Alex Palou has positioned his title among the many checklist of all-time greats of IndyCar lore by claiming his third collection 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 Energy, noticed hopes dashed when his seat belt got here free and in the end led to his No. 12 Group Penske Chevrolet fading to twenty fourth, eight laps down.
“Nicely, at first I needed to go for it,” Palou stated. “I needed to take some possibilities on the beginning attempting to make up some room. Simply beginning thus far again, we would have liked to achieve.
“Every part was working proper. As much as fifteenth or sixteenth, one thing like that, which was already a superb step. Then I noticed the 12 going into pit lane. At first I used to be like, ‘Oh, what technique are they going to drag off?’
“Sadly that is not the way in which clearly you need your greatest 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 have been doing our personal race. Clearly maintaining a tally of the No. 12 automobile, however simply attempting to maneuver ahead.”
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Picture 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 previous, Palou grew to become the second-youngest driver to say three championships; Sam Hornish Jr. holds the report because the youngest at 27 years, two months and eight days in 2006.
This outing additionally continues to indicate the energy 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 motive: it’s his first as a father.
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Picture by: Penske Leisure
“They are saying successful is the perfect factor in life, which I agree,” Palou stated. “They are saying being a dad is the perfect factor in life, which I double agree. However once you do each in the identical yr, it is actual tremendous particular.
“It has been an incredible yr of studying, clearly. Perhaps sleeping a bit of bit much less. Not having the ability to be on the simulator as a lot as I used to at dwelling, enjoying video video games.
“It has been superb. I would not change something that I am residing for the time being. It was the perfect factor to have her at my first win this yr on the Indy highway course, to have her right now 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 position.
“Yeah, he nonetheless jogged my memory that he did it as soon as extra,” Palou stated. “So, I nonetheless have yet another yr to catch him. Hopefully we will.”
