At the start of a month of May marked by the Indianapolis 500 Miles, Alex Palou dominated the race contested this Saturday on the road circuit of the legendary Speedway. Starting far on the grid, Romain Grosjean was able to climb up to 11th place when Simon Pagenaud had to retire.
Alex Palou remembers the good memories of his rivals. After being able to stand on the podium during the race on the Texas oval at the start of the season, the IndyCar champion in 2021 went for his first victory of the year at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, a race contested on the circuit. road installed in the heart of the Speedway which will host the legendary Indianapolis 500 on May 28. Starting from third place on the starting grid, the Spanish driver made the most of the soft tires fitted at the start to dislodge Christian Lundgaard from first position before the end of the first lap.
Alex Palou then knew how to play his score to perfection as far as strategy is concerned with three saves which allowed him to distance himself very clearly from the competition. At the end of the 85 laps on the program this Saturday, the driver of the Chip Ganassi Racing team won with a margin close to 17 seconds over Pato O’Ward, who beat his teammate at McLaren Alexander Rossi.
Let him cook 👨🍳.
Chief @AlexPalou was unstoppable today.#INDYCAR // #INDYGP pic.twitter.com/VoJyudmuwy
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) May 13, 2023
Grosjean limits the damage, unlucky Pagenaud
The day after his pole position, Christian Lundgaard was unable to resist and finished at the foot of the podium ahead of the third McLaren driver, Felix Rosenqvist. Starting from 18th position after a missed qualifying session, Romain Grosjean bet on a four-stop strategy with a first pit stop on the seventh lap, taking advantage of a neutralization. In the attack from start to finish, the French driver was able to climb up to eleventh place on the finish line.
For his part, Simon Pagenaud had bad luck with a loose wheel nut which forced him to retire 27 laps from the finish. While the spirits will now turn to the Indianapolis 500 Miles, with the first tests scheduled for this Tuesday, Alex Palou will enter IndyCar’s premier event as championship leader six points ahead of Pato O’Ward when Marcus Ericsson points to 19 units before defending his title on the Illinois oval. Romain Grosjean, meanwhile, is in fourth place, 40 points behind the leader.
INDYCAR / INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX
Final classification – 85 laps (333.570km) – Saturday May 13, 2023
1- Alex Palou (ESP/Chip Ganassi Racing) in 1h47’56”7003
2- Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren) at 16”8006
3- Alexander Rossi (USA/McLaren) at 18”1448
4- Christian Lundgaard (DAN/Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing) at 23”4801
5- Felix Rosenqvist (SWE/McLaren) at 23”9258
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11- Romain Grosjean (FRA/Andretti Autosport) at 52”5732
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25- Simon Pagenaud (FRA / Meyer Shank Racing) at 27 laps
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Ranking of the drivers championship after 5 races (out of 17)
1- Alex Palou (ESP/Chip Ganassi Racing) 174 points
2- Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren) 168
3- Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Chip Ganassi Racing) 155
4- Romain Grosjean (FRA/Andretti Autosport) 134
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23- Simon Pagenaud (FRA/Meyer Shank Racing) 50
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