MONTEREY, Calif. — Two-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou reclaimed the lead in the points standings by winning from the pole Sunday at Laguna Seca Raceway.
Palou, now a two-time winner on the permanent road course, has finished on the podium in all four of his career starts at the California track. His win there in the 2022 season finale was believed to be the catalyst for him changing his mind to leave Chip Ganassi Racing for a move to Arrow McLaren Racing.
It is the second win of the season for the Spaniard, not counting his victory in the $1 million exhibition race in March. He wasn’t able to explain his dominance on the 11-turn, 2.238-mile jewel of a road course.
“I wish I knew, that way hopefully I could try and analyze and see if I could do the same in other tracks where I’m not as fast,” Palou said. “I love this track. When you love a track so much, I think you get something extra that helps everything. The fact that we had really good cars here helps a lot.
“I would say it’s a proper track. You cannot really do any mistakes,” he continued. “It allows you to push really hard. It’s the most beautiful place we go to, for sure.”
Palou lost the lead exiting the first turn of the race to Kyle Kirkwood but reclaimed it through strategy. He then had to hold off Herta, who was in fuel-saving mode at the end of the race, through three late cautions.
Palou ultimately led 48 of 95 laps.
“I did a mistake and lost the lead. I was not really happy with myself at the beginning and the team had to do a really risky strategy, too risky,” Palou said. “It was too risky, but it worked out.”
Colton Herta finished second for Andretti Global and Alexander Rossi finished third to earn his first podium of the season — and only his second overall since joining Arrow McLaren.
“It was a good result for us. Obviously it’s frustrating not to win here, being from California,” Herta said. “We had a lot of pace and it sucks not to win here. I really want to win here, but I’m happy with a podium.”
Rossi, who is also from California, led 10 laps. Herta led eight.
“We’ll take a lot of positives out of the weekend,” said Rossi, who is in a contract year with McLaren. His seat is the only of the three at McLaren yet to be locked down for 2025.
Romain Grosjean was fourth in his best finish since joining Juncos Hollinger Racing this year. It was the best finish ever for a JHR driver.
Kirkwood of Andretti faded to fifth. He was followed by Scott Dixon of Ganassi and then
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