For reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Alex Palou, the foundation of race-day success is established long before he climbs into the cockpit of his IndyCar. To him, winning is inseparable from preparation, and that preparation is rooted in an intentional approach to fitness and conditioning that has guided him consistently throughout his career.
In a recent interview with *GQ*, Palou revealed the practices that have sustained him during his tenure in the sport. For the past six to seven years — essentially since his arrival in IndyCar — he has relied heavily on CrossFit training. This high-intensity style of fitness, characterized by constantly varied, full-body workouts, has proven to be his principal tool for building endurance, strength, and explosiveness. According to Palou, CrossFit forms the core of his athletic regimen and contributes significantly to the physical and mental resilience that racing at such an elite level demands.
However, his training is not limited to generalized strength. Palou places considerable emphasis on exercises designed specifically for the unique physical pressures of race car driving. For example, he devotes time to strengthening his neck — an area constantly under strain due to the extreme forces experienced during a race — as well as to building grip strength, which is critical for maintaining precise control during grueling stints behind the wheel. His daily workouts follow a sequence: he begins with dynamic warm-up movements to prime his muscles and joints, transitions into weightlifting to build power, and then concludes with an explosive CrossFit segment. This final element is particularly valuable because it replicates the dual challenge faced in the car: exerting significant physical force while simultaneously managing elevated heart rate and sustained tension. Remarkably, Palou integrates this demanding schedule into his life every single day, whether he is in the midst of the racing season or enjoying the short off-season.
Cardiovascular training also plays an integral role in Palou’s conditioning, though he admits his relationship with cardio is more complicated. Years ago, he embraced mountain biking as his preferred method of cardio exercise, but an accident that resulted in a broken collarbone forced him to abandon the sport altogether. Since then, he has experimented with alternatives such as swimming and stationary cycling, before ultimately settling on running as his primary form of cardiovascular activity. Yet despite its effectiveness, Palou candidly acknowledges that running remains his least enjoyable workout. “I can’t, I don’t like it,” he confessed, while noting that over time he has acquired a slightly greater tolerance — if not genuine enthusiasm — for pounding the pavement. Even so, he continues to view long runs as among the most difficult sessions in his weekly plan. For him, cardio sessions lack the sense of enjoyment and competitiveness that weightlifting or CrossFit workouts naturally provide. Nevertheless, Palou accepts this discipline as indispensable, recognizing that cardiovascular endurance is essential even when the training itself fails to inspire the same passion.
When the focus shifts from exertion to recovery, Palou’s philosophy becomes surprisingly minimalistic compared to that of some of his peers. Although he experimented with cold plunges — a popular method among many athletes for reducing inflammation and expediting muscle recovery — he ultimately decided they were not suited to his preferences. Instead, he relies on air compression boots, a technology designed to improve circulation and accelerate recovery specifically in the legs. He has found these particularly beneficial when traveling, as constant sitting during flights and long hours in a race car can create stiffness and fatigue. Aside from this tool, Palou confesses he uses little else, choosing simplicity over elaborate recovery rituals.
His overarching philosophy toward training is rooted in intentional difficulty. Palou believes that making workouts deliberately grueling creates a beneficial contrast: if the gym is consistently more punishing than race day, then the mental and physical demands of actual competition feel comparatively manageable. In his own words, he finds his training sessions more taxing and painful, both physically and psychologically, than racing itself. Far from discouraging him, this mental framing works to his advantage, allowing him to approach Sundays behind the wheel with a notable sense of calm, focus, and assurance. By intentionally pushing the limits of endurance and discipline during training, Palou ensures that the crucible of competition becomes a space where he feels prepared, resilient, and even comfortable.
This individualized approach to both preparation and recovery highlights a greater truth that transcends Palou’s own career: the formula for peak performance varies radically from one athlete to another. Indeed, Palou is far from alone in publicly describing the nuances of his physical routine. For instance, NBA superstar Stephen Curry explained in March that as he has grown older, he has come to prioritize not only strength and skill development but also rest and recovery as central pillars of his long-term performance. Curry described how cold tubs, sauna sessions, compression garments that encourage blood flow, and carefully chosen supplements all contribute to his ability to perform at the highest level. He even noted that neglecting any one of these elements immediately diminishes the quality of his recovery.
Similarly, in July, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen shared that his own personal program includes training sessions four times per week, enhanced by the addition of an infrared sauna equipped with red-light therapy. This method, embraced almost daily by Allen and his wife, has become central to their wellness routine, helping to accelerate recovery between training and games. These examples underscore the same principle reflected in Palou’s habits: while the specific methods may differ widely between athletes, the underlying commitment to routine, discipline, and self-awareness remains constant.
Altogether, Alex Palou’s careful balance of strength work, high-intensity CrossFit, necessary yet disliked cardio, and streamlined recovery illustrates how the making of a champion involves as much off-track preparation as it does skillful driving on race day. His story serves as a striking reminder that optimal performance rarely follows a one-size-fits-all template. Instead, it emerges from an individualized blend of consistency, self-knowledge, and an unwavering willingness to do what is difficult — even when it is unenjoyable — in pursuit of excellence.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/indy-500-alex-palou-post-race-recovery-routine-workout-fitness-2025-10
