“We just haven’t executed”: Scott Mclaughlin admits respect for Alex Palou’s ‘hot streak’ amid Penske’s lackluster 2025 season 

Chip Ganassi Racing star Alex Palou has started his IndyCar title defense with five wins in the first seven races. Team Penske, on the other hand, has failed to win a single race since the 2025 IndyCar season began. #3 Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin recently came out and showcased respect for Palou's dominant start while reflecting on Penske's lackluster star.

McLaughlin was among the favorites to challenge for the IndyCar title coming into the 2025 season. IndyCar insider Marshall Pruett on his podcast suggested the same, revealing he talked to many in the IndyCar paddock before the start of the season.

However, it has been anything but an ideal start for Team Penske this year. Will Power struggled with the qualifying in the first few races, Josef Newgarden’s fuel system error led to a DNF at the Indy 500, and McLaughlin retired at Thermal and the Indianapolis 500.

Indy 500 Winner Alex Palou Visits The Empire State Building - Source: Getty

After seven rounds, Power is the highest Team Penske driver in the IndyCar standings and only sits P5 with 175 points to his name, 136 points behind the championship leader, Palou. The only two races that the Spaniard failed to win since the start of the year were the Long Beach GP and Detroit GP.

Palou finished P2 at Long Beach and retired at Detroit after a collision with the barrier. Ahead of the IndyCar race at World Wide Technology Raceway, a reporter asked McLaughlin about Team Penske's poor start to the season and Palou's dominance. McLaughlin said:

“I mean, depends how you look at it. I feel there's definitely things I could have done better as well. All three of us could have done better. Alex Palou is on a hot streak, for sure. He's got the momentum. Momentum is a real thing.”

“I felt like we've been there or thereabouts pace-wise. We just haven't quite executed. That's on us. We'll work hard. I've said it before, like with Alex, he's on a run right now. You have to respect it. You've got to look at him and figure out where you can be better. Yeah, we're working pretty hard to do that,” McLaughlin added.

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Alex Palou’s shocking record around the World Wide Technology Raceway

Alex Palou didn't have a single oval race win under his belt until the 2025 Indy 500, which he won without breaking a sweat. While he has done considerably well around ovals, the WWTR has been unpromising ground for the CGR driver.

Palou has competed in six IndyCar races around the Gateway and has failed to lead a single lap around the oval. What's more is that he hasn't taken a single podium at the 1.25-mile circuit, with his best finish coming in 2024, which was P4. However, given his dominant 2024 form and his victory at the Indy 500, it is likely that the Spaniard can change his fortune around the WWTR.