Champion counters Verstappen's oval danger concerns: 'Not the same nowadays'
Indy 500 and IndyCar champion Alex Palou responds to Max Verstappen's safety concerns about oval racing, arguing modern advancements have made it far safer than its notorious past. While acknowledging greater risk than a standard race, Palou highlights incredible improvements in car and circuit safety.
IndyCar champion Alex Palou has challenged Max Verstappen's stated concerns about the dangers of oval racing, arguing that modern safety standards have fundamentally changed the risk profile of events like the Indianapolis 500. The Spanish driver, who won this year's Indy 500, acknowledges the inherent risk but insists it's not comparable to the lethal era of decades past.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's reluctance to consider the Indy 500, one of motorsport's crown jewels, highlights a lingering perception of danger that could deter other top F1 talent from participating. Palou's counterpoint, coming from a current champion, is a significant endorsement of the safety progress made in American open-wheel racing and could influence future crossover discussions between the two premier series.
The details:
- Verstappen's Stance: The reigning F1 world champion has previously stated the famous Indy 500 is not on his radar due to the perceived dangers of oval racing.
- Palou's Rebuttal: The 2025 IndyCar champion directly addressed these concerns, stating, "Nowadays it’s not the same. Safety is incredible, both in the circuit and in the car, and we’re no longer taking those kinds of risks."
- Historical Context: Palou contrasted the present with a more dangerous past, noting, "Twenty or twenty-five years ago, one or two drivers could die... There were reserve drivers in case there was an accident."
- Risk Acknowledgment: Despite his defense of modern safety, Palou conceded that oval racing "still involves much more risk than a normal race."
The big picture:
This exchange underscores a cultural and perceptual divide between Formula 1 and IndyCar. While F1 has focused intensely on incremental safety gains within a road-course framework, IndyCar has engineered its way through the unique and extreme challenges of sustained high-speed oval competition. Palou's victory in the 2025 Indy 500 itself is a testament to the current safety level, achieved without major incident.
What's next:
The debate over risk may continue, but Palou's comments serve as a powerful data point for any driver weighing a potential Indy 500 entry. For Verstappen, whose competitive curiosity is well-known, the champion's perspective adds a new layer to the calculation. While a near-term switch remains unlikely, the ongoing safety evolution in IndyCar keeps the door theoretically ajar for future champions seeking the ultimate "Triple Crown" challenge.