The attract of the Indianapolis 500 is tantalizing, but when had to decide on between a victory within the Biggest Spectacle in Racing in 2025 or a third-straight Astor Cup – – the Chip Ganassi Racing driver says he desires the season title becoming a member of a category of three (Ted Horn, 1946-48; Sebastien Bourdais, 2004-07; Dario Franchitti, 2009-11) as a substitute of 75.
Nevertheless it’s not a simple alternative.
“I wish to win the five hundred so dangerous. I do know what it’s, however I don’t suppose anyone is aware of precisely how large it’s till you win it. At the least, that’s what I’ve heard from the drivers, together with what you’ll be able to see from the surface,” Palou instructed IndyStar when requested the query throughout IndyCar content material days this week. “However profitable three IndyCar championships in a row is fairly candy as nicely.
“In all probability I’d say three championships in a row, after which win the Indy 500 in 2026, – that works, proper? I’d try this. But when it’s just one, after which that’s it, I have to retire, I’d clearly do the Indy 500. However I’m not going to retire now. I’ll get to the three championships after which the Indy 500 sooner or later.”
‘A loopy 4 years’:
Palou nicely is aware of – maybe as a lot as any driver of the final decade, save Pato O’Ward – simply how exceedingly tough it’s to win one 500, having gone three straight years (2021-23) the place he both was or ought to’ve been within the combine coming down the stretch, however fell quick. In solely his second begin, he led Laps 196, 197 and 198, solely to fall sufferer to a deft cross from eventual winner Helio Castroneves with two to go, a favor he wouldn’t have the ability to return as visitors backed them each as much as the checkered flag.
The following yr, an ill-timed warning after he’d dedicated to pit, however earlier than he’d entered pitlane, compelled him to cross by means of 3 times (as soon as whereas closed, as soon as for emergency service and once more for a penalty) in fast transition, dropping from 1st to thirty first. In a private triumph of types, Palou fought all the best way again as much as ninth by the checkered flag. And in 2023, a race he began on pole, the Ganassi driver fell sufferer to Rinus VeeKay shedding management of his ECR automotive popping out of his pit field, careening into the No. 10 Honda and forcing Palou to attend for a entrance wing change. Regardless of all of the mid-race chaos, he’d nonetheless end 4th.
Court docket paperwork:
His teammate of now 5 years Scott Dixon, who enters season No. 25 this yr, has famously received the five hundred simply as soon as, regardless of beginning on pole 5 occasions and coming tantalizingly shut (5 finishes of 2nd or third) extra occasions that one individual deserves. Others of this era – Graham Rahal, Marco Andretti, Ed Carpenter and others – have made nicely over a dozen begins, run up on the entrance late a number of years, and but by no means come away with even one victory within the race.
As he’s poured over his strategy out and in of the cockpit this offseason, Palou was adamant that one factor he’s discovered in his title-winning days is holding onto the identical strategy from the yr earlier than is a recipe to get left behind. Marrying that fixed evolution throughout a six-month championship, whereas additionally not attempting to do an excessive amount of in relation to IMS in Could, continues to be the Spaniard’s problem as he approaches 2025.
‘It is terrifying’
“I’m not saying we’re going to go loopy and alter all my stuff, however yeah, I’m attempting to vary some stuff, each bodily and mentally, in addition to the best way I drive,” he stated. “Hopefully I can push myself in areas that I’ve been struggling the previous season. We’re going to vary somewhat bit, see if it really works after which see if we might be upfront, however the competitors, we all know it’s going to be powerful.
“Everyone, all of us begin from zero. You guys are me included, we’re not going to care about 2024 as soon as we’re in St. Pete. Perhaps they’ll care in 15, 20 years after I retire, hopefully, however not now. I believe now it’s all about 2025.”
