will have a unique chance to watch the sport’s top driver compete amid the nation’s most recognizable monuments.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
