Alex Palou beats Felix Rosenqvist to take first Lengthy Seaside IndyCar win

Alex Palou nearly made it look simple with a gentle drive to win the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside.

The reigning and four-time IndyCar Collection champion, Palou leaned on his pit crew to overhaul pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist, who led a race-high 51 of 90 laps, throughout remaining pit stops, then set sail after a late restart. Ultimately, Palou led 32 laps wheeled his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to win by 4.198s over the Swede on the iconic 1.968-mile, 11-turn short-term road circuit.

Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon took third to make it a Honda sweep of the rostrum, with Andretti International’s Kyle Kirkwood fourth. Pato O’Ward, who began second within the #5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, completed fifth.

Group Penske’s Scott McLaughlin was sixth, forward of teammate David Malukas in seventh. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal took eighth, with Ed Carpenter Racing’s Alexander Rossi, who began 18th, surging to ninth. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson took the ultimate spot within the prime 10 in tenth.

The Race

It was a disjointed begin as Rosenqvist led the sector to the inexperienced flag within the #60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, with the highest six bunched up however with a large hole again to Energy in seventh and the remainder of the sector. And it solely took till the following lap getting into Flip 1 for Palou to leap O’Ward and take over second.

Group Penske’s Josef Newgarden opted to start his three-stop technique by pitting from twelfth on Lap 12, switching off the tougher main tires to the softer alternates and going out with clear observe to make important headway.

The entrance runners remained unchanged by the opening 18 laps, with Rosenqvist holding an 1.5s lead over Palou, with O’Ward and Kirkwood in third and fourth, respectively. The highest 4 have been on the softer alternate tires. Malukas was the primary on the tougher compound in fifth.

Rosenqvist’s hole dropped to 0.7s by Lap 30 as Palou clawed again into view. O’Ward was the primary among the many prime 5 to dive to pit lane on the following lap, relinquishing third.

The remainder of the highest 5 pitted on Lap 32, with Rosenqvist successful the race off pit highway over Palou as each opted to remain on the softer alternate compound.

The rotation of cease vaulted Newgarden to the race lead by Lap 33, and with a 13s benefit over Rosenqvist, who was on a two-stop technique. The hole widened to 16.5s by Lap 37 earlier than Newgarden dove to pit lane and obtained a contemporary set of alternates.

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Rosenqvist assumed the race lead, 1.9s forward of Palou, with Kirkwood in third. Malukas was fourth. O’Ward, who was third previous to his preliminary cease, dropped to fifth.

Marcus Ericsson endured a hybrid challenge and tried to struggle by it, however ended up on pit lane on Lap 44. He obtained out of his #28 Andretti International Honda and have become the primary retirement of the race.

The hole between Rosenqvist and Palou grew to 2.5s by Lap 50 of 90. Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard had a tire happening and was pressured to pit from eleventh.

Rosenqvist’s 3s benefit got here to an finish after the warning waved on Lap 58 for particles on the exit of Flip 3.

Pit stops on Lap 60 noticed Palou beat Rosenqvist off pit lane, Dixon as much as third forward of Kirkwood.

The restart got here with 29 laps to go as Palou obtained a clear getaway, with Dixon, on softer alternates, holding near Rosenqvist in third.

Race Management hit Will Energy with drive-thru penalty for hitting a pit crew member in the course of the latest pit cease, with replays exhibiting the Aussie making contact with the left-rear tire changer for AJ Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet.

Palou prolonged his hole to over 5s on Rosenqvist by Lap 74.

With 10 laps to go, Palou held a 5.5s lead forward of Rosenqvist. Dixon, Kirkwood, and O’Ward made up the highest 5.

Palou claimed his first win at Lengthy Seaside, 4.198s forward of Rosenqvist.

Photographs from Lengthy Seaside – Sunday