It wasn’t a win, however ultimately — it was greater than sufficient. Alex Palou introduced residence a third-place end in Sunday’s BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland to clinch the 2025 IndyCar title with two races to spare.
The Spaniard’s 2025 marketing campaign has been essentially the most dominant of his IndyCar profession, with eight victories and 10 top-two finishes in 15 occasions, together with his first triumph within the Indianapolis 500 and wins on each observe kind.
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Photograph by: Jake Galstad / Lumen through Getty Pictures
It’s Palou’s third-consecutive sequence title and fourth championship marketing campaign in six IndyCar seasons, putting him amongst IndyCar’s all-time greats at simply 28 years previous. He trails solely A.J. Foyt (seven championships) and teammate Scott Dixon (six) for essentially the most titles in IndyCar historical past.
“It’s unbelievable,” an elated Palou mentioned afterward. “It’s loopy. I couldn’t be happier proper now. This has been a tremendous season, a tremendous 5 years with CGR. I’ve no phrases to explain how grateful I’m to all people at CGR, particularly Chip (Ganassi, co-owner), our companions and all our followers.”
Clinching in Portland wasn’t a shock for the No. 10 staff. Palou entered the weekend with a 121-point cushion and wanted solely 108 factors on Pato O’Ward to safe the title. O’Ward claimed the pole on Saturday and threatened to increase the title struggle to subsequent weekend on the Milwaukee Mile, however slowed on lap 22 and needed to come to pit highway for an unscheduled cease.
Arrow McLaren confirmed on social media {that a} wire connection to O’Ward’s DI field malfunctioned. His staff shortly made essential repairs, however he misplaced 10 laps within the course of and was relegated to twenty fifth at race’s finish.
From that time, the title struggle was basically over. However Palou nonetheless had a race win to compete for.
With the championship in hand, Palou closed up a 20-second hole to battle Will Energy and Christian Lundgaard for the win at Portland Worldwide Raceway.
He briefly overtook Lundgaard earlier than falling sufferer to a crossover with 14 to go. The battle rolled on from there, however Palou in the end needed to accept third after going off-course and narrowly dodging an commercial board when one other try to move the Dane went awry with 4 laps to go.
“The automobile has been unbelievable, (even) at present,” Palou mentioned. “It was a disgrace that we couldn’t actually finish it with one other win, however we (fought). I gave every little thing that I had. I attempted every little thing to attempt to overtake Lundgaard, however I couldn’t make it at present.”
With the title secured, Palou could have two probabilities so as to add to his win complete on the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway. He might tie Foyt (1964) and Al Unser (1970) for essentially the most wins in an IndyCar marketing campaign if he sweeps the ultimate oval occasions.
On this article
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e-mail updates on these matters
