LEBANON, Tennessee – As Alex Palou was celebrating his third NTT IndyCar Sequence championship on September 15 at Nashville Superspeedway, one of many first to greet him afterward was racing nice Dario Franchitti.
He welcomed Palou to an unique membership, drivers which have gained back-to-back IndyCar Sequence championships.
Franchitti was the final to perform the feat when he gained three-straight championships from 2009-2011.
He additionally reminded Palou that he stays one up on him because the final driver to win three-straight IndyCar championships.
“Yeah, he nonetheless jogged my memory that he did it as soon as extra, so I nonetheless have another 12 months to catch him,” Palou responded to a query from NBCSports.com. “Hopefully we are able to.”
“Dario simply mentioned that we did a very good job. I feel all people noticed – no less than he noticed – that I used to be going aggressive in the beginning, first couple of laps. First stint no less than we have been going for it.”
“He was very completely satisfied. He is a giant a part of it. He is managing all of the drivers at CGR. He is serving to us in numerous methods. He is aware of that every thing he says and every thing he can attempt to inform us throughout each single weekend, it is enormous, particularly for me and the opposite rookies on the ovals.”
NBCSports.com had an unique interview with Franchitti after the September 15 Large Machine Music Metropolis Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. He was together with his longtime teammate, and lifelong pal, Scott Dixon at his motorhome as they have been stress-free after the race earlier than heading into the offseason.
Franchitti was one of the crucial celebrated, achieved and best drivers of his period, and doubtless all-time. He gained three Indianapolis 500s, his final two for Chip Ganassi Racing, and 4 IndyCar Sequence championships, his final three for CGR.
After his racing profession was reduce quick from a critical crash within the Shell Grand Prix of Houston in 2013 when he sustained a critical head damage, Franchitti remained with Chip Ganassi Racing as a mentor, driver coach and advisor.
He feels a particular relationship with Palou as a result of each drove the No. 10 automotive at Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I’m glad it was a Ganassi automotive that went back-to-back for the primary time since I did,” Franchitti informed NBCSports.com. “An outstanding job from Alex from the Chip Ganassi Racing workforce, the ten automotive group. It is simply incredible to see that and it has been a very long time coming, hasn’t it?”
Dixon is the workforce chief at Chip Ganassi Racing with 58 profession victories and 6 IndyCar Sequence championships. 9 extra wins and Dixon will tie AJ Foyt because the winningest driver in IndyCar historical past.
Dixon’s six championships depart him only one behind Foyt for the all-time report for championships in IndyCar.
Palou joined IndyCar in 2020 at Dale Coyne Racing and joined Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. He gained his first race for the workforce in 2021 at Barber Motor Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.
By the top of the season, Palou gained two extra races and his first IndyCar Sequence Championship.
He gained one other title in 2023, clinching it within the next-to-last race of the season, the primary time that occurred earlier than the ultimate race of the season since Sebastien Bourdais gained the Champ Automotive Sequence title in 2007.
This 12 months, he went back-to-back and he’s not even 28 years previous.
Palou joins a formidable record of racers with three or extra IndyCar championships, together with AJ Foyt with seven, Scott Dixon with six, Franchitti with 4, Sebastien Bourdais with 4, Louis Meyer, Ted Horn, Jimmy Bryan, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears and Sam Hornish, Jr. with three championships apiece.
He’s the second youngest three-time IndyCar Sequence champion. Hornish stays the youngest.
There is no such thing as a restrict to Palou’s greatness.
“It has been phenomenal to be part of Scott’s championships and now Alex’s championships after which to have these two guys in there simply struggle for the championships yearly,” Franchitti defined. “It is actually nice for the workforce and Alex has, my God, I imply, he gained three in 4, three titles in 4 years.”
“Yeah. He is fairly good, particularly as younger as he’s, so the fireplace is unquestionably nonetheless there for him as it’s for Scott.”
“Chip mentioned it greatest this morning, he is like, ‘What we have carried out this 12 months to this point has been nice, however we have to go on the market. We will take this championship.’ And that is precisely what Alex and the ten automotive workforce did.”
That could be a place that motivates the favored driver from Spain.
It’s a possibility to be the most effective by defeating the most effective.
“I like this sport,” Palou mentioned. “I like to have the chance to be able to win races and championships.”
“I am not setting a aim of attempting to win 4 or 5 or something like that. I feel it is surreal to have gained three IndyCar championships. I by no means thought in my greatest goals that I might be on this place.”
“I take one race at a time, one lap at a time. For me each lap that I am doing is a very powerful of my life. I do the identical for each race. Hopefully we are able to carry on profitable races and championships.” When Palou arrived at Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021, Franchitti started to mentor the younger driver and provide his recommendation on learn how to change into a winner and a champion.
It’s apparent that Palou was a really fast learner as IndyCar followers are witnessing greatness.
“We had this entire lengthy dialog when Alex arrived,” Franchitti recalled. “What to do within the race, driving for the workforce and every thing. And he was as calm as you might be.”
“That is one in every of his greatest strengths, mentally, simply extremely robust, and I say that as a man that went up towards Scott Dixon for lots of years and so they’re watching Alex at this stage. Everyone’s acquired a fairly related degree of expertise, I might say.”
“And I really feel very completely satisfied that Scott and with Alex, two of the mentally sharpest drivers within the discipline battled for the championship. That is among the causes that we are able to compete for championships 12 months in, 12 months out.”
“That’s not to remove something from the unbelievable work that they’ve carried out, the mechanics and all people again within the store in Indianapolis does and be capable to put in my expertise and share it with the drivers.”
“In any case, it is a privilege.”
Palou is at some extent in his profession the place he doesn’t must take massive steps however relatively can work on the finer particulars to succeed. Franchitti continues to provide him recommendation, nevertheless it’s extra like sprucing a shiny object.
“With Alex, it’s little nudges right here and there, truthfully, actually little nudges right here and there,” Franchitti defined. “And this 12 months, I feel Alex has made me say that there is extra nudges on the ovals.”
“It isn’t ending as a result of there are quite a lot of good races left for him to win, together with a few of the different ovals, I am determining learn how to give him a little bit of some expertise and issues I might strive, issues that I would not have gotten to do. What number of years in the past now, 12, 13 years in the past.”
“I fought for a championship as a result of the man that Alex was combating for a title on Sunday in Will Energy.”
“I feel that is the proof that we’re allowed to truly go off the function. It is unbelievable that he’s nonetheless right here.”
Workforce proprietor Chip Ganassi likes winners. He has to like Alex Palou, who delivered Ganassi’s sixteenth profession IndyCar Sequence championship to the workforce.
Dixon has six, Franchitti three, Palou three, Alex Zanardi has two championships and Vasser and Juan Pablo Montoya had one championship every.
“That is an unbelievable group of expertise and it begins with Jimmy Vasser in 1996,” Franchitti mentioned of CGR’s first champion. “This entire factor begins with Jimmy Vasser, and I needed to come alongside and put the fixed there with Scott Dixon.”
“I name the fixed, however in fact, there may be Chip.”
“Right this moment, earlier than the race, Chip gave his pep discuss and it was then spot on, it was completely spot on. I feel one of many many causes, he places the precise folks on the precise jobs to do the job.”
“You would not assume this about Chip, however in occasions he is acquired some actually mild contact. He completely nails it, and I feel at this time was a type of days.”
Additional away within the media middle, Palou was starting his championship media availability. He was reminded that Franchitti was the final driver to win three IndyCar Sequence Championships in a row.
“I am enthusiastic about subsequent 12 months now, attempt to tie Franchitti,” Palou mentioned with a smile.
Franchitti is aware of it may possibly occur, together with an excellent larger aim for Palou.
“I do not see any motive why he cannot do this,” Franchitti mentioned. “That’s actually the aim good into subsequent 12 months for him.”
“And, , why not get his first Indy 500 win? That’s clearly proper there in his thoughts too.”
