Almost everything had come out to order: victory in the first race of the course, nine top-10s in the first eleven races of the year and lead of the series in its second season. Álex Palou’s dream start in IndyCar It gave the Spaniard the necessary strength to face the last part of the course with the optimism and ambition necessary to defend his first crown in the contest, and although he continues to have reservations, the last two tests have truncated a path in which now, more than ever, he will have to go on the attack. The Chip Ganassi driver arrived at the Gateway Oval facing a challenge as leader and an accident that had nothing to do with, has ended condemning your options on lap 65 to take a turn in the championship.
Palou started the event from the 21st position, serving a nine-seater sanction that was dragged by the engine breakdown that he suffered just a week ago at the Indianapolis circuit. His Honda’s power unit said enough with 17 laps to go and this time, at Gateway, it was VeeKay who has decided to end the aspirations of a pilot who was in tenth position when his wings were clipped. The Spaniard had climbed up eleven positions until the moment when the Dutchman hit him from behind, to finish against the wall during a highlight in which, in addition, the Carpenter Racing driver, also took Dixon ahead, another of the contenders for the title. The blow was double for the favorites, leaving a clear winner who, although he saw the checkered flag in second place, gains momentum with three rounds from the end.
Luck accompanied Patricio O’Ward with his two greatest rivals offside. The Mexican was only surpassed by Newgarden in the Gateway oval and was able to give the sorpasso in a general that leads by 10 points against Palou. After getting off the car, the Spaniard appreciated what happened on the track with a lot of frustration: “I thought I had the outside and suddenly they hit me. I had enough space with Scott and he had enough space with the car in front. But there was no space there. I don’t know where I wanted to go. “ And VeeKay had no choice but to sing the mea culpa: “I am so sorry for Alex and Scott. I have made a very good highlight on the inside of Alex, behind Scott. At the first corner I was very focused on Scott because I wanted to stay behind him. I tried to brake, but I think just before I hit Scott I blocked the front tires. “