Palou stays positive on IndyCar title hopes despite IMS engine failure
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou is remaining upbeat about his IndyCar championship chances despite seeing his championship lead slashed when his Honda engine blew.
Palou, who had qualified sixth, was compromised with an engine mapping issue from the drop of the green flag, but had picked his way forward once the team allowed him to use three of his engine map settings.
He had just eased his way past one of his prime title rivals, Arrow McLaren SP's Pato O’Ward and seemed able to close up on Alexander Rossi, who finished fourth, when Palou’s engine let go with 17 laps to go.
On a day when teammate and defending champion Scott Dixon could salvage only 17th from his starting position of 26th, Josef Newgarden took eighth and polesitter O’Ward was consigned to fifth – all up one position thanks to Palou’s DNF – the points lead was slashed from 52 to 21.
Palou will also take his third early engine-change grid penalty of the year next week at Gateway.
Yet the series sophomore looked at the situation in a glass-half-full manner.
"We had the worst day and we’ve still got 21 points [on everyone else],” he said. “I think we're in a good spot.
“We just need to keep doing what we're doing.
Patricio O'Ward, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet, Will Power, Team Penske Chevrolet, Romain Grosjean, Dale Coyne Racing with RWR HondaAlex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photo by: Geoff Miller / Motorsport Images
“We were once again fighting for the race, we had good pitstops and the crew is strong, we'll just keep fighting for the races."
O’Ward, who is now Palou’s closest rival, 13 points ahead of Dixon, told NBCSN: “I consider us very lucky today, honestly.
"We obviously went backwards from where we started, but I think the big positive from today, and unfortunate for Alex, I think his engine blew.
“Honestly, that's given us a massive jump into the standings. We're now 21 points behind, back in second, and I think this is the start of the momentum that we wanted.
"I think Gateway next weekend is going to be great for us.
“Today, we just didn't have it. I'm glad we didn't finish on the podium because I don't think we deserved it. We just didn't have the pace. Everyone in front of us was better than us.
“Man, it's tough to drive your ass off for a fifth, especially when you start up front.”
Related video
IMS IndyCar: Power claims first win of 2021 over Grosjean
Power: "Flawless" Penske IndyCar team has "done the job and I haven't"
Ekstrom defeats Schumacher for fourth Race of Champions victory
Two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom took his fourth Race of Champions title at Pite Havsbad in Sweden after defeating Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher in the final.
Ogier eyes WRC Monte Carlo rematch with Loeb
Sebastien Ogier is keen for a Rally Monte Carlo rematch against Sebastien Loeb in next year's World Rally Championship after becoming the most successful driver in event history.
Webber: Red Bull will remain "dangerous" threat in F1 2023 title fight
Mark Webber believes Red Bull will remain the “most dangerous team” in Formula 1 in 2023 despite facing penalties for its cost cap breach.
Daytona 24, Hour 18: Cadillac in command with six hours to go
Chip Ganassi held a commanding net lead in the Daytona 24 Hours as dawn broke, while Meyer Shank Racing recovered to second to set up a Cadillac vs Acura battle.
Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and Indycar drives
It’s 30 years since Mansell won the Formula 1 world title and then headed off to do battle in America. Here are his best races – and the Briton’s memories of them
How Ericsson achieved Indy immortality as Ganassi's main man stumbled
Chip Ganassi Racing team was strong again in the Indianapolis 500, with poleman Scott Dixon and reigning champion Alex Palou leading almost three quarters of the race between them. But when dominator Dixon was penalised for pitlane speeding, ex-Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson stepped up to score the biggest win of his career and seize the IndyCar points lead
Ranking the top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2021
In an enthralling 2021 IndyCar campaign, the series bounced back from its COVID-19 truncated year prior and Alex Palou defeated both the established order and his fellow young guns to clinch a maiden title. It capped a remarkable season with plenty of standout performers
How F1's other IndyCar exile finally unlocked his potential
Romain Grosjean's swashbuckling rookie year in IndyCar captured the imagination of many in 2021. But another ex-Formula 1 driver whose potential was masked by five years of toil in, at best, middling machinery also enjoyed a breakout year in 2021 - winning twice and finishing sixth in points. Here's how Marcus Ericsson finally delivered on his promise
How Ganassi's relentless new champion outfoxed IndyCar's best
IndyCar sophomore Alex Palou stunned by overcoming team-mate Scott Dixon and the rest of a white-hot field in 2021. He was consistently fast and crucially showed a level head, rebounding well from setbacks to put himself in a near unassailable position entering the final round
Have Harvey and RLL formed IndyCar’s next winning match-up?
Despite appearing to have an IndyCar job for life with Meyer Shank Racing, Jack Harvey’s departure and move to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing sparked plenty of debate. However, Harvey's and RLL's combined strengths could prove to be a winning combination - if they get the balance right
Remembering Dan Wheldon and his last and most amazing IndyCar win
Saturday 16 October marks the 10th anniversary of Dan Wheldon’s death. David Malsher-Lopez pays tribute, then asks Wheldon’s race engineer from 2011, Todd Malloy, to recall that magical second victory at the Indianapolis 500
Why Kyle Kirkwood is America's new IndyCar ace-in-waiting
Kyle Kirkwood, the record-setting junior formula driver, sealed the Indy Lights championship last weekend. But despite an absurdly strong junior career and scholarship money, his next move is far from clear
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.