Quick qualifying run gives Palou another 2nd at Indianapolis
2 years, 10 months ago

Quick qualifying run gives Palou another 2nd at Indianapolis

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou gracefully accepted another second-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. The Spaniard was runner-up to Helio Castroneves in last year’s Indianapolis 500 and returned to the 2.5-mile oval for Sunday’s final day of qualifying and finished second again. He reached the podium in his third career start with Dale Coyne Racing in 2020, followed that with a third-place finish on Indy’s road course last May, and was last year’s 500 runner-up en route to his first IndyCar championship. Castroneves held off Palou’s passing attempt on the second-to-last lap and beat him to the Yard of Bricks by 0.4928 seconds for his record-tying fourth 500 victory last May. This time on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval, Dixon had the top seed and final run in the six-car shootout and jumped into the top spot of the fastest field in 500 history.

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History of this topic

Analysis: Palou remains unflappable -- but slappable -- in winning 3rd IndyCar title
6 months, 1 week ago

Analysis: Palou remains unflappable -- but slappable -- in winning 3rd IndyCar title

Associated Press  

LEBANON, Tenn. — Chip Ganassi likes winners — its his catchphrase, in case you didn’t know — and his celebrations rarely deviate. It’s such a strange turnaround at Ganassi with Palou, a driver who turned up out of nowhere from a Japanese racing series to drive for Dale Coyne Racing during the pandemic-restricted 2020 season. Mike Hull, the managing director …

Alex Palou takes IndyCar title after Will Power is undone by seatbelt problem
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Alex Palou takes IndyCar title after Will Power is undone by seatbelt problem

LA Times  

Alex Palou, left, celebrates after winning his third IndyCar championship in four years on Sunday. Alex Palou easily drove to his third IndyCar championship in four years when challenger Will Power’s seatbelt came loose minutes into the season-deciding finale Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway. Palou had never before raced on a concrete oval, while Power finished 11th in his only career …

Palou has a poor qualifying run that tightens IndyCar championship ahead of the finale
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Palou has a poor qualifying run that tightens IndyCar championship ahead of the finale

Associated Press  

LEBANON, Tenn. — Alex Palou’s poor qualifying run and pending engine penalty dramatically tightened the IndyCar championship race the day before the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. Power had reached a point where it sounded as if he’d essentially resigned himself to Dixon unfairly intervening on behalf of Palou.. Power’s resolve is that he’s finishing second in the final standings …

Alex Palou survives early electrical issue to take IndyCar points lead into season finale
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Alex Palou survives early electrical issue to take IndyCar points lead into season finale

Associated Press  

WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Alex Palou was helpless as he sat in the cockpit of his disabled car watching his hold on the IndyCar championship slip away. Chip Ganassi Racing changed a battery inside Palou’s car and he rejoined the action 29 laps into the race Sunday. That’s a season, man, you can’t make those mistakes.” What could have been …

Palou doesn’t expect to win IndyCar title in Portland. Rossi still seeks a ride
7 months ago

Palou doesn’t expect to win IndyCar title in Portland. Rossi still seeks a ride

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — Alex Palou has a 59-point lead in the IndyCar standings but insists a third championship in four seasons isn’t a lock. Alexander Rossi remains confident he’ll have a ride in the series next year; David Malukas clarified that Will Power did not make him cry after a crash last week, and all the drivers are hopeful that …

Alex Palou embraces IndyCar hybrid engine, edges Pato O’Ward to win second straight Mid-Ohio pole
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Alex Palou embraces IndyCar hybrid engine, edges Pato O’Ward to win second straight Mid-Ohio pole

Associated Press  

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Alex Palou demonstrated his quick command of IndyCar’s new hybrid engine on Saturday to nudge Pato O’Ward by 0.0024 seconds for his second consecutive pole at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. A day after showers stunted hopes by O’Ward, Palou and many other drivers to get substantial laps in the series’ rollout of hybrid power units, those two …

Palou, Rossi manage fast laps in rain-affected practice for IndyCar’s hybrid engine at Mid-Ohio
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Palou, Rossi manage fast laps in rain-affected practice for IndyCar’s hybrid engine at Mid-Ohio

Associated Press  

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou each felt something slightly different from their cars with the IndyCar Series new hybrid engines on Friday before weather delayed additional research for another day. IndyCar Series drivers hoping to get an initial read on the new hybrid engines that promise a seismic shift in race strategy ended up with more stop …

Alex Palou reclaims IndyCar championship lead with win at Laguna Seca
9 months ago

Alex Palou reclaims IndyCar championship lead with win at Laguna Seca

Associated Press  

MONTEREY, Calif. — Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou reclaimed the lead in the points standings by winning from the pole Sunday at Laguna Seca Raceway. It’s the most beautiful place we go to, for sure.” Palou lost the lead exiting the first turn of the race to Kyle Kirkwood but reclaimed it through strategy. “It was too risky, but it …

Alex Palou continues mastery of Laguna Seca with pole-winning run at California road course
9 months, 1 week ago

Alex Palou continues mastery of Laguna Seca with pole-winning run at California road course

Associated Press  

MONTEREY, Calif. — Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou continued his mastery of Laguna Seca Raceway by winning the pole Saturday in a qualifying session dominated by Honda drivers. I don’t think that’s the issue.” McLaughlin was then eliminated in the second round — meaning a Team Penske driver failed to advance to the Fast Six pole-shootout. “You just can’t make …

Intriguing Indianapolis 500 storylines captivate Row 7 lineup with Andretti, Castroneves and Dixon
10 months ago

Intriguing Indianapolis 500 storylines captivate Row 7 lineup with Andretti, Castroneves and Dixon

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Team Penske’s front row sweep and Kyle Larson’s Memorial Day weekend double chase, naturally, stole the attention all week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Hopefully the row doesn’t take each other out, that would be interesting,” Dixon joked Thursday as he chases a record-tying seventh career series crown to match A.J. “I think the car has a lot of …

Alex Palou pulls away from Will Power to win 2nd straight Indy GP and retake points lead
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Alex Palou pulls away from Will Power to win 2nd straight Indy GP and retake points lead

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou’s first Indianapolis Grand Prix title fueled his second IndyCar Series title run. “I would say last year we had a lot more advantage last year than this year, but I would still say the fact we can go 100%, pushing every single lap, maybe that’s why we see a bigger differences.” For Palou, it was another …

Colton Herta hopes to protect narrow points lead through IndyCar’s biggest month
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Colton Herta hopes to protect narrow points lead through IndyCar’s biggest month

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Colton Herta arrives in Indianapolis with big goals every May. “As Will says, it’s just so tight every weekend,” said Rosenqvist, who has consistently qualified well in Meyer Shank Racing’s No. “We’re still there in the points, it’s pretty tight,” Dixon said, reflecting on his 15th-place finish at Barber. “Obviously, I think everybody is excited to kick off …

Alex Palou dominates IndyCar’s first all-star race since 2008. Reigning champion led every lap
1 year ago

Alex Palou dominates IndyCar’s first all-star race since 2008. Reigning champion led every lap

Associated Press  

THERMAL, Calif. — A race meant for all-stars was fittingly won by Alex Palou. Palou dominated the three-day weekend — he was among the fastest drivers in practice sessions and led every lap of anything that counted while winning his qualifying group, his heat race and all 20 laps of IndyCar’s first non-points race since 2008. The race at the …

Palou builds commanding IndyCar lead while preparing to switch teams next year
1 year, 9 months ago

Palou builds commanding IndyCar lead while preparing to switch teams next year

Associated Press  

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — The possibility that Alex Palou will drive for a new team as the reigning IndyCar champion next year grows increasingly likely with each race. “We still don’t really know what’s going to happen, so I’m not thinking about next year,” Palou said Friday. I know that having good results, it’s only going to help myself and …

Alex Palou wins Detroit Grand Prix in IndyCar’s return to downtown track
1 year, 9 months ago

Alex Palou wins Detroit Grand Prix in IndyCar’s return to downtown track

Associated Press  

DETROIT — Alex Palou went from critic to champion in a day. He started and finished first in the Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, roughly 24 hours after the IndyCar points leader said the street course was too tight and short for the series. The Spaniard, who won the Indianapolis Grand Prix, led 74 of 100 laps on Detroit’s new …

Palou balances plans with Ganassi vs. McLaren as Spaniard tries to win Indy 500
1 year, 10 months ago

Palou balances plans with Ganassi vs. McLaren as Spaniard tries to win Indy 500

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Few had heard of Alex Palou when he arrived in IndyCar after several years of racing in Japan. Mediation determined that Palou was contractually bound to Ganassi through this season, but he will move to McLaren next season in IndyCar and already is one of McLaren’s reserve F1 drivers. Palou is permitted to participate in McLaren F1 duties …

Palou’s record run earns Ganassi third straight Indy 500 pole
1 year, 10 months ago

Palou’s record run earns Ganassi third straight Indy 500 pole

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou will lead the field to green in the Indianapolis 500 after the young Spaniard put together the fastest four-lap pole run in history Sunday, edging Rinus VeeKay and Felix Rosenqvist to give Chip Ganassi Racing its third consecutive pole in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Palou, who won on the road course race at Indianapolis Motor …

Alex Palou wins Indianapolis Grand Prix, moves into IndyCar points lead
1 year, 10 months ago

Alex Palou wins Indianapolis Grand Prix, moves into IndyCar points lead

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou sent an early message by aggressively passing pole-winner Christian Lundgaard on the first lap of the Indianapolis Grand Prix. “We missed a little bit in qualifying, but we knew we had a fast car,” Palou said after producing IndyCar’s widest victory margin since his 30-second season-ending win in 2022. He’s also the series’ only driver to …

Ganassi sues IndyCar champion Palou over contract disupte
2 years, 8 months ago

Ganassi sues IndyCar champion Palou over contract disupte

Associated Press  

The fight over IndyCar champion Alex Palou is headed to court as Chip Ganassi Racing filed a civil lawsuit in Indiana against the Spanish driver who is attempting to leave the team at the end of the season. Palou, meanwhile, says he informed CGR he does not intend to return for a third season, and McLaren Racing said it has …

Palou arrives in Toronto with 2 IndyCar teams in hot pursuit
2 years, 8 months ago

Palou arrives in Toronto with 2 IndyCar teams in hot pursuit

Associated Press  

Alex Palou had to fight for every opportunity on his rise through open-wheel racing, and that probably makes everything that has transpired this week feel equal parts stressful and satisfying for IndyCar’s series champion. “Obviously it’s not ideal, especially for my crew, the people around me,” Palou acknowledged before Friday’s practice session on the road course at Exhibition Place. McLaren …

Scott Dixon blazes to Indy 500 pole in record 234 mph run
2 years, 10 months ago

Scott Dixon blazes to Indy 500 pole in record 234 mph run

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Not much rattles The Iceman at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, not even record speeds. Dixon’s drop-off from there was was miniscule: his fourth and final lap was 233.726 as his consistency gave Chip Ganassi Racing its seventh Indy 500 pole. “The first number does mean a lot, and when I saw 234, it was ‘OK, this is going to …

INDY DAY 4: Sato delivers statement with fast lap in wind
2 years, 10 months ago

INDY DAY 4: Sato delivers statement with fast lap in wind

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Takuma Sato was the fastest driver at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before IndyCar drivers were given some extra boost for Friday’s practice. Nineteen of the 33 drivers completed fewer than 15 laps, a list that included 500 winners Scott Dixon, Will Power, Simon Pagenaud and Juan Pablo Montoya, defending series champion Alex Palou of Spain and Colton Herta, who …

Hello Palou: IndyCar’s new champion a breath of fresh air
3 years, 6 months ago

Hello Palou: IndyCar’s new champion a breath of fresh air

Associated Press  

Alex Palou used to post notes on his bathroom mirror as a daily affirmation that he could someday drive for Chip Ganassi in the IndyCar Series. It was all meant to be, Palou will tell you, because IndyCar’s earnest new champion truly believes everything happens for a reason. Palou on Sunday became the first Spaniard to win the IndyCar championship, …

Palou becomes first Spaniard to win IndyCar championship
3 years, 6 months ago

Palou becomes first Spaniard to win IndyCar championship

Associated Press  

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Alex Palou raised the Spanish flag over his head and hugged every teammate he could find. Let’s get another one now.” Colton Herta won the race — Long Beach is considered his home track — for his second consecutive win and third of the season. Palou joins Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti and …

Herta paces Long Beach practice as Palou gets comfortable
3 years, 6 months ago

Herta paces Long Beach practice as Palou gets comfortable

Associated Press  

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Endless hours on iRacing trying to familiarize himself with the downtown city street course in Long Beach paid off Friday when IndyCar points leader sailed through his first career laps on the circuit. The Grand Prix of Long Beach was canceled last year at the start of the pandemic so Palou, a second-year IndyCar driver, had …

O’Ward says IndyCar championship is Alex Palou’s to lose
3 years, 6 months ago

O’Ward says IndyCar championship is Alex Palou’s to lose

Associated Press  

MONTEREY, Calif. — Alex Palou strolled confidently through the Laguna Seca paddock, his focus firmly honed on closing out his first IndyCar championship. Palou took a 25-point lead in the standings with his third win of the season last weekend, with only the Laguna Seca road course and next week’s finale on the street course in Long Beach remaining. “I …

Palou takes pole at Portland, eyes IndyCar points lead
3 years, 6 months ago

Palou takes pole at Portland, eyes IndyCar points lead

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — Alex Palou earned the first pole of his IndyCar career and put himself in position to reclaim the championship lead Sunday at Portland International Raceway. We’ll get there.” O’Ward overcame a 48-point deficit over two races as Palou suffered both an engine issue and was collected in a crash two weeks ago at Gateway outside St. Louis. …

IndyCar surges out west for 3-race championship close
3 years, 6 months ago

IndyCar surges out west for 3-race championship close

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — The spotlight is on IndyCar as the supercharged open-wheel series takes its season to the wire with a nail-biting championship race and a potential changing of the guard both atop the standings and across the grid. Pato O’Ward takes a 10-point lead in the championship standings to Portland International Raceway, where Sunday opens a frantic three-race drive …

IndyCar’s final stretch begins with last oval race of year
3 years, 7 months ago

IndyCar’s final stretch begins with last oval race of year

Associated Press  

MADISON, Ill. — IndyCar begins its final month of the season with a surprising new face trying to close out the championship and a careful eye on the spiking COVID-19 numbers across the country. Alex Palou takes a 21-point lead into Saturday night’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, the fourth and final oval on the schedule. …

Palou, O’Ward resume IndyCar title battle in Nashville
3 years, 7 months ago

Palou, O’Ward resume IndyCar title battle in Nashville

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn — Look around Nashville and the city has the jubilant feel of a festival that unfolds when IndyCar takes over the city streets. !” at the Nashville crowd on a stage neighboring the track, IndyCar President Mark Miles compared the city race setting to the Formula One race in, spit take, Monaco. “Here, it’s people enjoying the streets …

Palou shakes off Indy defeat, takes points lead to Detroit
3 years, 9 months ago

Palou shakes off Indy defeat, takes points lead to Detroit

Associated Press  

DETROIT — Alex Palou still felt the sting from his second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 when he saw Helio Castroneves at the victory dinner and begged the winner to tell him how he made the decisive final pass. “And I was ‘Like, man, just answer me, I just want to know.’” He never got an answer and has since …

Ed Carpenter Racing posts strong day in Indy 500 practice
3 years, 10 months ago

Ed Carpenter Racing posts strong day in Indy 500 practice

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Ed Carpenter Racing, fresh off its first victory since 2016, brought fast cars to Indianapolis Motor Speedway with every intention of completing a sweep in its own backyard. Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was fastest Wednesday on the second day of Indianapolis 500 practice, but he was followed closely by the American combo of Conor Daly and …

Palou on pole for IndyCar at Texas after qualifying canceled
3 years, 10 months ago

Palou on pole for IndyCar at Texas after qualifying canceled

Associated Press  

FORT WORTH, Texas — Alex Palou will start on the pole for the IndyCar Series’ first oval race of the season at Texas after qualifying was canceled Saturday because of overnight rain and morning mist. The only scheduled practice session before the two races over consecutive days at the 1 1/2-mile, high-banked oval was pushed back nearly two hours while …

Alex Palou scores 1st career IndyCar win in Ganassi debut
3 years, 11 months ago

Alex Palou scores 1st career IndyCar win in Ganassi debut

Associated Press  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fernando Alonso is winless so far this season in Formula One. Palou picked up his first career win — in his first race with Chip Ganassi Racing — by holding off a pair of series champions in Sunday’s season-opening race at Barber Motorsports Park. “So we knew the potential was there but you don’t know where you …

Indianapolis 500: Fernando Alonso's dazzling debut spoilt by Honda engine failure, Takuma Sato wins
7 years, 10 months ago

Indianapolis 500: Fernando Alonso's dazzling debut spoilt by Honda engine failure, Takuma Sato wins

Firstpost  

Despite his Formula One pedigree, Alonso faced a welter of new challenges. Indianapolis: Takuma Sato won the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, erasing the memory of heartbreak in 2012 to become the first Japanese driver to triumph in America’s iconic race. I can’t imagine how it’s going to be,” Sato, winner of just one prior IndyCar race, …

After mistake in 2012, Sato learns lesson to win Indy 500
7 years, 10 months ago

After mistake in 2012, Sato learns lesson to win Indy 500

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Takuma Sato had victory in sight once before at the Indianapolis 500. When he attempted a last-lap pass, Sato lost control of his car, crashed and Dario Franchitti went on to his third victory in “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing.” In nearly the same position five years later, Sato leaned on lessons learned in that 2012 defeat and …

Column: Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 spotlight, robbery aside
7 years, 10 months ago

Column: Scott Dixon grabs Indy 500 spotlight, robbery aside

Associated Press  

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It is only fitting that it was Scott Dixon, the greatest IndyCar driver of his generation, to grab some of the spotlight away from Fernando Alonso. Dixon’s third Indy 500 pole was the best qualifying run in 21 years at Indy, his four-lap average a brisk 232.164 mph. He’s no different than Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Juan …

Indianapolis 500: Fernando Alonso finishes fifth in qualifying, Scott Dixon takes pole
7 years, 10 months ago

Indianapolis 500: Fernando Alonso finishes fifth in qualifying, Scott Dixon takes pole

Firstpost  

New Zealand’s Scott Dixon captured pole position for the 101st Indianapolis 500 with a dramatic four-lap qualifying run Sunday while Formula One racer Fernando Alonso booked a second-row start. Washington: New Zealand’s Scott Dixon captured pole position for the 101st Indianapolis 500 with a dramatic four-lap qualifying run Sunday while Formula One racer Fernando Alonso booked a second-row start. “It …

Castroneves earns pole on fast day at Phoenix qualifying
8 years, 11 months ago

Castroneves earns pole on fast day at Phoenix qualifying

Associated Press  

AVONDALE, Ariz. — IndyCar’s return to the desert got off to a blazing start. “It’s an honor to be breaking the record and show that the cars are fast,” Castroneves said. “You don’t have any time to react, you’re just a passenger.” HITTING THE WALL: Several drivers had trouble with the first two turns during practice and qualifying. “My knees …

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