MADISON, Ill. –– When we look back at the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series’ title fight, fans might point to this evening’s (Aug. 17) Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Worldwide Technology Raceway at Gateway as the moment that potentially locked up Alex Palou‘s bid for his third title in America’s premiere open-wheel racing series.
Palou started from a similar position as Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon after incurring a nine-place penalty for an engine change, rolling off 16th. Palou battled his way into the top 10 through strategy and avoiding trouble with the leaders, and the championship leader came very close in two very key moments of the race.
First, after falling one lap down, eventual race winner Josef Newgarden tried to execute a pass on the outside of Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, both of whom were expected to pit late due to being short on fuel.
With the No. 2 Chevrolet pushing by the No. 10 Honda, Newgarden washed up into the marbles and spun off the exit of turn 2 to bring out the caution on lap 196, opening up the opportunity for teams to play three different strategies for the final long green flag run of the race.
McLaughlin and Newgarden, who continued on after only losing two spots in the spin, were among those to pit for tires. Team Penske’s Will Power and Meyer Shank Racing’s David Malukas stayed out and planned to pit later. Fellow championship rival from Andretti Global Colton Herta and Palou topped off on fuel and were hoping to make it to the end.
However, the race would not stay green. Power and Malukas seemed to be on the race-winning strategy with the later pit stop as McLaughlin and Newgarden felt the need to splash-and-go along with other competitors employing the same strategy. As the Verizon Chevy and AutoNation Honda battled in turn 1 , Malukas was sent spinning into the wall, bringing out a caution whiched allowed McLaughlin and Newgarden to pit.
Palou was a lap down running just outside the top five at the time of the caution. After cycling back to the lead lap, the ensuing restart was about to turn the championship battle upside down.
With Newgarden taking the lead on the pit stop, he took plenty of time to launch, causing Arrow McLaren’s Alexander Rossi to jump the gun, collecting Palou’s closest championship competitor Power. The impact caused Rossi to go airborne briefly and triggered a multi-car pileup behind.
Palou gracefully took to the…
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