Palou wins again as Power and McLaughlin show speed
Alex Palou will carry a four out of five record heading into the 109th Indianapolis 500 after pulling away from the field at the Sonsio Grand Prix.
Taking on the road course at Indianapolis Motorsport Park (IMS), Palou’s victory from pole position had to be earned after losing his lead early, but an off-set in tyre advantage meant the #10 CGR Honda had too much toe over the closing stages.
Although it looked like Graham Rahal was on track to break an eight year winless streak, battling against the back markers would be the least of his worries, as the usually faster hard compound tyre lacked the pace against the soft option at IMS.
Those finishing on the softer rubber stormed home in the end, as the championship leader broke away for a +5.484 second win over McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, whilst Aussie Will Power bobbed up on the same tyre strategy for his first podium of the season.
It’s now officially the most dominant start to a season since A.J. Foyt’s 1964 title romp when he took 10 out of 13 races, which also stands as the all-time record for wins in a season; with 12 rounds still remaining, that record is very much in the gun.
The Spaniard had to be patient through the middle section of the race after the RLL Honda of Rahal enjoyed 49 laps at the head of the field, but the tyre offset was always going to kill his chances in the three stopper.
And for the first time since the opening lap of the season the series saw some flags, with the run of 409 green laps coming to end on lap 70 with a full course yellow.
Whilst the flag helped the likes of Power lead Scott McLaughlin for third, and Dixon into P5, there was no catching Palou, who despite running the same-spec machinery, looks to be operating in another stratosphere.
“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 stuck to the tail of Rahal who would have had a larger cushion if it weren’t for the back markers not giving up the road. In IndyCar, anyone on the lead lap has the right to defend their position, much to Rahal’s annoyance. First in was Jacob Abel, then Herta – who was trying to get back on the lead lap.
At the second last pit stop, Palou’s crew kept him on the tail, but knowing they were finishing on the right side of the rubber equation, there was clearly no need for panic.
With Arrow’s McLaren once again looking strong, it was the eighth placed Kyle Kirkwood that had the most benefit, jumping teammate Christian Lundgaard in the standing to retake second place.
Palou now leads the title race by a whooping 97 points, but you can bet your bottom dollar he’d likely swap a fourth title in five years to win an Indy 500!
“Hopefully we get to stay here (Victory Lane) again in a couple of weeks for the biggest race of the year,” Palou commented.
(Palou is yet to count an oval win amongst his 16 victories).
The second placed O’Ward also commented on the power of the #10 Honda.
“We need to do something to stop this 10 car,” the former title winner said.
“These guys are really, really on a roll. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it…”
Ahead of the Indy 500, Dixon will also break the record of 407 starts held by Mario Andretti.
Image: Penske
INDYCAR STANDINGS AFTER 5 ROUNDS
- Palou 248
- Kirkwood 151
- Lundgaard 150
- O’Ward 148
- McLaughlin 137
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