Palou arrives in Toronto with 2 IndyCar teams in hot pursuit
2 years, 5 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 indicated Palou would join its F1 testing program with fellow IndyCar drivers Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward, while O’Ward and 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi have signed to drive for the team next season. Palou said in a tweet Tuesday that he did not approve Ganassi’s news release — and did not provide the quote it included — and that “for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022.” “I have nothing else to add to what I said. “We’re here in Toronto, we’re fighting for a championship together and we’re going to try to do the best we can to win it.” Ganassi is having another banner season.

Social Media Team Season Going Think Toronto Mclaren Dixon Indycar Palou Ganassi Racing  ganassi  racing  arrives  going  toronto  social  teams  indycar  palou  think  team  season  pursuit  contract  hot

History of this topic

Analysis: Palou remains unflappable -- but slappable -- in winning 3rd IndyCar title
3 months, 3 weeks 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
3 months, 3 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
3 months, 3 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
4 months, 1 week 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
4 months, 2 weeks 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
6 months 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 …

Alex Palou reclaims IndyCar championship lead with win at Laguna Seca
6 months, 2 weeks 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 …

IndyCar champ Palou admits breach of contract as Spaniard tries to mitigate damages owed to McLaren
1 year, 1 month ago

IndyCar champ Palou admits breach of contract as Spaniard tries to mitigate damages owed to McLaren

Associated Press  

Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou concedes in court documents that he breached his contract with McLaren Racing when the Spaniard did an about-face and stayed at Chip Ganassi Racing. In the response, Palou says he changed his mind about joining McLaren ahead of the 2024 season when he “lost trust and confidence that genuinely intended to support his ambition to …

McLaren seeking at least $23 million in damages from IndyCar champion Alex Palou in UK court
1 year, 3 months ago

McLaren seeking at least $23 million in damages from IndyCar champion Alex Palou in UK court

Associated Press  

McLaren Racing is suing IndyCar champion Alex Palou for at least $23 million to recoup costs the team says it lost when the driver reneged on the contract he signed to join the team, Palou, a 26-year-old Spaniard, guaranteed that he had “no outstanding obligation under any contract or agreement” that would keep him from joining McLaren after the IndyCar …

Palou has 2nd IndyCar title in hand but contract mess between Ganassi and McLaren follows Spaniard
1 year, 4 months ago

Palou has 2nd IndyCar title in hand but contract mess between Ganassi and McLaren follows Spaniard

Associated Press  

MONTEREY, Calif. — McLaren Racing has a hotel room booked in Singapore next week for Alex Palou, who contractually is expected to be the team’s Formula One reserve driver for the remainder of the year. “And let’s just leave it at that.” Ganassi confirmed after Palou’s title-clinching win that Palou would be back in the No. I don’t know of …

IndyCar leader Alex Palou being sued by McLaren in UK. Spaniard focused on winning championship
1 year, 4 months ago

IndyCar leader Alex Palou being sued by McLaren in UK. Spaniard focused on winning championship

Associated Press  

MADISON, Ill. — Alex Palou confirmed Friday he’s being sued by McLaren — the second team to sue him in a year — but the IndyCar points leader is focused on his bid to win a second championship in three years. McLaren has made Palou its reserve driver in Formula One, where it has spent significantly on his development, and …

McLaren boss tells team IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou has reneged on 2024 contract
1 year, 4 months ago

McLaren boss tells team IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou has reneged on 2024 contract

Associated Press  

The contractual saga surrounding IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou took another twist Friday when the head of McLaren Racing told his team the Spaniard has “no intention of honoring his contract” with the team next year. Palou went public with the Ganassi dispute in a series of social media posts and wrote “as I have recently informed CGR, for personal …

Palou builds commanding IndyCar lead while preparing to switch teams next year
1 year, 6 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 …

Palou balances plans with Ganassi vs. McLaren as Spaniard tries to win Indy 500
1 year, 7 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, 7 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 …

McLaren names Alex Palou reserve driver for F1 team
2 years, 1 month ago

McLaren names Alex Palou reserve driver for F1 team

The Hindu  

Alex Palou was named a Formula One reserve driver for McLaren Racing on Thursday, confirming the end of a prolonged battle for the IndyCar champion and the F1 team. The Spaniard, who won the 2021 IndyCar championship for Chip Ganassi Racing, last July said he was declining to return to Ganassi next year and instead would drive for McLaren. In …

IndyCar’s Palou left ‘super happy’ by F1 practice session
2 years, 2 months ago

IndyCar’s Palou left ‘super happy’ by F1 practice session

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Former IndyCar champion Alex Palou had barely started his first live grand prix session behind the wheel of a Formula One car when he declared the feel and speed of the McLaren “insane.” Moments later, Williams’ Logan Sargeant was complaining of losing tire grip like a seasoned veteran. “It was a dream of mine.” Palou had done …

Palou, O’Ward to run upcoming F1 practices for McLaren
2 years, 2 months ago

Palou, O’Ward to run upcoming F1 practices for McLaren

Associated Press  

McLaren Racing will run IndyCar stars Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward in a pair of upcoming Formula One practice sessions. McLaren said Friday that Palou, the 2021 IndyCar champion, will run next Friday’s first practice session at Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Palou and O’Ward have both tested the F1 car for McLaren twice since the IndyCar season ended …

Staying Put: Palou & Rosenqvist to remain with IndyCar teams
2 years, 3 months ago

Staying Put: Palou & Rosenqvist to remain with IndyCar teams

Associated Press  

The messy saga surrounding Alex Palou’s racing future was finally cleared up Wednesday when the Spaniard said he will return to Chip Ganassi Racing next season — and then immediately hopped into one of McLaren’s cars for a Formula One test in Barcelona. McLaren, meanwhile, said Felix Rosenqvist would return to his IndyCar seat next season as two key pieces …

Motorsports Gone Mad: Silly season spins out of control
2 years, 5 months ago

Motorsports Gone Mad: Silly season spins out of control

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fernando Alonso created this mess, right? Ganassi is now suing Palou, who says emphatically he’ll be with McLaren next season, and the entire IndyCar paddock has watched wide-eyed as each race weekend brings a new twist to the legal drama. Now McLaren is working on a buyout with current F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, Palou is in legal …

IndyCar champ Palou declares he will be at McLaren in 2023
2 years, 5 months ago

IndyCar champ Palou declares he will be at McLaren in 2023

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who has contracts signed with two different race teams for 2023 and is being sued by Chip Ganassi Racing, declared Thursday: “I will be in the McLaren family next year.” The soap opera over Palou’s future continued with more twists and turns than the Spaniard will face in Saturday’s road course race at Indianapolis …

Ganassi sues IndyCar champion Palou over contract disupte
2 years, 5 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 insists he wasn’t lying about being happy at Ganassi
2 years, 5 months ago

Palou insists he wasn’t lying about being happy at Ganassi

Associated Press  

NEWTON, Iowa — IndyCar champion Alex Palou insisted Friday he wasn’t lying last month when he told The Associated Press he was happy driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, wasn’t talking to any other teams, and was set to return to the No. Chip Ganassi last week said he picked up the exclusive option he held on Palou, while McLaren head …

Column: Palou contract fight is business, not personal
2 years, 5 months ago

Column: Palou contract fight is business, not personal

Associated Press  

It couldn’t have been more than a decade ago that Chip Ganassi hosted a dinner at his usual window table in his favorite Indianapolis steakhouse. Palou’s denials shifted speculation toward another run at Dixon, but the six-time IndyCar champion and Ganassi’s longest-tenured driver said he’d had no conversations about moving to Arrow McLaren SP. Brown stopped Pato O’Ward from slipping …

IndyCar champ Palou says he’s leaving Ganassi for McLaren
2 years, 5 months ago

IndyCar champ Palou says he’s leaving Ganassi for McLaren

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou’s top priority remains winning a second straight IndyCar championship. Shortly after Chip Ganassi Racing announced Tuesday it would exercise a team option to keep the star Spaniard next season, Palou and Arrow McLaren SP said they had agreed to a deal for 2023. “I have recently learned from the media that this afternoon, without my approval, …

IndyCar soars into Laguna Seca celebrating strong season
3 years, 3 months ago

IndyCar soars into Laguna Seca celebrating strong season

Associated Press  

MONTEREY, Calif. — Nearly two dozen fans stood in the California morning chill waiting patiently for their chance to take a selfie with The Phoenix. It’s next to impossible to get the hat branded “The Phoenix” — the acknowledgement to Grosjean’s F1 crash last November in which he walked out of a ball of fire. Grosjean estimates he’s been gifted …

O’Ward says IndyCar championship is Alex Palou’s to lose
3 years, 3 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 …

Column: Johnson’s leadership steadies Palou for title fight
3 years, 3 months ago

Column: Johnson’s leadership steadies Palou for title fight

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Ore. — Jimmie Johnson finished 20th at Portland International Raceway — he wasn’t last, Johnson has yet to finish last through 10 IndyCar races — then hopped on an electric scooter for a quick ride to victory lane. Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR champion who doesn’t have much in the way of on-track results to show for this midlife …

Palou shakes off Indy defeat, takes points lead to Detroit
3 years, 6 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 …

Discover Related