Alex Palou Clinches Fifth INDYCAR Championship Amid Pato O'Ward's Milwaukee Sweep

At the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin, Alex Palou made history by clinching his fifth INDYCAR championship during a doubleheader weekend, despite not winning a race. He finished fifth and tenth in the two races held on Sunday, securing the title with one race remaining in the 2026 season.

Palou's achievement marks him as the first driver to win five championships in six years, tying the record for four consecutive titles. Meanwhile, Pato O'Ward celebrated a successful weekend by winning both races, marking the first time since 1981 that a driver has won two INDYCAR races in a single day.

The weekend's schedule was altered due to rain, which delayed the completion of Saturday's race until after Sunday's event. O'Ward's victories helped him rise to fourth in the standings, while Kyle Kirkwood, who was still in contention for the title, finished sixth and fifteenth, ultimately being eliminated from the championship race.