Spain’s Alex Palou received Sunday’s IndyCar Thermal Membership Grand Prix, opening the 2025 marketing campaign with back-to-back wins as he chases a 3rd consecutive season crown and fourth in 5 years.
Palou, who took the season opener three weeks in the past at St. Petersburg, Florida, was 10.1 seconds forward of runner-up Pato O’Ward of Mexico to seize his thirteenth IndyCar triumph.
“What an incredible weekend,” Palou mentioned. “We had a very quick automobile since follow. Everyone executed very well. The automobile executed completely.”
Following Palou and O’Ward after 65 caution-free laps over a 3.067-mile, 17-turn street course within the California desert had been Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard and American Colton Herta.
Palou credited his pit crew and mechanics for establishing a quick automobile.
“I’ve an awesome crew,” he mentioned. “They offer me a automobile I really feel snug with that I can handle and make it look simple. They do all of the work. I simply try to make it occur.”
O’Ward led 51 laps and was in entrance with Lundgaard second and Palou third late within the race.
However Palou got here out of the pit lane from his final refuel cease and overtook Lundgaard after a four-turn, side-by-side battle to seize second place.
Palou then charged from 9 seconds right down to overtake O’Ward on the within of an extended left-handed flip with 10 laps remaining and pulled away from there.
O’Ward missed out on his eighth profession IndyCar victory.
“While you miss it by that, you’re feeling such as you’ve left factors on the desk,” O’Ward mentioned. “We’ll maintain pushing.”
An influence failure on the course blacked out the tv protection for elements of the center of the race.
The third race of the 17-event marketing campaign might be April 13 at Lengthy Seaside.
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