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The Drive
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
How Indy 500 Winner Alex Palou and Honda Are Dominating IndyCar's Hybrid Era
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Sunday's 109th running of the Indy 500 saw Alex Palou win his fifth race of the season, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that the iconic Memorial Day weekend race was just the sixth race of the 2025 calendar. It was also the Spaniard's first-ever oval win, further emphasizing the dreamy season Chip Ganassi's new star is having so far. But amid all the Palou headlines, there's an element that's often less talked about: the Honda hybrid engine that made it possible. When the bright-yellow, DHL-sponsored Honda crossed the yard of bricks ahead of its competitors Sunday, it wasn't a coincidence. It was months, if not a full year of preparation by the No. 10 crew, but primarily, lots of practice during the month of May. Besides the usual challenges of running in a pack, drafting, turbulence, dealing with slower traffic, pit stops, and everything else that makes racing at 230 mph for nearly three hours a monumental challenge, there was a new layer to be concerned about this year. See, this year's sold-out race was the first time the entire 33-car grid, Chevy or Honda, ran a spec hybrid system. And like everything else in racing, teams and drivers alike have had to learn how to use it to their advantage. Travis Hinkle It took IndyCar a long time to fulfill its promise to go hybrid—nearly five years, actually. Developmental delays, followed by manufacturing and shipping delays, resulted in a series of postponements that left everyone wondering if it would ever arrive. And when the pandemic of 2020 brought global chaos and the world came to a standstill, many wondered if it would even happen at all. But alas, nearly halfway through the 2024 season, IndyCar went racing with all-new hybrid systems at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. While this may be the first hybrid 500, it doesn't mean teams went into the race completely blind. As Kelvin Fu, HRC US Vice President (and a real engineering wizard), explained to me the morning of the race, there's been lots of model simulation and racing simulator work to optimize the system's performance. While HRC US—Honda's racing branch in North America—provides plenty of support to its IndyCar teams, the ultimate application of the car's drivetrain and other systems completely depends on the team. Furthermore, with both Honda and Chevy engines running the same hybrid and energy storage systems, the biggest challenge for the drivers is learning how to tame them and maximize their benefits, which is something they haven't had much time to figure out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Joe Skibinski, Matt Favrer 'In terms of preparation of the hybrid system, it all really works together as it's integrated into the engine and chassis, etc,' Fu explained. 'So it's more simulation and situational preparation ahead of the 500. It's a lot more trying to understand how the drivers can deploy the energy, as they're already doing many things with the tools on their steering wheels, so that's a challenge for them. Traditionally, drivers don't want to be the first guy [at the front of the pack], but that may change. Drivers have to figure out moving around the pack and multiple strategies… [the new system brings] something different, and it forces teams and drivers to handle change. 'It's going to be interesting [during the race], and we won't know until it runs. Our assumption is that as you're racing, the drivers who are better at harvesting and regenerating at the right time are going to slowly have an advantage as they go around. The ability to regen is going to be affected by where they are in the pack. If you are in the front, there's less lifting [off the throttle], but as you fall back there's [more lifting], and when you are lifting that's when you are regenerating,' added Fu. 'Those guys might be able to build more energy, so they'll have a better chance of passing. We'll see how it goes, a lot of things can affect how the cars run—the cooler weather, downforce, etc. We think the hybrid system will have an effect on how effectively they can pass—the drivers and teams who can figure out the system better will move through the field easier.' Overall race-pace speeds weren't dramatically affected by the higher power of the hybrid—a combined 900 hp—as the car is about 100 pounds heavier than before. The system itself is housed alongside the engine and is about the size of a milk crate, making the packaging under the engine cover a bigger challenge than in previous years. And contrary to popular belief, it hasn't made the engines more fuel efficient either. It's 100% about power and performance. Joe Skibinski, Chris Owens Fu's comments about the system favoring savvy drivers who do their homework resonated as the laps racked up during Sunday's race. Palou, who started sixth, was never quite in the mix at the front for most of the race. In fact, it wasn't until about lap 180 of 200 that he made his intentions extremely clear with a couple of aggressive passes on Chevy drivers Santino Ferrucci and Pato O'Ward. Prior to that, Palou was running steady within the top 10 or 12, managing his fuel strategy, making clean pit stops, and more importantly, avoiding chaos. Over the course of 480-plus miles, Palou (along with everyone else) managed their energy harvesting and power output to up the pace when necessary, and go for crucial passes when needed. And little by little, the Spaniard positioned himself just right at the end of the race. He methodically did what he had to do to be within striking distance when it mattered most. Honda would not comment on Palou's specific management of the hybrid system during the race, but it curiously highlighted that during qualifying, data revealed that many drivers' speeds during the fourth and final lap of Indy's four-lap-average qualifying format were often the fastest. It's usually the other way around as the tires begin to scrub, the engines begin to overheat from being turned to 11, and drivers begin to overthink and overcorrect. This year, however, drivers were harvesting during the first three and deploying that additional energy on the fourth lap. Surely, those same strategies were put into place on race day. Joe Skibinski Between 2004 and 2014, Chevy only managed to steal one Indy 500 win away from Honda. Since then, however, it's been just about an even split between IndyCar's two engine manufacturers. And after back-to-back Penske-Chevy wins at the hands of Josef Newgarden in 2023 and 2024 (one of those with a car of questionable legality), Honda's sweep of the 2025 season so far highlights its engineering prowess—even when it comes to non-proprietary systems. And almost equally as important as winning is the fact that the hybrid components worked exactly as expected, and there were no hybrid failures or issues during the race in Honda-powered cars. To place first, you first have to finish the race. When asked about any tweaks or further developments Honda would like to make to the hybrid system for next year, Fu highlighted that there have been some improvements since its debut, but so far, they're pretty happy where things are at. 'Honda makes the super capacitor, and Chevy Ilmore makes the MGU, but it's really IndyCar's system,' said Fu. 'It's a combined effort between manufacturers that's been good so far. We'll propose improvements and other things, but there's always a trade-off to making changes… as those things require costs, time, things need to be tested and validated, etc. Of course, Honda is always looking to make improvements, and this year we've already been able to increase the energy allowance. 'Overall, it's a good system right now, and we don't want to change it too much in the near future.' Chris Owens CHRIS OWENS Got a tip? Email us at tips@
Associated Press
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Chip Ganassi calls Alex Palou 'the best driver' after his historic Indy 500 win
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's a long list of racing greats who have passed through Chip Ganassi Racing over its 35 years in existence — but not so lengthy that Ganassi can't rattle them off the top of his head. Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya gave Ganassi four consecutive championships. Scott Dixon teamed with Dario Franchitti to restart another four-year title streak. Marcus Ericsson won Ganassi his fifth Indianapolis 500 victory in 2022, ending a 10-year losing streak in 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' for Ganassi. Now he has Alex Palou on his roster, and as he leaned to kiss the first Spaniard to ever win the Indy 500, Ganassi had a message for him. 'You're the best driver,' the team owner said. 'Unbelievable, man. Unbelievable.' It was the expected ending of a bizarre, crash-filled Indy 500 in which Palou won for the fifth time in six races this season but in the one event Palou was adamant he needed to win to ever have a complete racing resume. He's already the two-time defending IndyCar champion and has won three titles in the last four years, all with Ganassi. 'I think he's one of the greats. It's that simple,' Ganassi said. 'Certainly we've had some great drivers on our team, and he's right there, at worst, shoulder-to-shoulder with all the rest of them.' What a start There have only been two drivers to win five of the first six races of a season in the modern era — Al Unser Sr. and A.J. Foyt, with Foyt winning the first seven and that included the Indy 500. Now Palou is on a similar dominating pace and with 11 races remaining in the IndyCar season, he takes a 115-point lead over Pato O'Ward in the championship standings to this weekend's race in Detroit. Palou says the results are not solely driver based and acknowledged the work of his No. 10 Ganassi team. 'I think I get a lot of credit because you see that I'm the only one driving the car. But there's a huge team behind that is making me look very good on track,' Palou said. 'Whenever we've had the chance to win, we've been able to execute. And that's taking into account not only the setup, but the strategies, the pit stops. 'I've been telling you guys that I know that this is not normal,' he added. 'But I'm glad that it didn't end (at Indy) and that we got the wave until the 500 at least.' How did he win the 500? Palou won Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway by losing it to Helio Castroneves in 2021. Palou finished second as Castroneves won for a record-tying fourth time, and Palou begged Castroneves to tell him what he'd done wrong. Castroneves wasn't interested in sharing his secrets. So Palou studied the film, tried to understand how Castroneves used the traffic to keep Palou behind him, and steadily improved his craft on ovals. His Indy 500 win marked the first victory for Palou on an oval. 'Thanks to Helio, I was able to read the traffic good,' Palou said. 'I knew that because of how the strategies were shaking up at the end that we were going to have traffic. So traffic, even though you were P2, you were actually P5 or P4. So you had to take that into account. So I was just trying my best to try and read it and get on top of it.' He was seeing two and three moves ahead, something he learned from Castroneves' winning move, and it gave Palou the guts to make the final pass with 16 laps remaining. It was an incredibly early move in a race that has been decided the last several years by a series of late-lap passes. 'I think I'm here because of 2021 for sure,' said Palou. What comes next? Palou is still being sued for nearly $30 million by McLaren Racing in a breach of contract suit after he changed his mind in late 2023 to leave Ganassi for McLaren ahead of the 2024 season. The two teams had been engaged in a tug-of-war over Palou since he had signed contracts with both teams and McLaren wants every dollar back it spent on developing him as its Formula 1 driver and damages accrued when Palou did not join the IndyCar team. But he lives his life as if this lawsuit isn't hanging over his head — or even bothers him just a bit. It's tricky, though, because Palou is so hot right now many are beginning to openly ask why he isn't in F1. There's theoretically at least one seat open next year with the new Cadillac F1 team owned by Dan Towriss, who also owns the Andretti Global IndyCar team and watched Palou beat his driver Ericsson to win the Indy 500. Palou doesn't believe a spot remains open to him in F1 after the McLaren mess, but more important, is content where he is with Ganassi. 'I would understand (if teams don't want me), but I am super happy where I am,' Palou said. 'I mean you can see that. I've not had any conversations with anybody and I am not knocking on doors. I promise 100% I have had no conversation and no one with my (management) team has had any conversations with anybody.' The Spanish effect Palou is unsure if his Indy 500 win will gain him any attention in Spain, where he became the first Spaniard to win the race. The country celebrates soccer and F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr., while Palou, from Barcelona, remains under the radar. He said he noticed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway more Spanish fans and flags than he's seen at any other IndyCar race in his six seasons racing in the United States. 'I don't know what it's going to be for Spain. Hopefully they are celebrating as much as I am,' he said. 'Hopefully that gets more fans, more people. There was a lot of Spanish flags here, which I did never see before.' His focus is instead on building his fanbase in the United States and in Indiana, where he resides during the season and has embraced the community. Palou wore a Tyrese Haliburton jersey in the Indy 500 parade, and had it on again Sunday night when he showed up in the second quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Pacers and the New York Knicks. 'That's going to help some people in Indiana to know me,' he said of the standing ovation he received at the game. ___ In the Pits analyzes the biggest topics in auto racing. ___ AP auto racing:
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Scott McLaughlin crashes out before Indy 500 start
Scott McLaughlin is out of the Indy 500, after a crash before the race start. Photo: Photosport Scott McLaughlin's Indy 500 is over, with a dramatic crash before the race start. McLaughlin was trying to warm up his tyres on a pace lap just before the start, when he lost control of his Team Penske car. It swerved wildly and crashed into an inside wall on the famous Indianapolis track. McLaughlin wasn't injured, but he was shown on the Sky television broadcast on his haunches on the ground, with his head in his hands. At the same time, flames were seen coming from the back of fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon's car with an apparent braking problem, but he started the race. The onboard from the No. 3 car of @smclaughlin93 McLaughlin, who was in a back-up car after crashing his main vehicle at the track last week, said he didn't know what caused today's crash. "I really have no idea what happened," McLaughlin said. "I'm just really upset for my team. They built me a fantastic car again. I'm really sorry to my sponsors, my fans, my family. I don't know what happened. "I'm still… I can't believe we're out of the race. I just had so much hope today. Yeah, it's by far, the worst moment of my life. "I know it's probably dramatic and whatever, but I put so much into this race, everyone does, and I didn't even get to see the green flag." Dixon pitted on lap 30 for apparent repairs to the braking system of his Chip Ganassi car, losing him three laps behind the field.
Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
'I'm sorry for them, but ...': Owner Chip Ganassi ready to put Indy 500 Penske scandal to bed
INDIANAPOLIS — Chip Ganassi said he feels the fallout from Team Penske's tech inspection violations ahead of Fast 12 qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 — leading to six-figure fines, a pair of 21-spot grid penalties and a pair of suspensions that turned into a trio of firings, among other things — were appropriate penalties levied by IndyCar brass and series owner Roger Penske himself. 'Look, I can sit here and sharp-shoot some comments by drivers, but I'm not gonna do that,' Ganassi told select reporters Friday morning at his annual "Chip on the bricks" media availability minutes before the start of Carb Day practice. 'My issues were with, well, everybody knows my issues and what they were about, and it's nothing personal. It's about the sport. It's about the Speedway, and it's behind us now.' In the early moments of Sunday's scandal, as Team Penske crew members thrashed at the back of the team's Nos. 2 and 12 cars in hopes of bringing the cars' illegally modified attenuators back to code after they were spotted by the IndyCar tech inspection team during routine pre-session checks, it was Ganassi who was spotted being most emotive on pit lane, up in arms about Team Penske's attempted modifications that far exceeded what the IndyCar rulebook allows for once cars have been checked over. At that point, teams are only allowed to change tire pressures and wing angles, and yet after IndyCar technical director Kevin 'Rocket' Blanch noticed the cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power had a seam between the attenuator's main piece and support panels had been filled in, sanded over and smoothed over, Penske employees were see bringing out grinders and blowtorches in an attempt to bring them back to their original spec conditions that the rulebook demands they be used in. The cars' irregularities were spotted during inspection, but were still allowed to roll onto pit lane in the service of timeliness, and though ex-Team Penske IndyCar president Tim Cindric said there was a moment when the team believed they'd be allowed to fix the parts, Blanch eventually told the team they'd be allowed to make their Fast 12 runs but would have their cars checked again in post-tech and the results of those runs almost certainly tossed. Initially, Newgarden and Power were set to start Sunday's Indianapolis 500 11th and 12th but, on Monday, IndyCar president Doug Boles went beyond the rulebook's demands, feeling as if letting those cars start where they might've qualified had they run Sunday with legal cars, and moved them to the last two spots on the grid. The cars' strategists Cindric and IndyCar team managing director Ron Ruzewski were suspended for the remainder of the event, and both entries were fined $100,000, lost their respective points gained in qualifying and lost their priority in the pit box selection process. Wednesday morning, despite a large majority of the paddock coming to terms with the idea that the changes to several attenuators in Team Penske's rotation were unlikely to provide any competitive advantage and were likely done for purely cosmetic reasons, Team Penske announced its founder had fired Cindric, Ruzewski and IndyCar team general manager Kyle Moyer — the trio making up its three premier leaders — for what Penske termed its second 'organizational failure' in 14 months, events which have 'let down' the paddock and series fans and called into question the team's ability to properly and fairly govern and officiate itself given Penske's at least perceived conflict of interest. Ganassi called Penske's decisions 'a big deal' and 'serious.' 'I don't know that it's going to help them at all in the race, getting rid of those three guys,' he said. 'I don't know the structure of their team, but any company where you lose the top three guys, it's not good. 'I'm sorry for them, but this is the fallout for these type of actions.' Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin was the most vocal of the team's three drivers Thursday during media day, accusing members of the paddock of unfairly and unnecessarily blowing the news of the week out of proportion. 'I guess you could say there's a sadness from my perspective,' Scott McLaughlin said. 'At the end of the day, I drive for Roger Penske. I respect the decision. I understand the decision. We move forward. 'I'm disappointed in some of my peers and people in this room, just how it was taken out of proportion in some ways. It's frustrating that this has blown up like it has, and it's cost three people that I'm very close with their jobs.' It would appear Ganassi's reference to 'some comments by drivers' may have been made with an eye toward McLaughlin's fervent defense of his team members past and present. As part of the fallout from the events of this week, Boles and Penske both have confirmed for the first time IndyStar reports from last month that Penske Entertainment has put significant time and effort into forming an independent third party officiating and tech inspection arm the last six months, a project that if completed would help remove questions of IndyCar's independence with Penske owning Team Penske, IndyCar, IMS, Ilmor (which manufacturers engines for Chevy) and the promotion of roughly half the races on IndyCar's calendar.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Chip Ganassi: Team Penske needs to be held to 'higher standard to protect the sport'
On Sunday, during the second day of qualifying for the 109th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," it was discovered that the cars of Team Penske's Josef Newgarden and Will Power had an illegally modified part. They were disqualified from making a four-lap run, and INDYCAR a day later hammered the team: Newgarden, the two-time defending race winner, was dropped to 32nd in the field and Power was moved to last for this weekend's Indy 500. Chip Ganassi, the CEO of Chip Ganassi Racing, was one of many who complained to INDYCAR inspectors and Penske executives that the cars were illegal on Sunday. The next day, he remained disappointed in the drama that is now overshadowing the biggest race in the world, one that is sold out for the first time since 2016. "I think all teams have a certain responsibility to uphold the integrity of the sport, in any series, and no team more than team Penske," Ganassi said on an episode of "Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour" set to be released Thursday. "They've had so much success over the years, and it's a team that everybody has heard of, and they have success around the world in a lot of different series, so they need to be held to a higher standard to protect the sport, especially with the investment that Roger Penske has at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the INDYCAR Series and his business, for that matter," Ganassi added. Newgarden is attempting to become the first driver to win the Indy 500 in three consecutive years, but no driver has won after starting on the last row. Power, meanwhile, is in a contract year and Team Penske has maintained it wouldn't begin discussions on an extension until after the 500. Asked last week about Power's future with the team, Cindric told AP: "Well, if he wins the 500, that would make for a much easier conversation." Now, Newgarden and Power are in deep holes despite having nothing to do with the situation. "They have a responsibility to protect the sport — we all do," Ganassi told Harvick. "Everyone that's in it needs to protect the sport, and it's certainly a problem when the pursuit of winning compromises the integrity and sportsmanship. That's what you have." The Associated Press contributed to this story. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! BEST OF FOX SPORTS' INDY 500 COVERAGE:
