Empire State of Mind: Indy 500 champ Alex Palou having star moment in NYC
NEW YORK — Alex Palou went to throw out the first pitch at the New York Mets game Tuesday night and figured someone would recognize him and possibly heckle him.
Not for winning the Indianapolis 500 but for walking around in an Indiana Pacers jersey at the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers playoff game Sunday night while still sporting the 500 winner's wreath.
"There was one or two people that said I was at the Pacers game [a couple nights] before," said Palou, who, like most INDYCAR drivers, lives in Indianapolis. "And I was like, 'Yeah.'
"But we won last night."
Palou even went to the NBA store on Wednesday and stood outside of it wearing a Tyrese Haliburton jersey to show his Pacers fandom.
So it appears Palou was having fun during his two-day media tour in New York City and was really enjoying himself.
"I just get to a van and they take me to different studios, different places, different TV shows," Palou said Wednesday morning, as he stood on a balcony near the top of the Empire State Building.
"It's been amazing. It's been overwhelming. So fun. But this [view] is amazing."
Palou couldn't name all the media outlets he visited or the photos he took as he was shuttled from stop to stop, like the one he took in front of the NASDAQ building.
Amid the media stops, he has barely had any time to think about or talk to his team about the Detroit Grand Prix this weekend. He admits that, while he has gotten a little bit of sleep, he's behind in race preparation.
"It's not the ideal scenario or preparation or conditions," Palou said. "But it's amazing. I'm trying to enjoy every single second of it.
"And I think it's a great opportunity to see how we can do with big challenges ahead."
Palou also gets plenty of questions about his goals, especially about whether a move to Formula 1 is a possibility.
He said, as far as he knows, the Indy 500 win didn't spark any inquiries from F1 teams. To be fair, his road-course prowess is what would attract F1 teams. And with the Indy 500 win, some might assume he's accomplished everything a driver would want in INDYCAR and that he could be looking for a new challenge.
"Nothing has come up [from F1]," Palou said. "I'm perfect here. I'm super happy, the happiest I've ever been.
"At the end of the day, that's what everybody looks for — being happy, winning races, being with my family. And here I just have an environment that is perfect."
And there's another league that's not calling Palou, and that's the MLB, after seeing his first pitch.
His pitch ahead of the White Sox-Mets game needed a hop to get to the plate.
"That was not good," Palou said. "I prepared a little bit, but the distance that we were preparing with was a lot shorter than the real one.
"And once I did the first pitch, it just went down. So not good. But it is what it is."
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
recommended
Get more from NTT INDYCAR SERIES Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
5 minutes ago
- Associated Press
A mundane Monaco? Drivers debate attempt to spice up F1's classic race
MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Formula 1's hangover from a not-so-successful experiment to spice up another slow Monaco Grand Prix was still being felt in Spain this weekend. A rule change requiring two pit stops was aimed at shaking up the Monaco GP, which offers scant chance of cars overtaking on the narrow and sinuous streets of the Mediterranean principality. But the move didn't produce the desired result, with most cars locked in a slow procession going well below optimum speed. After finishing the race in fourth, defending F1 champion Max Verstappen quipped that even if they adopted some of the outlandish features of a popular video game, it wouldn't change the fact that F1 cars are too wide to squeeze past one another on the street circuit. 'You can't race here anyway so it doesn't matter what you do. One stop, 10 stops,' Verstappen said. 'We were almost doing Mario Kart. Then we have to install bits on the car – maybe you can throw bananas around? I don't know, a slippery surface?' A week later the debate continued in the buildup to Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix . Monaco is Monaco Charles Leclerc, a Monaco native and the 2024 winner of the race for Ferrari, said that he was open to thinking about ways to add some excitement to the race. 'Do we need to make every possible effort to make it better on Sunday? Definitely. But Monaco has always been ... a race when on Sunday not much is happening.' While race day may not be super exciting, the Monaco GP remains part of the unofficial 'triple crown' of motorsports with Indianapolis 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Beyond the suspense of qualifying when drivers have to push their cars to the limit through extremely tight turns, there is the glamor of the principality and its harbor packed with yachts. As Sunday's race winner , Lando Norris dined with Prince Albert II following his victory. Norris said in Montmelo, Spain, that while some tweaks could perhaps be made, Monaco is just Monaco. 'Monaco's never been a race that's been good on Sunday. Never has. Yet it's the race everyone wants to win. It's the one everyone looks forward to the most every single season. It's always been like that,' Norris said. 'If you want to make a bigger event out of it, make it a more qualifying-based event. I don't think you can really change the race, unless you make the cars half the size of what they are now.' Not much you can do to the track Ideas have been batted around by F1 journalists and observers that run from tweaks to the circuit to widen some corners to even more drastic rule changes to allow for points to be awarded for qualifying. Carlos Sainz of Williams said he supported creative thinking to improve any race, but he was skeptical that Monaco could be revamped. 'I think you could still position the car in the middle of the track, go 30 kmh, and still not get overtaken,' Sainz said when asked about shaving off some edges of the course. And then there was Fernando Alonso who, as the grid's senior driver at age 43, said that moping about Monaco – while also loving it – is just a part of F1 tradition. 'You see one overtake every 10 years. So great, you know? I mean, this has been the Monaco nature,' Alonso said. '(But) don't worry, because next year we will go to Monaco and on Wednesday we will be so excited,' he said. 'And then on Saturday we are all super excited, and the adrenaline that you get on those laps is probably unique in the championship. And then for whatever reason, on Sunday we will be all disappointed once again.' ___ AP auto racing:
New York Times
14 minutes ago
- New York Times
3 questions about Knicks' ability to pull off 3-1 comeback against Pacers
The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic's daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. Thirteen-year-old spelling phenom Faizan Zaki won the Scripps Spelling Bee after coming in second last year. His winning word was 'éclaircissement.' I'll admit I don't know what that word means, but I assume it has something to do with when George Costanza got caught eating one out of the trash. Easy part of potential comeback is now done While the odds are greatly in the favor of the Pacers to close out this series after going up 3-1, the odds were heavily in the Knicks' favor to take Game 5 at Madison Square Garden. I saw a stat from Raheem Palmer of The Ringer yesterday that home teams down 3-1 are 32-12 in Game 5s. We can update that to 33-12 after the Knicks dismantled the Pacers 111-94. It's not a surprise that the Knicks won this game to force a Game 6 Saturday night in Indianapolis. Advertisement The surprise is how dominant the Knicks were, considering the Pacers' play so far in the postseason. Indiana had two blowout losses in the previous two rounds: A 16-point loss to Milwaukee in the first round that was fueled by a 70-44 second half by the Bucks. And a 22-point loss to the Cavaliers, thanks to a 34-13 second quarter to take control of the game. Their only other loss was actually Game 3 at home when the Knicks came back to avoid going down 3-0. They didn't get dominated, though, like the Knicks did to them last night. Indiana didn't lead for a single second of that game. The Knicks outscored them 60-34 in the paint. Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led the way with 32 points, five rebounds and five assists. But most importantly, the Knicks completely shut down a Pacers offense that has been hounding their defense by pushing the ball into the paint. All series long, the Knicks have been hovering around a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio against this Pacers team. They just haven't moved the ball, and they've been a little too sloppy with the rock. They flipped that on Indiana in Game 5. They actually forced 20 turnovers by an Indiana team that was fourth in the NBA in turnover rate, and allowed just 20 assists. It was the ninth game of the season the Pacers turned it over 20 or more times, and the first time they did it in the postseason. They're now 3-6 in those games. A few questions pop up for the Knicks in this scenario moving forward: 1) Were the Pacers overmatched? One option credits the Knicks and one option kind of dismisses the dominance they showed in Game 5. I'm not going to allow myself the copout of saying that this is somewhere in the middle, so I'm going to say the Knicks overmatched them. It's possible the Pacers kind of packed it in effort-wise in this game and decided to rest to fight another day – that day specifically being Saturday for Game 6. However, that's not how they played in trying to make runs in this game. This wasn't like how OKC got dominated in Game 3 in Minneapolis or how Minnesota got dominated in Game 5 in Oklahoma City. Advertisement After the Knicks got the lead to 20 in the third quarter, the Pacers cut it to 10 with a spirited run thanks to Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin. But the Knicks responded with a 10-0 run to get it back to 20 with a quickness. Indiana wouldn't cut it below 12 in the fourth. The Pacers just couldn't solve the Knicks at all last night. 2) Did they figure out how to slow down Haliburton? This is oddly similar to the game we saw from Haliburton in the 22-point loss to Cleveland in Game 3 of the second round. He had four points on eight shots, zero free-throw attempts, five assists and three turnovers in 30 minutes in that loss. Against the Knicks last night, his game was painfully apathetic to what the Pacers normally need from him. Haliburton followed his historic Game 4 performance by putting up an absolute dud. Just eight points on seven shots, 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, six assists and zero turnovers in 32 minutes of action. The Pacers were terrible with him on the court. That's not what we're used to seeing from him. I would imagine Game 6 at home will have a different, more familiar side of his game, but the Knicks need to replicate that the best they can. 3) How likely is a Game 7? This is the tricky part. Thirteen times in NBA history, a team has forced a Game 7 and completed the comeback. As we noted a couple of days ago, only four of those have come in the conference finals or later. Two of those happened in the same year, so it's pretty rare. Nineteen other times, a team has forced a Game 7, only to lose that Game 7. We're not counting teams that were down 3-0 in a series and came back to force a Game 7. They've already beaten the odds of getting to a Game 6. Of the 297 series with a 3-1 lead, 179 of them ended in five games (60.2 percent). But 82 of those 297 (27.6 percent) do end in six games. So, things are still looking murky for the Knicks Saturday night. We'll get deeper into the Game 7 history for 3-1 series below. How Wolves tweak their roster? 🏀 Now what? Jon Krawczynski outlines a very complicated summer for Minnesota. Tough decisions await. Will Julius Randle be back? 🏀 Get used to them. Sam Amick says these finals-bound Thunder are here to stay. 'These guys are uncommon.' 🏀 Some advice. Caitlin Clark is out for a couple weeks, and the Fever can't spiral. This is what they need to do. 🏀 Plan B for Duke. Cedric Coward decided to stay in the draft instead of transfer to Duke. Here's how they pivoted and hurt Kansas in the process. 🎧 Tuning in. Today's 'NBA Daily' warns the Pacers about getting too comfortable against the Knicks. About Knicks' quest to return series to MSG As you saw above, history is not really on the side of the Knicks for reaching a Game 7. But it's not impossible. We've seen 10.7 percent of teams down 3-1 force a Game 7. We had one during this postseason, if you recall, when the Rockets forced a Game 7 against the Warriors before getting ousted. So, it's not just something that happened long ago in a pre-merger NBA far, far away. Seven of the 19 teams who forced a Game 7 but failed to win the series were the home team in those scenarios, including the Rockets this year. We haven't seen a team come back from down 3-1 to win the series since the Nuggets did it in back-to-back rounds in the bubble in 2020. Of the 13 teams to pull it off, eight of them had homecourt advantage in Game 7. That's encouraging for the Knicks if they're going to get this done. We'd love a Game 7 regardless of who wins it, so the The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. This LeBron anniversary will make you feel old On Saturday, we're getting the 18-year anniversary of the first time LeBron James really put himself on the map in a way that scared opponents, both present and future, around the NBA. This was back when he was leading a Cavaliers team with Daniel 'Boobie' Gibson (13.5 points) and Zyndrunas Ilgauskas (12.8) as his second- and third-leading scorers. Gibson didn't even start in the Eastern Conference finals. Advertisement After the Cavs tied up the series at 2-2 with two home victories, they headed to MoTown to face a brilliant Pistons squad. Then, with 2:23 left and the Pistons holding an 88-84 lead in regulation, nobody knew what was about to hit Detroit – in a way not even Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest could replicate. LeBron went on a transcendent run the rest of the game, scoring the final 25 points of the game for the Cavs over a nearly 14.5-minute stretch spanning two overtime periods and the rest of the fourth quarter. His scoring was vicious: Five of his scores took the lead, and the other five tied the game in this stretch. He finished with 48 points on 18-of-33 shooting in 50 minutes. He was 22 years old. He'd close out the Pistons next game and make his first NBA Finals. It's worth watching again. ( Photo: Brad Penner / USA Today Network via Imagn Images )
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Story Is Yours - Take the Lead in F1® 25, Available Worldwide Today
Race Your Way with the Return of Braking Point, Revamped My Team, and F1® THE MOVIE Scenarios Featuring Fictional Team APXGP Watch F1® 25 Iconic Edition Cover Star Lewis Hamilton and Football Superstar, Kylian Mbappé, Test Their Speed as the Iconic Rivals Go Head-to-Head HERE REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) invites players to race their way with F1® 25, an official game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™, available today on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Through a variety of gameplay features, players can take the lead as team owner in My Team 2.0, and live the emotional highs and lows of competing at the front of the grid in the return of fan-favourite story mode, Braking Point. Players can also take to the track as fictional team APXGP from Apple Original Films' F1® THE MOVIE with a preview chapter, with additional chapter scenarios (sold separately) available post-launch beginning June 30th.* As part of the launch day celebrations, F1® 25 Iconic Edition cover star Lewis Hamilton challenged three-time EA SPORTS cover star Kylian Mbappé to a thrilling sprint race ahead of the FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025. Watch the action unfold HERE. "F1 25 delivers more ways for players to tell their F1 story, from battling for the World Championship to securing a front row seat and interacting with the racing movie of the summer," said Lee Mather, Senior Creative Director at Codemasters. "With story-driven features, Braking Point and F1® THE MOVIE, taking the lead in My Team and Driver Career, or jumping into F1 World with a multitude of bite-sized challenges, customisation enhancements, multiplayer and cooperative gameplay, F1 25 is all-out, unabashed action for every racing fan." Players will experience the third instalment of fan-favourite story mode, Braking Point. Set across two seasons, the returning cast encounter a dramatic event that threatens to throw a title-contending season into chaos. For the first time, players encounter more variety through different driver perspectives, giving the mode a new dimension and alternate endings to the story. Additionally, Konnersport is now available to choose in My Team with a further option to become the 11th team on the grid in Driver Career. F1® 25 gets players closer to the real world than ever before with a series of innovations both on and off the track. Players who want to call the shots can jump into My Team 2.0 and take on the role of team owner. Alongside running the entire operations from the Team HQ, focusing on Engineering, Personnel, and Corporate, players manage the fate of both drivers and can switch between the two for race weekends. Five circuits - Bahrain, Miami, Melbourne, Suzuka, and Imola - join Silverstone as those that have all been digitally scanned during race weekends. Through millions of data points, LIDAR technology delivers pinpoint accuracy from asphalt surface details and kerb heights to the positioning of broadcast towers, barriers, trees, and foliage. These advancements, in conjunction with changes to handling, tested pre-launch by esports drivers and the F1® community, ensure players feel every bump and elevation change, just like the real F1® drivers. F1® 25 delivers greater customisation through the new Decal Editor. Driver numbers receive a visual overhaul with new fonts and colours. Players can bring their personalities to life with the freedom to move, rotate, and resize designs with variants to unlock throughout the game and use across My Team and F1® World. Players can also use the newly introduced sponsor liveries built around the visual identity of the fictional brands in the game, alongside new driver numbers which receive a visual overhaul with new customisable fonts and colours, to create the most authentic-looking vehicle designs the franchise has ever delivered. EA Play** members get a 5-hour Trial, score a monthly 5000 XP boost, and can save 10% on EA digital purchases, including PitCoin, full game, and DLC. More details on EA Play. F1® 25 Iconic Edition owners receive a number of perks linked to F1® THE MOVIE producer Lewis Hamilton, F3™ Driver Icons Pack, 18,000 Pitcoin and much more. F1® THE MOVIE chapter scenarios are available to F1® 25 Standard Edition players through the purchase of the DLC pack, available now for purchase and playable in-game beginning June 30. To keep up-to-date with the latest F1® game news and information, visit the Formula 1® game website and follow its social channels. PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT *Chapter Scenarios playable beginning June 30, 2025. Requires F1® 25 (sold separately), EA account, internet connection & all game updates. **Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See for details. About Electronic Arts Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. F1® 25 Game - an official product of the FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. © 2025 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS, the EA SPORTS logo, and Codemasters are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, F1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. The F2 FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP logo, FIA FORMULA 2 CHAMPIONSHIP, FIA FORMULA 2, FORMULA 2, F2 and related marks are trademarks of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile and used exclusively under license. All rights reserved. About F1® THE MOVIE Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures Present A Monolith Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer / Plan B Entertainment / Dawn Apollo Films Production, A Joseph Kosinski Film, F1® THE MOVIE, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theatres and IMAX® nationwide on June 27, 2025 and internationally beginning 25 June 2025. Category: EA Sports View source version on Contacts Natalia LombardiGlobal Public Relations Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
