INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Palou sat within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway pagoda after final season and talked about the one factor that was loopy about his profession.
“Completely, it has been loopy that we’ve not gained on an oval but,” he stated.
He needed to wait eight months to race once more on an oval. And you recognize what’s loopy? His first oval win got here on the game’s largest stage Sunday as he captured the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Alex Palou readies to kiss the bricks following his first profession Indy 500 victory. (Photograph by Brandon Badraoui/Lumen by way of Getty Photos)
He doused that earlier 0-for-26 report on ovals with a swig of milk and the swagger of the three-time sequence champion that he’s.
“It simply makes it additional particular,” Palou stated. “I’d have been as glad as I’m proper now [with a previous oval win]. … I’ve solely gained one oval race and it has been on the speedway.”
The 28-year-old Chip Ganassi Racing driver continued his unimaginable profitable methods as he has gained 5 of the primary six races.
His yr of INDYCAR dominance ought to have ended Sunday. Whereas Palou had earned sturdy finishes on ovals during the last couple of years, a number of different drivers appeared more adept at Indy and wheeled automobiles simply as sturdy as Palou in apply within the weeks main as much as the race.
However this time, Palou made the cross over a driver who ought to have remained forward. Marcus Ericsson, a former Formula 1 driver who gained the 2022 Indianapolis 500 whereas driving as a teammate to Palou at Ganassi, obtained caught up in lapped visitors for only a second, opening the door for Palou to pounce.
The one factor a driver can’t do with Palou on street programs is depart that door open a crack. And now apparently ovals.
Moments after the race, Ericsson stated he already began taking part in the race-deciding cross again in his head.
“When he overtakes me, he form of had a run, however not a brilliant run, and I form of opened the door,” Ericsson stated. “It’s simply a type of issues that you simply play it in your head 1,000,000 occasions already after the end line what you might have accomplished in a different way there.
“It was robust with these lapped automobiles learn how to play it, however I had the most effective seat in the home there to guide the final 15 laps. … It’s fairly painful.”
Marcus Ericsson expresses his disappointment after developing brief in opposition to Alex Palou on Sunday.
Palou stated at that time, with 14 laps left within the race, he felt he needed to make the cross as quickly as doable. He felt Ericsson had the higher tires and extra gasoline.
That is not a great mixture to have to beat. However with classes realized from that 2021 end the place Helio Castroneves handed him late for the win, Palou knew he needed to make the transfer Ericsson when he had the possibility.
The transfer proved profitable — as most of Palou’s strikes this yr — and he held on for the win by 0.682 seconds.
“I was simply attempting to avoid wasting gasoline so we might go exhausting on the finish attempting to remain within the lead,” Palou stated. “I knew that was getting in the direction of late to cross him for the quantity of laps that I had on the tires. I’m glad we made it work.”
Those that watch Palou simply admire the precision and the mistake-free runs he tends to have when different drivers hiccup.
“I’m amazed at this man’s luck,” stated Pato O’Ward, who completed fourth, along with congratulating Palou. “He simply obtained by Ericsson — discovered the lappers and simply pedaled it there.
“I’m shocked Ericsson screwed up. He simply gave him the win there.”
Alex Palou enjoys victory together with his household following the Indy 500. (Photograph by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen by way of Getty Photos)
Don’t take that as an insult to Palou. It usually takes somewhat luck to win at Indianapolis. However typically you need to lose one with a purpose to win one, and Palou stated that 2021 defeat definitely performed a task within the 2025 victory.
“You might want to have the visitors on the proper time, and also you want to have the ability to learn it, however all the things was falling to my approach after which I needed to overtake Marcus,” Palou stated. “I do not know if he thought he was protected or if he was not considering that visitors was taking part in a giant function on the race or not. I’m glad that the 2021 class paid off.”
This wasn’t a win simply based mostly on a 2021 class. Palou has refined his craft to precision driving that has surprised the competitors on street programs. That precision has apparently transferred to ovals as nicely.
“The factor with him, he’s simply very, very polished as a driver, particularly right here at Indy,” stated Felix Rosenqvist, who completed fifth. “He simply form of took his time. He by no means actually stood out and simply form of stored working at it.
“He peaked on race day. … Congrats to him. That’s a hell of a run.”
Palou now has 15 profession road-course wins and one oval win — though his proprietor, Chip Ganassi, famous that the two.5-mile rectangular-shaped observe races isn’t a typical oval.
“I did not put a lot into that [no oval win stat],” Ganassi stated. “This race is gained extra like a street race versus a brief oval, I believe, when it comes to the technique and the way you intend out this race and map it out, as a result of it is a longer observe.”
Along with incomes his first win on an oval and his first Indianapolis 500 victory, Palou additionally grew to become the primary Spaniard to win the Indy 500. His victory marked the sixth for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“This race means a lot for me, for my household, for the INDYCAR neighborhood, our followers, and I’d say motorsports normally,” Palou stated.
“To be an Indy 500 champion, it is superb.”
Alex Palou celebrates together with his Chip Ganassi Racing crew. (Photograph by Brandon Badraoui/Lumen by way of Getty Photos)
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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