Five-time reigning IndyCar champion Álex Palou is returning to the DESDER Indianapolis 8 Hour this year with Mercedes-AMG and Lone Star Racing.
The Spaniard, who contested the same event with LSR two years ago, joins Intercontinental GT Challenge title hopeful Luca Stolz and AMG Junior Lin Hodenius in the #80 entry.
Stolz starts seven points behind absent championship leader Maro Engel and one clear of another factory stablemate, Maxime Martin.
The latter must finish no lower than fifth in IGTC’s classification and ahead of Stolz if he’s to overturn Engel’s advantage. But the Belgian also has the responsibility of helping his JMF Motorsports co-drivers Mikaël Grenier and Michai Stephens clinch the GT World Challenge America powered by AWS title, which they currently lead.
Stolz, meanwhile, is racing purely for Intercontinental honours. Sixth in IGTC’s classification would be enough for him to surpass Engel’s total and win the drivers’ title, assuming Martin finishes behind.
However, it’s Palou’s presence and performance that will capture the imagination of America’s wider motorsport public. He has emerged as IndyCar’s dominant force in recent seasons and, still aged just 29, is on course to become its greatest-ever driver.
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a special place for me, and I am excited to be returning for another shot at the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing,” he said. “I have some unfinished business from my 2024 GT3 outing, so I am really happy to reunite with the team to have another opportunity to aim for the race win. I always love the atmosphere and the fans there, and I look forward to having an exciting race to finish the 2026 season with hopefully another memorable trophy!”
Indianapolis stages the IGTC and GT World America season finales next Saturday (October 11). Watch the race plus Friday’s qualifying session and pole shootout live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.