Alex Palou's record-breaking Indy 500 prize money confirmed as result changed after race
Alex Palou was rewarded with a record-breaking payday after the 28-year-old made history by becoming the first Spanish driver to ever win the Indianapolis 500.
Alex Palou earned a historic payday after making history in the Indianapolis 500.
On Sunday, Palou coasted down victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — becoming the first Spanish driver to ever win the Indy 500 and crushing Josef Newgarden’s chances of a three-peat in the process. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” featured no shortage of thrilling moments, as Kyle Larson’s second attempt at “The Double” was swiftly dashed while Alexander Rossi’s car burst into flames.
Thanks to his first-place finish, Palou earned a $3.8 million share of the total $20,283,000 prize pool, which is compiled from IMS and IndyCar awards in addition to other designated and special awards. 2025 marked the fourth year in a row that the Indy 500 shattered its purse record.
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Last year, Newgarden raked in $4.3 million of the $18,456,000 purse, as well as a $440,000 bonus from BorgWarner for securing consecutive Indy 500 wins. Back in 2023, the Team Penske driver made $3.7 million from a $17,021,500 purse, with Marcus Ericsson earning $3.1 million of the $16,000,200 pool in 2022.
"The Indianapolis 500 is the greatest race in the world and winning this race makes history in more ways than one," IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president J. Douglas Boles said in an official statement.
“The Month of May featured a grandstand sellout crowd and intense on-track action. Alex Palou adds Indianapolis 500 winner to his long list of growing achievements and takes home the largest purse in Indianapolis 500 history. There’s no better way to end an epic month.”
With his win in the Indy 500, Palou became the first driver since A.J. Foyt in 1979 to emerge victorious in five of the season’s first six races. The 28-year-old has additionally won three of the last four championships, including back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.
“I cannot believe it,” Palou said. “It’s amazing to win. There were some moments that I felt really good in the race, but at the end I didn’t know if I was going to able to pass Marcus or not, but I made it happen. First oval win. What a better place?”
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Several of Palou’s opponents had their paydays stripped from them upon having to forfeit their prize money and championship points accumulated in the Indy 500 due to technical violations. Marcus Ericsson, Kyle Kirkwood and Callum Ilott — who placed second, sixth and 12th, respectively — were each given finishing positions at the rear of the field, while Ericsson and Kirkwood's teams were additionally fined $100,000 with their competition managers receiving a one-race suspension.
According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Ericsson and Kirkwood made “modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved spacers and parts,” while Ilott “failed left side minimum endplate height.”
