Alex Palou Claims First Victory of the Season in IndyCar Race
In the IndyCar race, Alex Palou showcased his skill and determination as he stormed to victory in his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry. Starting from the third position, Palou made his way to the front of the pack, capitalizing on the grip provided by the red-sidewalled Firestone tires.
Throughout the intense 85-lap race, Palou led an impressive 52 laps, leaving his rivals struggling to catch up. After overtaking Christian Lundgaard from Rahal Letterman Lanigan in a stunning display of skill, Palou successfully defended his position against the fierce challenge from Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren. This remarkable performance secured Palou’s fifth IndyCar triumph and marked his first victory of the season.
“We knew we had to push hard right from the start by utilizing the advantage of the alternate tires,” expressed the reigning 2021 champion. “The alternates had a clear advantage for a couple of laps. After that, it became challenging to make further progress.”
Palou recounted his daring attempt to pass Lundgaard in Turn 1, acknowledging the Danish driver’s aggressive defense. Although Palou sought an easier overtaking opportunity, he eventually made a successful move in the final corner. Reflecting on the tire strategy, Palou revealed his sequence of fresh alternates, followed by new primaries, used primaries, and concluding with new primaries. By selecting this sequence, Palou strategically secured maximum grip on his tires, providing an advantageous edge in the event of a potential late caution period.
When asked about his surprise at others’ failure to adopt a similar strategy, Palou responded, “Yes, it did surprise us. For our team, the plan was clear. We anticipated the challenges posed by used reds and made a conscious decision to avoid them. Starting on new alternates allowed us to secure the lead and establish a substantial advantage of several seconds before transitioning to blacks.”
In the closing stages of the race, while his closest competitor, O’Ward, struggled with the reds, Palou extended his lead to over 15 seconds. Palou attributed his advantage to his speed in Sector 2, specifically Turns 7-8-9-10, on the black tires. Although he faced some difficulties on the reds, he remained competitive in other sections of the track.
With this impressive victory, Palou not only claimed his place at the top of the championship standings but also surpassed O’Ward by six points and teammate Marcus Ericsson by 19 points. The triumph marked a significant milestone for Palou as he solidified his position as a force to be reckoned with in the IndyCar series.
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