Alex Palou efficiently defended his IndyCar crown to repeat as champion, whereas Colton Herta charged to victory in a wild season finale at Nashville SuperSpeedway.
The outcome makes Palou a three-time champion, but additionally the primary to go back-to-back since Dario Franchitti pulled off a three-peat from 2009-11. Palou, at 27 years previous, turns into the second-youngest three-time champion in sequence historical past, behind Sam Hornish Jr.
Herta’s late cost featured an exciting battle with Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward because the pair pushed by way of lapped visitors. Ultimately, Herta was capable of take the win by 1.8106s over O’Ward on the 1.33-mile oval. Herta additionally elevated to second within the championship standings because of the victory.
“Yeah, acquired quite a bit to do to catch as much as these guys, although,” Herta stated. “No, it was an excellent race for us immediately. The automobile was incredible. I used to be capable of do quite a bit with it. I feel that is type of what put us over the sting to win.”
Colton Herta within the No. 26 Andretti doing donuts after his win at Nashville Superspeedway
Photograph by: Penske Leisure: Chris Jones
Group Penske’s Josef Newgarden completed third, with pole-sitter Kyle Kirkwood taking fourth forward of one other Group Penske driver, Scott McLaughlin, in fifth.
Will Energy, who got here into the weekend second within the standings and the one true contender to Palou’s crown, was pressured to pit early after a seat belt got here unfastened within the early working and went a number of laps down. He was solely capable of get better to complete Twenty fourth.
The Race
Kirkwood led the sector to the inexperienced flag and was instantly thrust right into a wheel-to-wheel battle for the lead with Newgarden, which continued by way of the top of lap 2 earlier than a profitable protection by the pole-sitter.
Energy, who began fourth, rose to 3rd, whereas title rival Palou was up 4 spots from his Twenty fourth-place begin shortly after the opening lap.
The number of selecting to start out on the softer alternate tires started displaying as Energy started to drop down the working order, fading to eighth by lap 8. Palou was as much as seventeenth by lap 10.
Whereas Kirkwood continued to steer Newgarden and Rosenqvist, Energy elected to dive to pit street on lap 12 and instantly referred to as “lap belt” over the radio in reference to a problem. The workforce was thrust into resetting the unfastened seat belt, whereas additionally placing on a recent set of alternates and sending him again out however 5 laps down.
One of many early movers was Herta, who was as much as fourth by lap 32 after beginning ninth.
By lap 40, Kirkwood continued to steer and held the highest spot by 0.4432s over Newgarden – each drivers had been on the more durable main compound.
The primary pit cease for Palou occurred on lap 47, together with his workforce altering out the alternates for the extra favorable main tires.
Kirkwood handed off the result in Newgarden after opting to pit on lap 54 and swapped to primaries. Nevertheless, the warning got here out moments later after the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda of Felix Rosenqvist crashed after the right-front tire went down in Flip 2 on lap 56.
Newgarden led the remainder of the sector but to pit in for service on lap 60.
The restart got here on lap 67, with Newgarden getting a clear bounce whereas Herta was beneath assault by Malukas for second. From the dirtier excessive lane, Herta was capable of fend off Malukas after which went on the assault for the lead. Newgarden held regular as Herta was unable to finish the move from the excessive lane.
Herta continued to make a number of runs on Newgarden over the subsequent a number of laps, with each drivers on the softer compound.
Newgarden continued to steer by lap 80, however at a slim 0.4308s. That hole dwindled barely to 0.3795s by lap 85.
The second warning got here out on lap 89 after Katherine Legge spun off Flip 4 and ended up within the infield grass. The incident started after Pietro Fittipaldi handed Legge with a late transfer into Flip 3, then drifted up, which took the air off her entrance wing and left her unable to push by way of the nook.
The sector pitted for service on lap 92, with Newgarden coming off pit lane first, with Malukas in second. Nevertheless, Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi assumed the lead after opting to not pit.
Rossi, on primaries, led the sector to the inexperienced flag restart on lap 98, with Newgarden and Malukas immediately behind on recent alternates. Regardless of the older rubber, Rossi was capable of maintain the lead over Newgarden.
Moments later, Malukas ended up dropping the third spot to Herta, whereas Marcus Ericsson misplaced the fifth spot to Scott McLaughlin.
Rossi’s lead was a wholesome 0.9423s over Newgarden by the midway mark.
In the meantime, the No. 14 AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet of Santino Ferrucci was pressured to surrender two spots for exceeding observe limits after going beneath the yellow line on the entrance stretch whereas making an attempt to move Kirkwood for seventh.
The sector widened out as Rossi’s lead was decreased barely to 0.4752s by lap 115.
Rossi pitted from the lead by lap 124, with Newgarden assuming the race lead.
One other warning got here out on lap 135 after Ericsson hit the surface wall in Flip 4, however was capable of proceed again to the pits for service and repairs.
Newgarden led Herta and Malukas to pit lane as soon as extra on lap 139, with Newgarden popping out forward. This time, Pato O’Ward opted to not cease for service, permitting his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet to cycle as much as the lead.
O’Ward led the sector to the restart on lap 146. Moments after, Malukas pulled off an inside move on Newgarden, who additionally fell within the clutches of Herta.
Malukas was pressured to move the lapped automobile of Dixon from the excessive line to set sights on O’Ward. Nevertheless, Herta was additionally on the assault and turned an outdoor try into an inside move to safe second over Malukas.
By lap 155, O’Ward led Herta by 2.99255s.
Whereas issues appeared simple on the entrance, the motive force on the transfer was Kirkwood, who blasted by McLaughlin on lap 155 earlier than getting by Newgarden to take fourth a couple of moments later.
Though O’Ward constructed up a lead of three.3208s by lap 160, he pitted the subsequent lap handy the lead off to Herta.
Herta’s lead grew to six.7986s over Malukas by lap 166.
Kirkwood continued to flash his stout tempo after getting by Malukas for second and shutting the hole to chief Herta to three.5964s by lap 175.
Newgarden pitted on lap 177, with McLaughlin following two laps later. Then, Kirkwood was capable of take the lead after Herta pitted on lap 180.
Kirkwood led Malukas by 4.9592s on lap 190. Nevertheless, Kirkwood pitted on lap 194, with Malukas assuming the lead.
With 10 laps to go, Malukas led Palou and O’Ward, with Herta charging in fourth.
The battle for the win was on because the cluster of O’Ward, Herta and Palou navigated lapped visitors.
Malukas pitted on lap 201, which put O’Ward and Herta in a struggle for the lead.
O’Ward held the highest spot till the 2 got here up on Sting Ray Robb. O’Ward was pressured to the excessive aspect on Robb, which allowed Herta to dive to the underside and make an inside move to grab the lead.
Herta held on, whereas Palou crossed the end line eleventh to take the title.
