IndyCar Nashville
Palou relishes third IndyCar title making for a 'super special' year
As a three-time IndyCar champion, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver joins an impressively exclusive club.
Joey Barnes
Edited: Sep 16, 2024, 1:19 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
Alex Palou has placed his name among the list of all-time greats of IndyCar lore by claiming his third series championship after a wild season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.
The Spaniard prevailed with an 11th-place finish after 206 laps on the 1.33-mile oval on Sunday, which proved enough as his closest rival, Will Power, saw hopes dashed when his seat belt came loose and ultimately led to his No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet fading to 24th, eight laps down.
“Well, at the beginning I had to go for it,” Palou said. “I had to take some chances on the start trying to make up some room. Just starting so far back, we needed to gain.
“Everything was working right. Up to 15th or 16th, something like that, which was already a good step. Then I saw the 12 going into pit lane. At first I was like, ‘Oh, what strategy are they going to pull off?’
“Unfortunately that's not the way obviously you want your biggest competitor to go down on the season finale. At the same time that's what happened to us two weeks ago, so... Yeah, it's racing. It's motorsport. That's what makes this sport so hard.
“After that we were doing our own race. Obviously keeping an eye on the No. 12 car, but just trying to move forward.”
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
In claiming his second consecutive title, Palou becomes the first to go back-to-back since Dario Franchitti pulled off a three-peat from 2009-11. Additionally, being 27 years, five months and 14 days old, Palou became the second-youngest driver to claim three championships; Sam Hornish Jr. holds the record as the youngest at 27 years, two months and eight days in 2006.
This outing also continues to show the strength of Chip Ganassi Racing, who now have earned 16 titles, including four over the past five seasons.
While Palou is relishing his third title, though, this one stands apart for one significant reason: it is his first as a father.
Champion Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Penske Entertainment
“They say winning is the best thing in life, which I agree,” Palou said. “They say being a dad is the best thing in life, which I double agree. But when you do both in the same year, it's real super special.
“It's been an amazing year of learning, obviously. Maybe sleeping a little bit less. Not being able to be on the simulator as much as I used to at home, playing video games.
“It's been amazing. I wouldn't change anything that I'm living at the moment. It was the best thing to have her at my first win this year at the Indy road course, to have her today celebrating.”
With that, though, Palou also admitted that he already talked to Franchitti, who remains a key part of CGR in a driver coach role.
“Yeah, he still reminded me that he did it once more,” Palou said. “So, I still have one more year to catch him. Hopefully we can.”
Read Also:
IndyCarPower’s title hopes vanished when seat belt “popped off” in IndyCar finale
IndyCarPalou takes title after early Power troubles; Herta bests O’Ward to win wild Nashville race
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Power’s title hopes vanished when seat belt “popped off” in IndyCar finale
Next article Prema confirms Callum Ilott for 2025 IndyCar Series season
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Joey Barnes
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
IndyCar
IndyCar 13 h
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
Penske signals IndyCar international expansion as global interest grows
IndyCar
IndyCar 14 h
Penske signals IndyCar international expansion as global interest grows
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Latest news
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
13 min
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 39 min
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Feature
Discover prime content
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe