Alex Palou wins for Chip Ganassi Racing at Barber

 

 

 

 In his first Indy Car race, Alex Palou reaches his potential and wins the season opener Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. 

 

 

Will Power and Scott Dixon finished on the podium and completed the race using only two stops as Palou had done. After the huge first lap crash, and a second full course yellow, The CGR team opted to begin saving fuel (slow down) and stay out when the first round of pit stops opened up for the three stoppers. 

 

 

 

Early leaders including pole sitter Pato O'ward and Alexander Rossi battled out front and pitted exchanging the lead with the 2 stoppers. 

 

 

 

The opening lap multi-car crash was not at all usual for Indy Car, and the mistake spawning it was from a very experienced champion Joseph Newgarden in the #2 Penske. Jimmy Johnson experienced the same spin out later in the race, driving behind dirty air and going over the rise at the exit of turn 2. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Top-10 finishers included


Pato O'Ward in 4th in the McLaren Arrows SP #5 car,  Sebastian Bourdais in 5th place driving the Foyt #14 car, Indy Car rookie but former F1 driver Romain Grosjean in 10th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-katykarter