Spain’s Alex Palou clinched his third IndyCar title on Sunday with an 11th-place finish at the Music City Grand Prix in Nashville, Tennessee. The result was sufficient for Palou to secure the championship, despite an early pit stop for his closest rival, Australian Will Power, which hindered his title chances.
Palou entered the final race of the season leading the standings, with Power as his nearest competitor. However, Power’s race was compromised by a seat belt issue that forced him to pit early, ultimately finishing in 24th place. The race was won by Colton Herta, while Palou’s performance allowed him to become the first driver to win back-to-back titles since Dario Franchitti’s three consecutive championships from 2009 to 2011.
Palou, who first won the IndyCar title in 2021, became the second-youngest driver to secure three championships at 27 years and five months, just behind Sam Hornish, who was 27 years and two months old when he achieved his third title in 2006. Palou carried a 33-point lead into the final race, a margin reduced by 10 points two weeks earlier in Milwaukee due to a battery failure.
Despite qualifying 15th and starting 24th due to a grid penalty for an illegal engine change, Palou’s title hopes remained intact as Power’s difficulties sealed the championship early in the race. Herta, who is a Nashville resident, secured his first career oval victory by overtaking Pato O’Ward on the final laps, finishing second in the season standings.
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