All articles tagged with #chip ganassi racing
Scott Dixon will not return to Chip Ganassi Racing in 2027, ending a 24-year run; Ganassi offered a multi-year deal but Dixon informed them he won’t be back, with industry sources linking him to Arrow McLaren and signaling a potential switch from Honda to Chevrolet.
Alex Palou, starting from pole, weathered chaos and multiple restarts on the Detroit street circuit to win the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix by 3.0584 seconds, holding off Kyle Kirkwood as Graham Rahal completed the Honda sweep in third; Palou’s fourth win of the season and 23rd of his IndyCar career.
Alex Palou topped a tense IndyCar qualifying at the Indianapolis road course with a 1:09.7487, earning pole for the Sonsio Grand Prix and extending his streak to three straight IMS road course poles, ahead of Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist, Christian Lundgaard, David Malukas and Louis Foster.
Alex Palou, starting fourth, clinched the IndyCar season opener at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg by using an early overcut and smart pit strategy to lead the final 62 of 100 laps, finishing 12.4948 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Scott McLaughlin. Palou led 59 laps, with Lundgaard third, Kirkwood fourth and O’Ward fifth as Palou secured the largest margin of victory in St. Pete IndyCar history.
Scott Dixon showcased his strategic prowess to win the chaotic Detroit Grand Prix, marked by eight cautions and 47 laps under yellow. Dixon, driving the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, managed to conserve fuel and secure his second victory of the season, bringing his career total to 58 wins. Marcus Ericsson finished second, just 0.8 seconds behind, while Dixon's teammate Marcus Armstrong completed the podium. The race was marred by numerous crashes and penalties, highlighting the challenging nature of the Detroit street circuit.
Alex Palou led the opening practice session of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix with a lap time of 1m01.721s, closely followed by Pato O'Ward and Colton Herta. The session saw multiple incidents, including crashes involving Marcus Ericsson and Jack Harvey, but no injuries were reported. The practice highlighted the improved grip of the track compared to last year, with drivers frequently testing the limits.
Alex Palou dominated the unconventional Thermal Club tire chess match, leading from pole to finish and capturing $500,000 for first place in the non-points race, with Scott McLaughlin and Felix Rosenqvist taking second and third, respectively. The race focused on tire conservation, with Palou showcasing his ability to make speed while saving his tires. Colton Herta strategically saved his tires in the first 10-lap race to have fresher rubber for the final 10-lap race, ultimately finishing in fifth place.
Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing dominated Friday's test sessions at The Thermal Club, setting the fastest lap time in both the morning and afternoon sessions ahead of the IndyCar $1 Million Challenge. With high temperatures and tire degradation to manage, most teams saved their new sets of tires and focused on qualifying simulation runs at the end of the session. Palou's impressive performance was followed by Felix Rosenqvist, Romain Grosjean, Rinus VeeKay, Christian Lundgaard, and Will Power in the top six.
Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing led the morning test at Thermal Club with a quick lap, followed by Christian Lundgaard and Marcus Armstrong. The session provided valuable insights for tuning cars ahead of the $1 Million Challenge all-star heat races on Sunday, with tire degradation being a key concern. No caution periods were required, and action resumes in the afternoon.
IndyCar teams are gearing up for an open test at The Thermal Club's road course, with ample track time and seven sets of tires available for nine hours of testing. Chip Ganassi Racing plans to utilize the time differently for its experienced and rookie drivers, focusing on refining setups and making bigger changes for less experienced drivers. The upcoming $1 Million Challenge race at Thermal will require teams to perfect their cars specifically for this track, with the potential to apply some learnings to other circuits on the calendar.
The dominance of Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske in IndyCar racing is expected to continue in the 2024 season, with defending champion Álex Palou leading the charge for Ganassi. Despite a lawsuit looming over Palou, his driving skills and mental fortitude make Ganassi the team to beat. Other contenders include Scott Dixon, Will Power, Josef Newgarden, and Pato O'Ward, with the introduction of hybrid engine technology later in the season adding an element of uncertainty to the championship race.
The 62nd Rolex 24 At Daytona kicks off the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with 59 cars starting the race, featuring Pipo Derani as the top qualifier. Chip Ganassi Racing is optimistic about their chances, while Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Acura ARX-06s strategizes to overcome the weight disadvantage. Pietro Fittipaldi will substitute for injured Clément Novalak, and the Heritage Display at the Fan Zone showcases historic racing cars. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock streaming platform, with warm weather expected throughout the event.
Scott Dixon expresses frustration with IndyCar race control's decision to hold the yellow flag until all cars have cycled around with a pitstop, believing it negatively impacted the outcome of the race. Despite his frustration, Dixon finishes second in the overall standings, while Alex Palou secures the IndyCar Series title for Chip Ganassi Racing with a race to spare.
Alex Palou's dominant IndyCar championship win highlights what McLaren and Formula 1 are missing out on. Palou's consistent performance, mental fortitude, analytical ability, and ability to adapt to new tracks have propelled him to success. With his combination of speed and consistency, Palou has proven himself as a formidable champion. If his future remains in IndyCar, it is a loss for Formula 1.
Alex Palou secured the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship by winning the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland. This victory marked his second series title, making him the first driver to clinch the championship with one race remaining since 2007. Palou's win also helped Chip Ganassi Racing secure its 15th INDYCAR SERIES championship and a 1-2 finish in the driver point standings, with Scott Dixon finishing second. Palou's victory, his fifth of the season, solidified his lead in the standings over Dixon heading into the final race of the season.