3 IndyCar drivers who could dethrone Alex Palou (Ft. Pato O'ward)

Alex Palou has been the IndyCar benchmark for the last few years now. The Spaniard decided to move on from the European racing series to transition to the other side of the pond very early in his racing career, and his partnership with Chip Ganassi has yielded some sensational results.

Still in his 20s, Alex Palou has already etched his name as one of the greats of IndyCar. He already has three titles to his name, but what also makes him stand out is the fact that he's done it in a series where you generally do not see drivers having dynasty-defining runs.

Palou, however, with 3 titles in 4 years, has shown that sustained success at the top is possible in IndyCar.

With that being said, after winning two consecutive titles, is there anyone who could challenge Palou on his quest for a hat trick? There are a few obvious ones, but there's a dark horse as well. Let's take a look.

3 potential contenders that could beat Alex Palou

#1 Pato O'Ward

Pato has lost a bit of sheen in recent years on where he has been perceived as a driver compared to some of his compatriots. The driver has been brilliant when it comes to putting together a season, as he's not only consistent but also ruthlessly dominant against his teammates. The problem, however, often comes down to the fact that McLaren was unable to give him a car that could win the title.

It was maybe not the offering that Chip Ganassi has served to Alex Palou, and that tends to hurt someone like Pato. Although brilliant in what he's doing, the final piece is possibly what is missing for the 25-year-old.

If McLaren gives Pato the car that could challenge Alex Palou consistently, we might see Pato finally make the climb to the top step.

---

#2 Colton Herta

Colton Herta continues to arguably have a reputation for being breathtaking in his driving. But at the same time, he has a mistake or two in him that tends to impact him in the long haul. In all fairness, this past season was the first time where Colton probably has had a car closest to the front, and he's used it to finish behind Alex Palou in the championship.

With a possible F1 seat in the offing, as Cadillac gets ready to enter the pinnacle of motorsports, Herta would be further motivated to win the title and stamp his authority in the series.

---

#3 Christian Lundgaard

A name that many people are eager to see race is Christian Lundgaard. Unlike Alex Palou, who had to make a very early switch to professional racing to fund his career, the Danish driver had a slightly different route. He was backed by the Alpine Racing Academy when he was in Formula 2, but after his second year in the series, he realized that it was time to make a move elsewhere. That move took Lundgaard to IndyCar as one of the youngest drivers on the grid.

Since then, he has established himself on the grid and impressed everyone. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing unit was not as big an operation that could take him far, but as the contract ended, McLaren was quick to pounce on him.

IndyCar and racing in general can be a young man's sport if the talent is prodigious enough. This was what worked for Alex Palou back in the day when he joined Chip Ganassi.

This is precisely what could work for Christian Lundgaard if the step up from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is not steep enough for the Danish driver.

In all fairness, Lundgaard is the dark horse for this year's championship, and it would not come as a surprise if he's right at the sharp end of the grid from the very first race.