Alex Palou has positioned his identify among the many record of all-time greats of IndyCar lore by claiming his third series championship after a wild season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.
The Spaniard prevailed with an Eleventh-place end after 206 laps on the 1.33-mile oval on Sunday, which proved sufficient as his closest rival, Will Power, noticed hopes dashed when his seat belt got here unfastened and finally led to his No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet fading to twenty fourth, eight laps down.
“Nicely, at the start I needed to go for it,” Palou stated. “I needed to take some probabilities on the beginning making an attempt to make up some room. Simply beginning to date again, we wanted to achieve.
“The whole lot was working proper. As much as fifteenth or sixteenth, one thing like that, which was already an excellent step. Then I noticed the 12 going into pit lane. At first I used to be like, ‘Oh, what technique are they going to tug off?’
“Sadly that is not the way in which clearly you need your largest competitor to go down on the season finale. On the identical time that is what occurred to us two weeks in the past, so… Yeah, it is racing. It is motorsport. That is what makes this sport so onerous.
“After that we had been doing our personal race. Clearly keeping track of the No. 12 automobile, however simply making an attempt to maneuver ahead.”
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
In claiming his second consecutive title, Palou turns into the primary to go back-to-back since Dario Franchitti pulled off a three-peat from 2009-11. Moreover, being 27 years, 5 months and 14 days outdated, Palou turned the second-youngest driver to say three championships; Sam Hornish Jr. holds the file because the youngest at 27 years, two months and eight days in 2006.
This outing additionally continues to point out the power of Chip Ganassi Racing, who now have earned 16 titles, together with 4 over the previous 5 seasons.
Whereas Palou is relishing his third title, although, this one stands aside for one important cause: it’s his first as a father.
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
“They are saying successful is the most effective factor in life, which I agree,” Palou stated. “They are saying being a dad is the most effective factor in life, which I double agree. However if you do each in the identical yr, it is actual tremendous particular.
“It has been a tremendous yr of studying, clearly. Perhaps sleeping somewhat bit much less. Not with the ability to be on the simulator as a lot as I used to at house, taking part in video video games.
“It has been wonderful. I would not change something that I am residing for the time being. It was the most effective factor to have her at my first win this yr on the Indy street course, to have her immediately celebrating.”
With that, although, Palou additionally admitted that he already talked to Franchitti, who stays a key a part of CGR in a driver coach function.
“Yeah, he nonetheless jogged my memory that he did it as soon as extra,” Palou stated. “So, I nonetheless have another yr to catch him. Hopefully we will.”
