Alex Palou makes the story of the 1st Spanish driver to win the Indianapolis 500

Associated Press

Indianapolis (AP) – Alex Palou took the ceremonial milk in the Victory Lane in Indianapolis 500. He allowed his wife to have a sip.

Then the first Spaniard, who won “the biggest spectacle in racing”, got a victory round around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the back of a pickup. At some point Palou climbed onto his roof and triumphed his arms, with the winning wreath draped around his neck. He briefly lost his balance and Ganassi instinctively stretched out to grab his star driver.

No need.

Palou rarely takes a wrong step.

“My whole family, it's incredible, honestly,” he said with a smile. “The whole team that makes me look really good on the track.”

Palou came as a two-time defending champion Indycar Champion on the Speedway-Er has opened three titles in four years and this year in four of the first five races with victories. It is the type of start that has not been seen since 1964 when AJ Foyt won the first seven races of the season, including the Indy 500.

But it was the victory No. 6 that Palou circled in his calendar. Without an Indy 500 victory, he said, his career would be incomplete.

He was over the final rounds in the fuel saving mode after the former team -mate of Chip Ganassi, Marcus Ericsson, after the former team -mate of Chip Ganassi. Palou was fed up to stay with 16 remaining rounds and accused – a movement that Ericsson said: “I will keep up to date at night. What I did and what I did not do.” Palou was never challenged from there and took the checkered flag when a crash produced a caution.

He stopped the car right behind the courtyard, climbed out and almost lost his balance when he triumphed his arms. Palou jumped down and started a run at the front, pulled his gloves off and threw her behind and was finally devoured by his father Ramon and his team in a cheering celebration.

Scott Dixon hugged great, as did Dario Franchitti when the Ganassi Indy 500 winner welcomed him in an exclusive club.

“I can't believe it. What a great day. What an amazing race,” said Palou. “I can't believe it. It was difficult. Hard conditions out there, especially if they were in the pack like the third or fourth. Even if the fuel consumption was super high, they didn't want me to lead. I wanted to be honest, so yes, it happened.”

In the meantime, Ericsson got out of his car in the pit panel and pressed his hands on the face. David Maluks was third for AJ Foyt Racing.

“It is quite painful,” said Ericsson 500-second place over his second career Indy. “I have to see it again.

Josef Newgarden's offer to win three consecutive Indy 500s ended with a fuel pump problem. He tried to become the first driver who came out of the back row to win because he and the team Penske team -mate wants to drop power in the back of the field before the last qualification rounds.

Power landed 19th place, the highest Penke driver on a miserable day for organizing Roger Penske. At the beginning of this week, he fired his three best Indycar executives for a second technical violation in a little more than a year and had to fail the look of his teams, the inspections do not exist if he also has Indycar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500.

Penske won the Indy 500 A record 20 times.

It was the sixth Indy 500 victory for Ganassi, who has had a dominant wave since the Palou was stopped before the 2021 season. Palou won the championship in his first year with the team, added two more titles and now seems to be fourth place.

“The guy is just incredible. I don't know what else to say,” said Ganassi. “It is an incredible thing. (The Indy 500) will make Alex Palou's career. It will make his life. And it certainly made me.”

Palou started the race with Pato O'Ward as co-favorites that were listed at +500 by BetmGM Sportsbook. O'Ward was fourth – the fifth time in six career begins the Mexican has the sixth or higher. Kyle Larson will not complete “The Double” after he crashed from the Indianapolis 500 before driving to North Carolina to take part in the Coca-Cola 600 Nascar race.

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