5 days ago
Alex Palou's crash in Detroit Grand Prix continues streak of Indy 500 winner not winning next race
DETROIT — Alex Palou hoped to make the next bit of history with a win in the Indianapolis 500 and the same series' race the following weekend for the first time in more than 30 years.
Palou, the first Spaniard to win the Indy 500, crashed into a barrier on Turn 1 with 28 laps to go. It came after the leaders pitted on a caution and during the restart with contact from David Malukas. It will be Palou's worst placement (25th, did not finish) in a dominant season after he won five of the first six races and finished runner up to Kyle Kirkwood at Long Beach.
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It was Al Unser Jr. who won the Indy 500 and then the Milwaukee mile in consecutive weeks in 1994. It had been a quarter century since Juan Pablo Montoya won the Indy 500 and went on to win his next race, albeit in CART at the Milwaukee mile.
Here's a look at how Indy 500 winner since 1994 have performed in their second race.
How have Indy 500 winners performed in their next race?
2025: Alex Palou, 25th, did not finish at Detroit
2024: Josef Newgarden, 26th at Detroit
2023: Josef Newgarden, 10th at Detroit
2022: Marcus Ericsson, seventh at Detroit
2021: Helio Castroneves, no race the week immediately after; did not run the next scheduled race
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2020: Takuma Sato, second and ninth at World Wide Technology Raceway
2019: Simon Pagenaud, sixth and 17th at Detroit
2018: Will Power, seventh and second at Detroit
2017: Takuma Sato, eighth and fourth at Detroit
2016: Alexander Rossi, 10th and 12th at Detroit
2015: Juan Pablo Montoya, 10th (twice) at Detroit
2014: Ryan Hunter-Reay, 16th and 19th at Detroit
2013: Tony Kanaan, 13th and 12th at Detroit
2012: Dario Franchitti, second at Detroit
2011: Dan Wheldon, no race the week immediately after; did not run the next scheduled race
2010: Dario Franchitti, fifth at Texas Motor Speedway
2009: Helio Castroneves, 11th at The Milwaukee Mile
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2008: Scott Dixon, second at The Milwaukee Mile
2007: Dario Franchitti, second at The Milwaukee Mile
2006: Sam Hornish Jr, 12th at Watkins Glen
2005: Dan Wheldon, no race the week immediately after; sixth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
2004: Buddy Rice, no race the week immediately after; 15th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
2003: Gil De Ferran, no race the week immediately after; eighth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
2002: Helio Castroneves, no race the week immediately after; fourth at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
2001: Helio Castroneves, 26th at The Milwaukee Mile (back in CART)
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2000: Juan Pablo Montoya, won at The Milwaukee Mile (back in CART)
1999: Kenny Brack, no race the week immediately after; 13th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
1998: Eddie Cheever, no race the week immediately after; 26th at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
1997: Arie Luyendyk, no race the week immediately after; first at Texas Motor Speedway two weeks later
1996: Buddy Lazier, no race the week immediately after; end of the season
1995: Jacques Villeneuve, sixth at The Milwaukee Mile
1994: Al Unser Jr, won at The Milwaukee Mile
Editor's note: This story was updated with Palou's placement and add a tweet.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Alex Palou crash: History of Indy 500 winners finish in next race
