‘A role model’: Make-A-Wish family goes trackside at IMS to meet Alex Palou

INDIANAPOLIS — Indy in May is a sight to see. The roar of racecars is almost deafening. The eruptive cheers from Indianapolis Motor Speedway are contagious. 

On Tuesday, however, at a largely empty IMS, a Make-A-Wish family from New York brought all the energy, chants and smiles needed to fill the stands. 

“I didn’t ever think I’d be here like this,” said 18-year-old Garrett Holliday.

Garrett has been living with a rare liver disorder called alagille syndrome since birth. It lowers the number of bile ducts in the liver, which can lead to damage. 

Garrett and his family had been managing the disorder until tests showed that his liver was failing. He was placed on a transplant list until his family got the news they had been waiting for.

“By a miracle, this year on Good Friday, we got the call that a liver option had become available for him and by Easter he had a new liver,” said Garrett’s dad, Eric Holliday.

In and out of hospital rooms, one thing remained a constant for the teenager: his fandom for Indy 500 Winner Alex Palou.

“He’s great, definitely a role model,” Garrett said. “The way he shows himself and everything, it’s amazing.”

Garrett first started keeping up with Palou in 2021. He first noticed Palou’s blue car. That was enough to get him hooked. 

“My favorite color is blue and he was driving a blue car,” Garrett said. “He was doing pretty well. He was in first for a while and then he ended up in second. When he did, he handled it really well.”

Palou’s Indy 500-winning performance this year was the first race the Holliday family watched after coming home from the hospital for Garrett’s transplant.

Garrett said he never thought he’d be standing next to Palou just months after watching his big win. Palau said having that kind of loyalty among his fans continues to amaze him. 

”I hope I made his day as much as he made mine because that’s super special,” Palou said. “It’s something I never thought I would have the opportunity to do.”

Garrett got the chance to step inside Palou’s car, watch crews work on the car and get up close and personal with gear worn by winners. He hopes Tuesday is only the start of a career working on cars himself.

”I’ve played tons of racing games, I’ve seen all the interiors of a ton of different cars [but] this was something crazy,” Garrett said. 

Garrett and his siblings gave Palou several bracelets they had made in advance. In exchange, Palou gave Garrett a pair of his racing shoes. 

“That’s awesome,” Garrett said. “I don’t think they’ll fit, but still!”

The mutual admiration made for a day no one will forget.

”I feel I need to give him something back because he has given me so much to be here,” Palou said.