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Fox News
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Chip Ganassi Relishes Alex Palou's Incredible Season: 'You're Seeing History Made'
MONTEREY, Calif. — Even Chip Ganassi, with his trademark line of "I Like Winners," couldn't have predicted such a dominating season like the one Alex Palou has put together in 2025. Fourteen races into the year, Palou has eight victories. In two other races, he has finished second. He has won five poles and led the most laps in five races this year. Oh, and one of those victories was the Indianapolis 500. "This guy is in a league of his own," Ganassi told me on Sunday after another win at Laguna Seca. "There are a lot of great drivers out there, and we've been fortunate to have a lot of them. "And this guy's right at the top." No driver has won more than 10 races in a year, and Palou still has a chance to break that record with races at Portland (road course), Milwaukee (1-mile oval) and Nashville (1.33-mile oval). Can he get to 11? "I don't know many people who would bet against that," Ganassi said. "Who knows?" What is not up for debate is the monumental season Palou has had, as he has all but clinched his fourth series title. He just needs to average a 16th-place finish over the final three races. Ganassi has had seasons where his drivers have won more than eight races. Dixon and Dario Franchitti combined for 10 wins in 2009. Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya each had seven-win seasons during the time of the split of INDYCAR into two competing series (which many would consider diluted the field). "We're really, really, really pleased and excited and happy to be watching and being a part of history," Ganassi said. When a driver wins eight times in one season, the driver will need to have some good fortune. But Palou seems to have taken advantage of every opportunity, every mistake by another front-running driver. "It's not like we're lucking into these things," Ganassi said. "He's dominating. Today [at Laguna Seca], it looked like the red tire, the soft tire, was the preferred tire and he was on the hard tire running away from the field. "The entire field was on the red softs, and he was running away from them on the hard tire." That was by design. When a driver has the fastest car and is in the zone like Palou, the team finds the strategy that plays to its strengths. Palou has not been shy about not wanting to change strategy. He doesn't want to go the conservative route, and he doesn't want to throw away points at races. A week prior to Laguna Seca, that bit him when he finished 12th using a strategy that didn't pan out at Toronto. He lost 30 points to second-place Pato O'Ward in the process. "We talk about it every week," Ganassi said. "We've got people still breathing down our neck, and we want to remember how we got here. And that was racing the way we know how to race: Go for the wins." After that race, Palou took the blame for advocating for that strategy. "Alex wants to try to claim the responsibility," said his strategist Barry Wanser. "Myself and the race engineer were like you can't claim all the responsibility for what went wrong. "Part of it's on us. But that's just the type of guy he is." The type of guy Palou is remains one who continues to learn and perform. In just his second INDYCAR season, he won the title with three victories in 2021. He won just once in 2022 before a five-win season on his way to the 2023 championship. His 2024 crown came in a year when he earned just two wins but no driver had more than three. Palou's 2025 season has included his first oval wins and not just at Indianapolis. He also won on the Iowa oval, which is just short of a mile in length. "He had a great, great race in Iowa a few weeks ago, his first short oval win," Ganassi said. "These are not easy things to do, especially for a kid coming out of Europe." What has allowed him to do it? Ganassi said the same thing that made him pretty much an instant success story in the series. "I go back to his first race with us years ago down there [Barber Motorsports Park] in Alabama, when that was the first race of the season," Ganassi said. "He came out and just did really good. He had [Will] Power and [Scott] Dixon breathing down his neck all day and it didn't seem to bother him. "The wind in his sails hasn't let up yet. This guy is on a roll. We haven't seen the best of him yet. You're seeing history made right now, and it's incredible to watch." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Indianapolis Star
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Arrow McLaren prepping Linus Lundqvist as potential replacement for Nolan Siegel at Toronto
Arrow McLaren has signed ex-Chip Ganassi Racing driver Linus Lundqvist as a reserve driver for this weekend's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto street race, the team announced Monday. Practice begins Friday afternoon, but Nolan Siegel might not be cleared to return to the cockpit after suffering a minor concussion in a late-race crash Saturday at Iowa Speedway. Siegel was not cleared for Sunday's race by IndyCar medical officials that morning. Given the short break between the races and belief late Saturday that Siegel would be cleared, Arrow McLaren team principal Tony Kanaan opted not to run Siegel's No. 6 car Sunday. Doing so would've required requesting from IndyCar a special 15-minute shakedown session with a substitute driver on Saturday night, Kanaan said. And given the car repair time in the wake of Siegel's crash — one so hard that the SAFER barrier required repairs — the team principal didn't want the team scrambling with so much uncertainty. 'I missed it': Ex-Team Penske IndyCar leader relishing new chapter with Arrow McLaren Arrow McLaren briefly explored the possibility of Kanaan starting Sunday's race and parking immediately after the green flag, but IndyCar wouldn't approve such a move because Kanaan hadn't taken part in an on-track session during the weekend. An emergency on-track session wasn't available Sunday morning. Lundqvist was at Iowa Speedway on Sunday. The 26-year-old Swedish driver with 20 IndyCar starts will ready himself this week for what could amount to his first time inside an IndyCar cockpit since the 2024 season finale at Nashville Superspeedway. As Kanaan told select media Sunday morning ahead of that day's race, Lundqvist will be in the team's shop throughout this week as Siegel is put through a regimented recovery plan that includes light workouts, time on a racing simulator and evaluation by Ryan Harber, the team's head of human performance, health and wellness. Siegel will be reevaluated by IndyCar's medical team Thursday morning to determine his ability to drive in Toronto. How close was Tony Kanaan to driving?: Nolan Siegel's status, possible backup drivers for Toronto Lundqvist will be with the team all weekend and available should Siegel experience any discomfort in his return or if he isn't cleared. Lundqvist finished 13th in his lone start at Toronto a year ago. He finished 16th in points in his lone full-time IndyCar season in 2024 with five top-10s, a pair of podiums (Barber and World Wide Technology Raceway) and a pole (Road America), but he entered this season without a ride after CGR scaled back from five full-time cars to three as IndyCar launched its charter system that caps teams at three full-time entries guaranteed to start each race (minus the Indy 500).
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Indy 500: Bold predictions for the 109th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing
We are just hours away from the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 and soon enough we'll all be feeling back home again in Indiana as the Greatest Spectacle In Racing gets underway. There has been absolutely no shortage of drama in the paddock this week. Team Penske continues to deal with the fallout from its modification scandal, Chip Ganassi Racing works to capitalize on Penske's troubles and Prema Racing's Robert Shwartzman tries to regain his speed after becoming the first rookie to win the pole since Teo Fabi in 1983. Borg Wiener Trophy: The Wienie 500 was perfect Friday at-work viewing and social media erupted How do you even begin to predict a race like this one? We'll you can't, really. But that didn't stop our motorsports experts from giving it a try. Here are our three boldest predictions for Sunday's 500 mile race. Blake Schuster: Robert Shwartzman won't finish the race. I take no pleasure in fading the rookie who has become one of the best stories this May, but he's never raced on an oval before, and his car didn't look particularly fast in post-qualifying practice. If he's not careful, those corners might sneak up on him - especially if he finds himself stuck going three wide. Nick Schwartz: Josef Newgarden gets passed by Dixon on the final lap to finish second. Five hundred miles is plenty of time for Newgarden to make his way through the field, especially given Penske's overall speed. Michelle Martinelli: Boldest of bold predictions for a driver starting in the back half of the field but... Hélio Castroneves stuns everyone and pulls off his fifth Indy 500 win, breaking the record and his current tie with fellow four-time winners A. J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears. Enjoy the race! This article originally appeared on For The Win: 3 Bold predictions for the 2025 Indy 500
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Palou makes it four wins in first five IndyCar races
Australia's Will Power has finished third as Spain's Alex Palou continued his dominance of the IndyCar Series by capturing the Sonsio Grand Prix title at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ganassi Racing's Palou, who sat on the pole, flew across the finish line 5.48 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward on Saturday to become the first IndyCar Series driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the season's first five races. He also became the first driver to win the Grand Prix in Indianapolis three years in a row. Power and Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon rounded out the top five on the 2.44-mile course that winds its way through the interior of the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "I cannot describe the amazing season we've had so far," Palou said. "I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It's amazing. It's unbelievable." Palou enters the two-week prep for the Indianapolis 500 with an IndyCar Series-leading 248 points. That's 97 points ahead of second-place Kyle Kirkwood, who also drives a Honda. Palou has won St. Petersburg, Thermal and Barber in addition to Saturday's race. He was second at Long Beach. While the 28-year-old Palou is on pace to win the points title for the fourth time in five years, his immediate goal is claiming his first Indy 500 on May 25. "Hopefully, we get to stay here (at the victory podium) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year," Palou said. The all-time series record for wins in one season in 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. There are 12 races remaining this season. Australia's Will Power has finished third as Spain's Alex Palou continued his dominance of the IndyCar Series by capturing the Sonsio Grand Prix title at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ganassi Racing's Palou, who sat on the pole, flew across the finish line 5.48 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward on Saturday to become the first IndyCar Series driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the season's first five races. He also became the first driver to win the Grand Prix in Indianapolis three years in a row. Power and Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon rounded out the top five on the 2.44-mile course that winds its way through the interior of the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "I cannot describe the amazing season we've had so far," Palou said. "I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It's amazing. It's unbelievable." Palou enters the two-week prep for the Indianapolis 500 with an IndyCar Series-leading 248 points. That's 97 points ahead of second-place Kyle Kirkwood, who also drives a Honda. Palou has won St. Petersburg, Thermal and Barber in addition to Saturday's race. He was second at Long Beach. While the 28-year-old Palou is on pace to win the points title for the fourth time in five years, his immediate goal is claiming his first Indy 500 on May 25. "Hopefully, we get to stay here (at the victory podium) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year," Palou said. The all-time series record for wins in one season in 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. There are 12 races remaining this season. Australia's Will Power has finished third as Spain's Alex Palou continued his dominance of the IndyCar Series by capturing the Sonsio Grand Prix title at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ganassi Racing's Palou, who sat on the pole, flew across the finish line 5.48 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward on Saturday to become the first IndyCar Series driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the season's first five races. He also became the first driver to win the Grand Prix in Indianapolis three years in a row. Power and Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon rounded out the top five on the 2.44-mile course that winds its way through the interior of the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "I cannot describe the amazing season we've had so far," Palou said. "I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It's amazing. It's unbelievable." Palou enters the two-week prep for the Indianapolis 500 with an IndyCar Series-leading 248 points. That's 97 points ahead of second-place Kyle Kirkwood, who also drives a Honda. Palou has won St. Petersburg, Thermal and Barber in addition to Saturday's race. He was second at Long Beach. While the 28-year-old Palou is on pace to win the points title for the fourth time in five years, his immediate goal is claiming his first Indy 500 on May 25. "Hopefully, we get to stay here (at the victory podium) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year," Palou said. The all-time series record for wins in one season in 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. There are 12 races remaining this season. Australia's Will Power has finished third as Spain's Alex Palou continued his dominance of the IndyCar Series by capturing the Sonsio Grand Prix title at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ganassi Racing's Palou, who sat on the pole, flew across the finish line 5.48 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward on Saturday to become the first IndyCar Series driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the season's first five races. He also became the first driver to win the Grand Prix in Indianapolis three years in a row. Power and Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon rounded out the top five on the 2.44-mile course that winds its way through the interior of the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "I cannot describe the amazing season we've had so far," Palou said. "I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It's amazing. It's unbelievable." Palou enters the two-week prep for the Indianapolis 500 with an IndyCar Series-leading 248 points. That's 97 points ahead of second-place Kyle Kirkwood, who also drives a Honda. Palou has won St. Petersburg, Thermal and Barber in addition to Saturday's race. He was second at Long Beach. While the 28-year-old Palou is on pace to win the points title for the fourth time in five years, his immediate goal is claiming his first Indy 500 on May 25. "Hopefully, we get to stay here (at the victory podium) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year," Palou said. The all-time series record for wins in one season in 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. There are 12 races remaining this season.
West Australian
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Palou makes it four wins in first five IndyCar races
Australia's Will Power has finished third as Spain's Alex Palou continued his dominance of the IndyCar Series by capturing the Sonsio Grand Prix title at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Ganassi Racing's Palou, who sat on the pole, flew across the finish line 5.48 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward on Saturday to become the first IndyCar Series driver since Sebastien Bourdais in 2006 to win four of the season's first five races. He also became the first driver to win the Grand Prix in Indianapolis three years in a row. Power and Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Scott Dixon rounded out the top five on the 2.44-mile course that winds its way through the interior of the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. "I cannot describe the amazing season we've had so far," Palou said. "I owe everything to the team, Chip Ganassi Racing, my teammates, everybody who is working behind the scenes to make me look so fast on track. It's amazing. It's unbelievable." Palou enters the two-week prep for the Indianapolis 500 with an IndyCar Series-leading 248 points. That's 97 points ahead of second-place Kyle Kirkwood, who also drives a Honda. Palou has won St. Petersburg, Thermal and Barber in addition to Saturday's race. He was second at Long Beach. While the 28-year-old Palou is on pace to win the points title for the fourth time in five years, his immediate goal is claiming his first Indy 500 on May 25. "Hopefully, we get to stay here (at the victory podium) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year," Palou said. The all-time series record for wins in one season in 10 by A.J. Foyt in 1964 and Al Unser in 1970. There are 12 races remaining this season.
