Alex Palou is in a hunch.
OK, not likely.
Palou gained 5 of the primary six INDYCAR races — together with the Indianapolis 500 — to start out the 2025 season earlier than finishes of twenty fifth (when he bought wrecked) and eighth in his previous two begins.
His factors lead with 9 races remaining has gone from 112 to 73. Extra finishes like he had his final two weeks and he gained’t be the 2025 champion as most anticipated after such a powerful begin.
“You at all times regulate it, clearly, however I’d say that specializing in the championship, that solely goes on the final two races, every time it is such as you already know that hopefully you are within the struggle or not,” Palou stated. “Hopefully it is solely your self and three different drivers, and what you might want to do or who you might want to struggle for.”
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, who has gained the final two INDYCAR titles and three of the final 4, shouldn’t sweat an excessive amount of. The sequence heads to Highway America (Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX) this weekend, a monitor the place Palou has two wins on his resume.
“The best way we bought right here was by racing exhausting and going aggressive on methods and attempting to go for wins, and I believe that is the best way we have to proceed racing,” Palou stated. “Hopefully we are able to take a look at who we’re racing in opposition to in the direction of the final two, three races of the 12 months.”
Palou has a 73-point lead on Pato O’Ward, 75 factors on Kyle Kirkwood (whose three wins make him the one driver aside from Palou to win this 12 months), 114 on Christian Lundgaard and 129 on six-time champion Scott Dixon.
“Now we’re combating in opposition to everyone, so it simply does not actually make a lot sense to depend factors,” Palou stated. “It is good to take a look at them whenever you’re main and see that hopefully we are able to prolong slightly bit extra the hole.”
Palou nonetheless has what many would say is a cushty lead. He stated he doesn’t fear concerning the final two outcomes relating to the standings as a result of, as he stated, he hasn’t centered on the standings but.
Kirkwood, who misplaced 24 factors due to a postrace technical penalty following the Indianapolis 500, has gained the final two races heading into Highway America.
“It did not add any strain in any respect simply because I did not ever assume that it was performed or it was ours or something like that,” Palou stated. “I knew that we simply had an ideal begin of the season, and clearly you possibly can see an enormous level distinction.
“I count on that it is going to get very tight. It will make it fascinating. I simply hope that we’re there on the finish to struggle for it.”
Palou isn’t searching for a few wins to place the competitors for the championship in an unimaginable place to win the title. He’s searching for a few wins to, properly, win races.
“We have been missing efficiency [last week] and we struggled lots,” Palou stated. “It is not regarding, like, urgency, nevertheless it’s clearly not good. … There’s at all times urgency to win. No one likes to see anyone else win.
“However I believe on the identical time, we bought used to an excessive amount of success. Not we because the crew, however everyone expects us to win each single weekend. It is not potential, sadly.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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