Alex Palou's win in IndyCar opener scores FOX huge ratings

Alex Palou took the checkered flag at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix on Sunday, while Fox Sports raked in a huge spike in television ratings.

The broadcaster reported 1.4 million viewers tuned into IndyCar's 2025 season opener across Fox Sports and its streaming services, which represented a 45 percent increase over last year's St. Petersburg race. It also ranked as the circuit's most-watched race outside of the Indianapolis 500 on any network since 2011.

Palou opened the defense of his third IndyCar title with a dramatic victory that included outdueling Josef Newgarden late in the race. Palou's Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Scott Dixon, ended up taking second ahead of Newgarden despite managing his way through the race without in-car communications due to a technical issue.

Palou, 27, said he had been counting down the days since securing his second consecutive title in Nashville last fall.

"It's been 138 days since Nashville, and I've been dreaming about this every single night," he said. "It's huge. It's huge. I'm super happy.

"I've been working really hard. It's been a place that we've struggled a lot at in the past. Especially me, personally. So to start with a win in 2025 is amazing."

--Field Level Media