Alex Palou Clinches Victory at XPEL Grand Prix
In a tightly contested XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, Alex Palou secured victory, leading only the final three laps of the 55-lap race. This win marks Palou’s sixth of the season and highlights a remarkable strategy shift by Chip Ganassi Racing.
Palou, driving the No. 10 car, faced strategic decisions head-on as the race experienced multiple early cautions—two within the first six laps and another two before the halfway point. Most of the field, including Palou, opted for their first pit stop on Lap 11 after Sting Ray Robb’s crash. He made a second pit stop on Lap 23, during another caution, re-entering in 13th place and fitting a new set of alternate tires.
"I didn’t agree with Barry’s strategy call," Palou remarked, expressing initial skepticism about the pit strategy. However, he later acknowledged the benefits as the race unfolded, stating, "the pace we had was amazing, and we could save fuel even on primaries."
Race strategist Barry Wanser noted, "We made some strategy changes during the race that went against our pre-race plan. We had to adapt based on our competitors and it worked out." The pivotal moment came when Palou’s second stop enabled him to capitalize on changing conditions and competitor strategies.
In the closing stages, Palou was chasing teammate Scott Dixon, who had pitted two laps earlier. Awareness of Dixon’s exceptional fuel-saving capability drove Palou’s pace, as he noted, “I thought he was crazy not to be saving more fuel.”
Ultimately, Dixon’s strategy faltered, necessitating a late fuel stop with just two laps remaining, promoting Palou to the lead. “It was tough to stay focused, but we managed to stay ahead of our strategy competitors,” Palou summarized.
The race illustrated the complexities of pit strategy and fuel management, reinforced by Palou’s calculated patience and adaptability throughout. As he critiques the rollercoaster nature of the event, it becomes clear that his win was orchestrated through team strategy and an acute understanding of race dynamics.
