How Palou cemented his rising legend in IndyCar title protection

The percentages coming into the 2024 IndyCar season had been by no means beneficial for Alex Palou. For starters, the attrition of what’s arguably probably the most aggressive racing class on the planet meant no driver had received the championship twice in succession in over a decade.

If that weren’t sufficient, six of the ultimate eight rounds all passed off on ovals – a observe self-discipline that had but to yield a visit to Victory Lane for him. After which, too, was the unknown of the unprecedented mid-season debut of IndyCar’s hybrid engine.

Regardless of, the Spaniard was his normal unflappable self. Though the efficiency wasn’t fairly on par together with his stout 2023 title run of 5 wins and a end no decrease than eighth, the precision Palou continued to show on a weekly foundation with Chip Ganassi Racing was virtually surgical. He stormed to a few wins – together with the $1 Million Problem, a non-points spherical at The Thermal Membership – plus 4 extra podiums and three poles en path to hoisting the Astor Cup Trophy for the second consecutive season, and third time over the previous 4 years.

The occasional beatdown Palou has been recognized for by no means actually got here this previous marketing campaign. The primary of his two points-paying victories got here on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s street course structure, the place he recovered from a nasty begin from pole with sensational in-lap and out-lap technique to vault into the lead on the penultimate spherical of pitstops earlier than marching on to a 6.6106-second victory.

He took his different points-paying win of the 12 months at Laguna Seca, the place he led early however was left to drag off a wondrous cross within the Corkscrew on Colton Herta – harking back to an analogous transfer Alex Zanardi placed on Herta’s father, Bryan, almost 30 years in the past. It wasn’t all as simple, although, since Palou was pressured to fend off rivals on a late restart within the chaotic, caution-filled affair earlier than crossing the end line 1.9780s forward of Herta.

Palou’s daunting stage of consistency took a success, his streak of 23 consecutive high 10 finishes in points-paying races coming to an finish with a mediocre sixteenth on the streets of Detroit in early June. That blemish was adopted by three extra mediocre outcomes outdoors the highest 10.

These included an uncharacteristically self-inflicted mistake that led to Palou crashing his Honda-powered Dallara out of the opening race of the double-header weekend at Iowa Speedway. Per normal, although, he was unfazed and rebounded to fight the woeful outings with 13 high fives by way of the 17 points-paying rounds, matching his mark from a 12 months in the past.

There have been, after all, moments of tension close to the closing levels. Within the penultimate race of the 12 months, the second act of Milwaukee’s double-header, Palou stopped on the within of the observe throughout tempo laps simply moments earlier than the inexperienced flag.

He was finally placed on the hook and towed again to the paddock, the place his crew went to work and located the wrongdoer was a battery concern. Upon fixing it, he returned 29 laps down however gained invaluable factors because the attrition-filled contest elevated him eight positions.

“He’s in fairly rarefied air proper now, as they are saying. His title must be amongst and definitely within the dialog of the nice drivers”
Chip Ganassi

In flip, he went into the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway with a 33-point lead over Will Energy, the one different driver who remained in rivalry for the title as soon as the race began. And Palou was left beginning twenty fourth whereas Energy’s late try was from fourth on the grid.

However any last-gasp heroics by Energy shortly vanished when a defective seatbelt pressured him to pit his Chevrolet-engined Staff Penske machine. Ultimately, Energy’s downside relegated him to twenty fourth and gave Palou, who completed eleventh, a transparent path to the title.

“We’ve been fortunate to have some nice drivers on the crew through the years,” says crew proprietor Chip Ganassi, who additionally ran Dario Franchitti, the earlier back-to-back champion in 2009-11. “You wish to make the plain comparisons, however I don’t know which you could.

“At his age to be doing what he’s doing, having the expertise that he has, particularly with the collection the best way it’s now with some ovals, these guys aren’t precisely ovalmeisters which can be excelling within the collection in the present day. There are higher oval racers on the market. I’m certain he’ll let you know that. So it’s an fascinating collection now.

Staff proprietor Ganassi believes his cost is already amongst IndyCar’s greats

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Pictures

“To have a man like Alex in your crew. I imply, three championships in 4 years… He’s in fairly rarefied air proper now, as they are saying. His title must be amongst and definitely within the dialog of the nice drivers.”

Though Energy was the one different driver in title rivalry in Nashville, his seatbelt troubles opened the door for Herta to take centre stage with an exciting maiden oval win that ascended the Andretti International driver to a career-best second within the total standings. The outing served as an exclamation level for Herta, who got here into his personal and rebounded in model after ending an underwhelming tenth within the championship in every of the earlier two years.

The California native’s different win got here on the streets of Toronto, holding off team-mate Kyle Kirkwood and Chip Ganassi Racing’s six-time champion Scott Dixon to interrupt a 41-race winless drought that dated again to Could 2022. He led the third-most laps of the 12 months (305) and matched champion Palou with six podiums, whereas additionally scoring a career-best 11 top-fives.

With regards to drivers questioning what may have been, although, that onus possible falls to Staff Penske’s Scott McLaughlin. The ex-Supercars legend took a major step ahead and captured his first oval victory within the opening race of the Iowa double-header, after which validated his abilities even additional by bagging one other within the nightcap of Milwaukee’s two-race weekend.

His 637 laps led in the course of the season had been a series-high, with team-mate Energy the following closest with 366. McLaughlin additionally set the mark with a series-leading seven podiums in points-paying rounds. However that quantity may have been even larger if not for his function in Staff Penske’s push-to-pass scandal in St Petersburg, which wiped away his third-place consequence, together with team-mate Josef Newgarden’s win.

The choice concerning the penalties, which additionally included Energy being docked 10 factors, got here 45 days after the race and led into the third spherical of the championship at Barber Motorsports Park. Amid the turmoil, McLaughlin responded by blocking out the noise, claiming one among his 5 poles of the 12 months en path to an authoritative victory. McLaughlin’s three wins tied him with Energy and Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren for many within the collection in 2024.

If the rostrum lead to St Petersburg was upheld for McLaughlin with how the remainder of the season transpired, he would have drawn stage with Palou at season’s finish with 540 factors, however claimed the championship by way of tiebreaker by advantage of getting extra wins. Ultimately, although, he completed third within the title race and was the benchmark among the many Penske trio for the second straight 12 months.

Enhance saga that meant McLaughlin misplaced his factors from St. Pete finally price Penske the title

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Pictures

Regardless of lacking out on a correct likelihood to battle for the crown within the last race, Energy’s resurgence was welcomed after enduring a winless 2023. The 43-year-old Aussie ended a drought that went again to Detroit 2022 by main a Penske 1-2-3 sweep of the rostrum at Street America.

Energy additionally stormed to 2 extra victories at Iowa and Portland, bumping his tally as much as 44 in his illustrious profession. Uniquely, although, the all-time pole report holder within the collection did not seize a high spot in qualifying for the primary time since 2008.

There was no scarcity of drama surrounding O’Ward. The younger Mexican was credited with the victory in St Petersburg as soon as Newgarden was disqualified. The 2 had been then tangled instantly traditional simply three months later within the Indianapolis 500.

Whereas Dixon completed a lowly sixth within the championship, he displayed flashes of his brilliance all through, particularly with a masterclass in fuel-saving on the streets of Lengthy Seaside

O’Ward pulled off a last-lap cross on Newgarden to take the lead, solely to lose the race in heartbreaking style as Newgarden responded with a brave outdoors cross into Flip 3 moments later to say back-to-back victories in ‘The Biggest Spectacle in Racing’. That emotional loss for O’Ward ignited a hearth for the second half of the season, which included claiming the primary win of IndyCar’s hybrid period at Mid-Ohio after outduelling Palou.

Then got here the race the place ‘Pato who?’ was born when he took a commanding victory within the opening race at Milwaukee lower than 24 hours after Penske Leisure CEO Mark Miles shared controversial feedback concerning his recognition, notably because it associated to IndyCar getting crushed to the punch by NASCAR to get a race in Mexico. However a blended bag of outcomes left nothing extra to play for than fifth within the title race.

Whereas Dixon completed a lowly sixth within the championship, he displayed flashes of his brilliance all through, particularly with a masterclass in fuel-saving on the streets of Lengthy Seaside. The Kiwi snatched a second victory by dodging the divebomb carnage in Detroit, which put his win whole at 58 (second all-time). 

For Newgarden, the two-time collection champion’s 12 months may solely be outlined by Indy 500 glory and a complementary win in St Louis after a controversial restart. Too many errors and miscues proved to be the Tennessee native’s downfall and he tumbled to eighth within the championship, instantly behind Andretti International’s constant however winless Kyle Kirkwood.

O’Ward made up for his Indy 500 defeat by successful the primary hybrid period race at Mid-Ohio

Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures

There have been eight totally different winners from 4 totally different groups as soon as the mud settled on the season. Even with the parity, Palou’s resilience and fortitude proved an excessive amount of for anybody to beat. In contrast to his titles in 2021 and 2023, this one stands aside in being his first earned since turning into a father.

Palou put it just by saying: “I wouldn’t change something that I’m residing in the meanwhile.”

Race by race

St Petersburg
1. Pato O’Ward
2. Will Energy 
3. Colton Herta

A dominant drive by Newgarden – he leads 92 laps to the highest step of the rostrum. Then it’s wiped away 45 days later after information reveals he and Staff Penske team-mate McLaughlin – who completed third – illegally used overtake on restarts. Each are disqualified, selling O’Ward to the win.

Lengthy Seaside
1. Scott Dixon
2. Colton Herta
3. Alex Palou

Dixon makes use of the one warning to change to an alternate technique, which vaults him into the lead however forces him into gas conservation. Regardless of late hounding by Herta, who’s on the other technique and capable of maximise his tempo, the six-time collection champion holds him off in a defensive masterclass.

Barber
1. Scott McLaughlin
2. Will Energy 
3. Linus Lundqvist

Within the wake of Penske’s overtake scandal that blows up earlier within the week, McLaughlin blocks out the noise and storms to victory. He leads a 1-2 for the crew after heading off Energy on a late restart with two laps to go. Rookie Lundqvist captures the maiden podium of his profession.

With the fallout from St. Pete nonetheless contemporary, McLaughlin silenced the critics at Barber

Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures

Indianapolis GP
1. Alex Palou
2. Will Energy
3. Christian Lundgaard

Polesitter Palou recovers after falling behind early, utilizing his in and out-lap prowess to safe the lead in the course of the penultimate spherical of pitstops. Energy is a distant second at 6s again, with Lundgaard ending third. Palou takes over the championship lead in consequence. 

Indy 500
1. Josef Newgarden
2. Pato O’Ward
3. Scott Dixon

An on the spot traditional options two lead modifications on the final lap as O’Ward passes Newgarden within the strategy to Flip 1, and the two-time collection champion responds with a courageous outdoors cross of his personal into Flip 3 to safe the lead and develop into a back-to-back Indy 500 winner.

Detroit 
1. Scott Dixon
2. Marcus Ericsson
3. Marcus Armstrong

Dixon captures the 58th victory of his profession after as soon as once more relying on his gas technique mastery, aided by a day of carnage that options eight cautions consuming 47 of 100 laps. Ericsson’s late cost runs out of time however he collects his first podium in Andretti colors.

Street America
1. Will Energy
2. Josef Newgarden
3. Scott McLaughlin

Energy ends a two-year winless drought after overcutting his team-mates throughout pitstops en path to main a Staff Penske sweep of the rostrum. It’s the forty second victory of Energy’s profession, which places him right into a tie with Michael Andretti for fourth on the all-time wins checklist.

Energy ended his prolonged win drought at Street America throughout a resurgent marketing campaign

Photograph by: Artwork Fleischmann

Laguna Seca
1. Alex Palou
2. Colton Herta
3. Alexander Rossi

Palou perfects a flat-out technique to seize the lead from Herta with a stout cross within the Corkscrew. Regardless of a late restart with 4 laps to go, the reigning collection champion is ready to steadily break free and rating his second win of the season, with Herta almost 2s again.

Mid-Ohio
1. Pato O’Ward
2. Alex Palou
3. Scott McLaughlin

The debut of IndyCar’s hybrid unit doesn’t current many passing alternatives all through the sector, however a battle between O’Ward and Palou is a lot enthralling. Palou momentarily stalls exiting the pits, which permits O’Ward the prospect to make a run on the exit into Flip 1 and by no means look again.

Iowa 1
1. Scott McLaughlin
2. Pato O’Ward
3. Josef Newgarden

McLaughlin dominates to take his first oval win, whereas Palou makes an uncharacteristic mistake and crashes out after 175 of 250 laps. The shortage of passing alternatives as a result of repaved corners is clear – O’Ward can solely observe McLaughlin to grab second, with Newgarden third. 

Iowa 2 
1. Will Energy
2. Alex Palou
3. Scott McLaughlin

Energy takes benefit of a fortunate early warning to catapult from a Twenty second-place begin into the race lead, the place he is ready to maintain agency forward of Palou for the forty third win of his profession. Robb goes airborne in a horrific crash on the ultimate lap after clipping a fuel-starved Rossi.

Palou was denied first oval win by Energy in second Iowa bout

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Pictures

Toronto
1. Colton Herta
2. Kyle Kirkwood
3. Scott Dixon

Herta ends a 41-race winless streak by main 81 of 85 laps from pole, whereas additionally giving Andretti a 1-2 consequence with Kirkwood in tow. In an enormous accident, Ferrucci climbs a stationary O’Ward in Flip 2 and will get airborne into the catch fence earlier than touchdown the wrong way up on the observe.

St Louis
1. Josef Newgarden
2. Scott McLaughlin
3. Linus Lundqvist

Newgarden’s trickery is on show after lagging on the penultimate restart with lower than 10 laps to go, sparking a multi-car crash that collects Energy, who reveals his displeasure by flipping off his Penske team-mate. On the last restart, Newgarden makes a clear getaway to guide a Penske 1-2 from McLaughlin.

Portland
1. Will Energy
2. Alex Palou
3. Josef Newgarden

Energy passes polesitter Ferrucci at the beginning into Flip 1 and stays untouchable, main 101 of 110 laps and delivering a beatdown by almost 10s over Palou, and greater than 23s on Newgarden. Dixon crashes on the opening lap after being pressured off observe by Kirkwood.

Milwaukee 1
1. Pato O’Ward
2. Will Energy
3. Conor Daly

Lower than 24 hours after Penske Leisure CEO Mark Miles questions O’Ward’s recognition within the sport as to why IndyCar isn’t racing in Mexico, the younger Mexican surges to an emphatic victory on the historic one-mile oval. He leads 133 of 250 laps en path to heading off a hungry Energy.

O’Ward delivered good riposte to Miles’s feedback by successful at Milwaukee

Photograph by: Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Pictures

Milwaukee 2
1. Scott McLaughlin 
2. Scott Dixon
3. Colton Herta

Battery points plague Palou within the warm-up laps and threaten his maintain on the crown. Energy leads early on however fails to benefit from Palou’s points, spinning mid-race. McLaughlin holds on amid a late cost by Dixon, gathering his second oval win and seventh total victory of his profession.

Nashville
1. Colton Herta
2. Pato O’Ward
3. Josef Newgarden

Palou steadily climbs up the sector from twenty fourth to complete eleventh and declare his third championship, whereas rival Energy falls behind with a defective seatbelt. Herta hounds O’Ward as the 2 navigate by way of lapped site visitors, pulling off the successful cross with 5 laps to go en path to his first oval win.

Herta’s victory at Nashville elevated him to second within the standings

Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Motorsport Pictures