IndyCar: Disrespectful Alex Palou narrative is coming back to bite

As a seasoned IndyCar enthusiast with decades of racing under my belt, I can confidently say that Alex Palou has been nothing short of spectacular this season. The narrative that he’s not a top-tier oval driver is a misconception that needs to be put to rest. This man finished second in the Indy 500, took the pole at Gateway with an all-time record speed, and has consistently proven his mettle on these tracks.

After the eagerly anticipated IndyCar race on Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway, marking the conclusion of a four-week summer hiatus due to NBC’s broadcast of the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou increased his championship advantage.

In a circular track competition, where it seemed like he was about to fall behind his main rivals, he significantly increased his point advantage, accumulating points that exceeded what could be earned over an entire race weekend. Remarkably, he outperformed each of the three drivers directly below him in the rankings, heading towards the final four races of the season.

It’s time for everyone to acknowledge that the 27-year-old Spaniard is actually a skilled oval racer, as failing to do so could only work against his competitors.

As someone who has been following IndyCar racing for quite some time now, I must say that it’s highly unlikely for any driver competing in the series to disrespect Palou’s talent on oval tracks. My personal observation tells me that this notion that he is not a factor in such races seems more like a media-driven narrative than an accurate reflection of the reality. Based on what I have seen, Palou has consistently proven himself as a skilled and competitive driver, particularly when it comes to oval racing. From my perspective, his talent speaks for itself, and I believe that many of his fellow drivers hold him in high regard.

Alex Palou ‘no slouch’ on ovals

In the 2021 Indy 500, he came in second, trailing a four-time winner, Helio Castroneves. In 2023, he clinched the pole position with a record-breaking speed that was unprecedented at the time. He was considered the one to watch in both 2022 and 2023 until technical problems in the pits pushed him down to 30th place in 2022, but he fought back to ninth position. Similarly, in 2023, he recovered from pit issues to secure fourth place.

As a gamer, I’ve been consistently proving my mettle in oval races, but there’s this persistent storyline suggesting I’m not a top-tier oval driver. However, after wrestling a fourth place finish from a car that started at 10th, and with a standing start at 16th position at Gateway, I keep showing that Palou is no pushover when it comes to left-turn tracks. It’s becoming increasingly clear that points are not easily snatched away from me on these circuits.

As a long-time racing enthusiast with years of experience following the IndyCar Series, I have to say that Palou’s performance this year has been nothing short of impressive. He’s shown consistency and skill in navigating some of the most challenging oval tracks, such as the Indianapolis 500, Iowa Speedway, and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Currently, he remains in fifth position in the rankings for the oval races, but he’s only seven points shy of the leading group of three. If not for the crash, he would be nearer to the top spot than the third place.

In oval races, Palou leads Colton Herta, who is second in the championship for Andretti Global, by a margin of 25 points. Similarly, he surpasses Will Power, the top driver from Team Penske, by 18 points in the standings.

Among the four drivers leading in the oval standings this season who I haven’t bested in more than one race, it’s just Josef Newgarden from Team Penske that I haven’t been able to outperform multiple times – a challenge I still eagerly look forward to facing again. This list also includes Scott McLaughlin, another formidable competitor from Team Penske, as well as Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing and Pato O’Ward from Arrow McLaren.

James Hinchcliffe noted over the weekend that Palou might not yet have an oval victory, but he’s definitely no novice when it comes to oval tracks. In fact, since the start of the 2021 season, he has achieved top 10 finishes in a remarkable 15 out of 18 oval races, which is equal to the series’ best performance with O’Ward.

At every oval he’s competed on, he’s achieved podium finishes, with the exception of Gateway, where he only managed to come in fourth. This list encompasses a Texas Motor Speedway track that is no longer in use, and it includes numerous podium finishes at Iowa.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but notice how his exceptional performance in road course races often gives rise to the perception that he might not be a serious contender on oval tracks. This assumption seems to stem from the fact that he doesn’t dominate on ovals to the same extent as on road courses.

Among current racers, only Simon Pagenaud has claimed an IndyCar title prior to triumphing in an oval race. However, Alex Palou has silenced his critics twice over by securing two victories already. He’s currently the front-runner expected to add a third win within the coming month.

During his tenure in the series, Pagenaud ultimately claimed victory at the Indy 500 and clinched an IndyCar oval championship.

The upcoming 2024 season, featuring more oval races than any IndyCar schedule from 2011 onwards, will conclude with three consecutive oval races following this Sunday’s race at the Portland International Raceway road course, a track where Palou has clinched victory twice in a row.

In other words, after a five-year hiatus, the Milwaukee Mile will hold two races this upcoming season, and since 2008, Nashville Superspeedway hasn’t hosted any events. This means that Nashville will be hosting the series’ first oval race finale since 2014. Could the rivals of Palou in the championship count on significant point shifts during these races?

2024-08-22 19:32