Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Race winner Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Autosport Plus
Special feature

How good is Palou - and can he be Dixon's main IndyCar title rival?

Last Sunday, Alex Palou delivered his first IndyCar victory on his Chip Ganassi Racing debut. Is the young Spaniard going to become his legendary teammate Scott Dixon’s biggest title threat? DAVID MALSHER-LOPEZ investigates Palou's potential

Scott Dixon, six-time and reigning IndyCar Series champion, was intrigued by what he observed during off-season testing, as he scanned the data of his new team-mate Alex Palou. There was ‘another way’ to drive the current breed of IndyCar, the IR18 complete with universal aerokit and now with the altered weight distribution caused by the addition of the aeroscreen.

Dixon realised that Palou, having joined the series at the same time as the new cockpit safety device was introduced, came in without presuppositions, his instincts untainted by memories of the car in its pre-aeroscreen form. He only ever ran one test for Dale Coyne Racing without it.

Previous article Brown open to third full-time Arrow McLaren SP in IndyCar
Next article 40 percent crowd capacity allowed for this year’s Indy 500

More from David Malsher-Lopez

The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner

The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner

Plus
Plus
INDY IndyCar
Indy 500
The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner The long evolution of Dallara's Indy 500 winner
How to be an ace engineer: Leading IndyCar race engineer Michael Cannon

How to be an ace engineer: Leading IndyCar race engineer Michael Cannon

INDY IndyCar
Indy 500
How to be an ace engineer: Leading IndyCar race engineer Michael Cannon How to be an ace engineer: Leading IndyCar race engineer Michael Cannon
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Tandy Porsche for victory

IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Tandy Porsche for victory

IMSA IMSA
Laguna Seca
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Tandy Porsche for victory IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Tandy Porsche for victory
Palou surprised IndyCar rivals didn’t use his winning tyre strategy in Indy GP

Palou surprised IndyCar rivals didn’t use his winning tyre strategy in Indy GP

INDY IndyCar
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
Palou surprised IndyCar rivals didn’t use his winning tyre strategy in Indy GP Palou surprised IndyCar rivals didn’t use his winning tyre strategy in Indy GP
IndyCar Indy GP: Palou beats McLaren drivers to claim points lead

IndyCar Indy GP: Palou beats McLaren drivers to claim points lead

INDY IndyCar
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
IndyCar Indy GP: Palou beats McLaren drivers to claim points lead IndyCar Indy GP: Palou beats McLaren drivers to claim points lead
Lundgaard: I can call Indy GP track "home” after maiden IndyCar pole

Lundgaard: I can call Indy GP track "home” after maiden IndyCar pole

INDY IndyCar
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
Lundgaard: I can call Indy GP track "home” after maiden IndyCar pole Lundgaard: I can call Indy GP track "home” after maiden IndyCar pole
IndyCar Indy GP: Lundgaard beats Rosenqvist, Palou for first pole

IndyCar Indy GP: Lundgaard beats Rosenqvist, Palou for first pole

INDY IndyCar
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
IndyCar Indy GP: Lundgaard beats Rosenqvist, Palou for first pole IndyCar Indy GP: Lundgaard beats Rosenqvist, Palou for first pole
IndyCar Indy GP: Palou tops second practice, Rahal Letterman Lanigan shines again

IndyCar Indy GP: Palou tops second practice, Rahal Letterman Lanigan shines again

INDY IndyCar
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
IndyCar Indy GP: Palou tops second practice, Rahal Letterman Lanigan shines again IndyCar Indy GP: Palou tops second practice, Rahal Letterman Lanigan shines again

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe