Reigning and four-time IndyCar Sequence champion Alex Palou expressed a mixture of disappointment and gratitude following the announcement that his longtime teammate, Scott Dixon, will go away Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) on the finish of the present season.
The transfer marks the tip of an period for the game and positions the 29-year-old Spaniard because the de facto chief and most tenured driver at CGR heading into the 2027 season.
Earlier this week, CGR confirmed that Dixon will exit the workforce after a legendary 24-year tenure. Palou joined the group in 2021, instantly following Dixon’s sixth and most up-to-date IndyCar title in 2020.
The upcoming transition highlights a large shift for the championship-winning group.
Palou, 29, is poised to turn out to be the workforce’s veteran anchor and de facto chief for the 2027 marketing campaign. He succeeds Dixon, who leaves behind an unparalleled legacy with the workforce that features six collection championships, and 58 victories, together with a win on the 2008 Indianapolis 500.
“I’d not be right here right this moment with out him”
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen by way of Getty Pictures
Following opening observe for this weekend’s IndyCar spherical at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course, the place Palou was third-fastest, he shared his personal ideas on Dixon’s departure.
“Yeah, it is unhappy,” Palou mentioned. “It is unhappy due to what he has carried out for the workforce, for everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing. I’ve not been for the reason that starting, clearly, however I do know I’d not be right here right this moment with out him and in addition with the outcomes I had. It is big-time on account of him.
“Very unhappy, however on the similar time, it is okay. It is simply a part of life. It is a part of the game. I want him the very best, truthfully. I will attempt to carry on studying as a lot as I can all through the races that we nonetheless have.”
With Dixon’s departure, Palou will undeniably turn out to be the benchmark driver at Ganassi. Nonetheless, he dismissed the concept that his latest championship dominance would possibly make him an intimidating teammate for whoever steps into the vacant #9 CGR seat.
“No, I believe it’s… After I had the chance to be teammates with Scott, it was the very best factor that would have ever occurred to me,” Palou mentioned. “First, you don’t have any stress since you’re going towards the very best. You possibly can study as a lot as you’ll be able to. I believe a teammate that’s my teammate can see every part that I do and might study as a lot as he desires from me, can drive the identical automotive that I drive.
“I believe it is truly a possibility that lots of people need. They at all times need to evaluate themselves or drive the identical automotive than the individual that is successful.”
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Picture by: Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures
Whereas Dixon has lengthy been thought of the guts and soul of the CGR group, Palou doesn’t count on the structural day-to-day operations to vary drastically when he takes over because the veteran anchor. He emphasised that Ganassi has at all times maintained an egalitarian setting amongst its drivers.
“The best way that this workforce operates, it is very open,” Palou mentioned. “Each single driver has the identical quantity of claiming, as an example. Since day one I had the identical quantity of claiming as Scott… I’ve by no means felt like there was a frontrunner on, like, guiding the workforce.”
Palou famous his working relationships with present CGR drivers like Kyffin Simpson, together with technical alliance teammates at Meyer Shank Racing, Marcus Armstrong, and Felix Rosenqvist, in how everybody has an equal voice.
“There’s been no time that one driver had extra saying or extra significance than every other, and I believe it should be the identical for the long run,” Palou mentioned.
As for who will fill the extremely coveted seat Dixon is forsaking for a brand new IndyCar problem, Palou insisted he has no enter in workforce proprietor Chip Ganassi’s resolution and prefers it that manner.
“Actually, I don’t care, and I’ve zero saying about it,” Palou said. “Individuals assume that we get extra saying than what we truly do. However I’d not need to have any saying on that.”
No matter whether or not the workforce opts for an skilled veteran or a younger up-and-comer, Palou’s standards for a teammate stays easy: velocity.
“As a driver, you at all times need the quickest driver in the identical equipment as you,” Palou mentioned. “You need to see what the very best drivers can do. You need to study from them. You assume you could beat them when they’re with an equal equipment to you. I believe no matter Chip and the workforce decides would be the finest resolution, clearly.”
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