The Simple Yet Blunt Advice from Jimmie Johnson That Changed Alex Palou’s World

Sometimes the best advice is the simplest. When you’re staring down the barrel of your first championship battle, the pressure can feel like a vise grip. The noise from the media, the expectations from your team, and the weight of the moment can all be suffocating. But for IndyCar star Alex Palou, a few choice words from a seven-time NASCAR champion cut through all of that and changed everything.

The advice wasn’t some long, philosophical speech. It was blunt, to the point, and exactly what he needed to hear.”Just be yourself, idiot.”That was the gem of wisdom passed down from Jimmie Johnson to his then-teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing, Alex Palou.

It might sound harsh, but coming from a legend like Johnson, it landed with the perfect mix of humor and profound truth. It was a reminder to trust the instincts that got him there and to block out the overwhelming pressure that comes with competing at the highest level.

Palou Learned A lot from Jimmie Johnson’s Winning Mindset

When Jimmie Johnson made the surprising jump from stock cars to open-wheel racing in 2021, he brought more than just a famous name to Chip Ganassi Racing. He brought decades of championship experience. For a young gun like Palou, who was just in his second IndyCar season and first with a top-tier team, having a mentor like Johnson in the garage was an incredible asset.

Palou, speaking on the Pit Pass Indy podcast, couldn’t say enough about the impact Johnson had on him. “He’s taught me a lot about winning, about keeping always pushing for a little bit more to try and get more wins, more championships, and just to still have that fire inside,” he shared.

That fire is something Johnson is familiar with. You don’t win seven championships in the cutthroat world of NASCAR without a relentless drive. As Palou headed into his first title fight at Long Beach in 2021, Johnson pulled him aside and shared the same advice his own father had given him before his first championship run.

“He said that the best thing that his dad told him was that he said, ‘Hey, Jimmy, just be yourself, idiot,'” Palou recalled. “And it’s funny, that was before his first championship battle, and that’s what he told me before my first championship battle at Long Beach.”

For Palou, those words were a release valve. “It kind of makes you realise that at the end of the day, it’s only racing and we only need to do our best to try and beat them all.” It simplified the enormous task ahead. The cars, the strategy, the points, they all fade away. At its core, it’s about driving. Just drive.

A Friendship That Extends Beyond the Racetrack

Even though Johnson’s full-time IndyCar tenure lasted just two seasons before he returned to his NASCAR roots with Legacy Motor Club, the bond he formed with Palou remains strong. They may not be teammates seeing each other every race weekend, but the respect and friendship endure.

“We don’t speak like every week, but yeah, I exchanged a couple [of] messages [with him],” Palou said. The connection is still there, especially during the big moments. “He sent me a couple of congrats messages this year at the [Indy] 500. I saw him at the 500… he’s such a great guy and I cannot wait to see him again.”

Why Johnson’s Practical Advice Worked

That simple, practical advice clearly worked. Since that first championship in 2021, Alex Palou has become a dominant force in IndyCar, racking up titles and cementing his place as one of the sport’s elite drivers.

While his natural talent is undeniable, the mental fortitude required to win championships is a distinct challenge. It seems a little tough love from a NASCAR legend was the key to unlocking that final piece of the puzzle for Palou.