Àlex Palou, one step away from making history in the Indianapolis 500

by time news

2023-05-27 10:19:00

Alex Palou (San Antoni de Vilamajor, Barcelona; 1997) wants to become the first Spanish rider to win this Sunday (6:45 p.m., Movistar+, through Movistar Deportes 1) the Indianapolis 500, the pinnacle test of motorsports in the United States. Since one day he packed his bags and began his American adventure, in 2020, that has always been his main objective. “Obviously it is one of the only races, or is it the only race, that can really change your life with victory. You become motorsport history here in the United States and I think all over the world,” he says convinced. And that two years ago, Palou already achieved a feat by winning the IndyCar title, which he is pursuing again this season.

Two weeks ago he won at the Indianapolis road circuit and became the provisional leader of the series IndyCar, which allowed him to face the battle for the classification in the Indy 500 oval with maximum motivation. “The truth is that I was at the top. I came with a lot of desire, very confident because of the experience we’ve had in the past and the speed we have in the car,” explained Palou, who after signing a tepid debut in free practice for last week, yesterday he ‘flew’ to get his first pole in the 500 Miles, also setting the all-time speed record in qualifying. an average of 376 km/h. Brutal.

“Last year it was close, and there we learned that we had to be more aggressive to achieve it. We told ourselves that if we were in the same situation again we would be aggressive and, luckily, we have been,” Álex revealed at a press conference. “I have lost my voice! We have been working on this for a year, since the race finished last year. There are many people putting a lot of effort into the team, that is why we have celebrated it in a very emotional way”, explained the pilot of Ganassi Racing, the most powerful structure in IndyCar and with whose owner, Chip Ganassi, had his ups and downs Palou a year ago, seeing himself tempted by F1. In the end, the issue was resolved solomonically and the Catalan driver agreed to focus on American competition and serve as McLaren’s reserve during the season.

The key factor

Palou, always prudent, tries to reduce the euphoria in view of the race next Sunday, May 28 (6:45 p.m.). From experience he knows that pole position will give him an advantage but it will not be decisive: “Last year we couldn’t celebrate anything and we don’t know if we will be able to do it next week. This doesn’t happen often so while it’s not a win, it’s something special. It’s my first pole on an oval and that gives me more confidence. Facing the race it’s good because it’s going to make the beginning a bit more relaxed for us, but then we’re going to need luck”, he assumes.

“I think that Le Mans, Daytona… in all those mythical 24-hour races and in the Indianapolis 500 you need a bit of luck. Yes, it is true that in the end luck seeks you a bit or you can seek it, but with such long races, with four, five or even six pitstops like in the Indy 500, and with the yellow flags that can catch you at a bad moment as has already happened to me… anything can happen and you have to be prepared to accept itPalou warns.

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After bad luck with the strategy in the 2022 edition and after finishing second in 2021, Palou hopes that perhaps this time fortune will smile on him. “You don’t have to do things very differently from other years: We did very well in 2021, better in 2022. We have to work just as hard, avoid strategy problems like last year and try from there. Because we are going to try”, promises Álex, who acknowledges that “since I was a teenager I have imagined myself many times wearing the laurel crown or drinking the champion’s milk in the 500 Miles… the same is now ours”.

Ahead, after the feat on pole position this Sunday, Palou still has four hours of free practice to put the car in the race set-up.


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