Palou wins at Road America to boost IndyCar season lead
Spain's Alex Palou captured the IndyCar Grand Prix at Road America for his sixth win in nine races this season (James Gilbert)
Alex Palou won his sixth IndyCar race in nine season starts, the Spaniard holding off Sweden's Felix Rosenqvist to capture Sunday's Grand Prix at Road America on low fuel.
Palou boosted his season points lead by taking his first victory since last month's Indianapolis 500, enduring after 55 laps over the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Advertisement
"It was a crazy race," Palou said. "Losing a ton of positions and then making them, it was a tough race for everybody."
Palou became the first IndyCar driver since A.J. Foyt in 1975 to win six of the first nine races in a campaign. Rosenqvist was second, two seconds back, and American Santino Ferrucci was third, running out of fuel one turn after the checkered flag.
Four caution flags in the first 23 laps prompted teams to adopt differing fuel strategies, and by lap 28 it was New Zealand's Scott Dixon leading.
American Josef Newgarden was second before crashing on turn 14, leaving Dixon ahead with Palou and Rossi just behind after a lap-31 restart.
Advertisement
The race came down to those three trying to conserve fuel over the final laps to reach the end while Rosenqvist, on full fuel in fourth, tried to overtake them.
Rossi went to the pits with four laps remaining and Dixon pitted for fuel a lap later, leaving Palou to outlast Rosenqvist with his fuel tank nearly dry.
"Kudos to the team for the amazing strategy and Honda for giving us the fuel mileage we needed to make it at the end," Palou said. "Couldn't be happier."
Palou, seeking his fourth season title in five years, leads the points chase with 386 with American Kyle Kirkwood, a three-time winner this season, 93 points adrift in second.
Advertisement
Palou matched the IndyCar record of three wins at Road America, also held by Mario and Michael Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi.
Rosenqvist settled for second on the track where his only IndyCar triumph came in 2020.
js/bb
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Xabi Alonso urges Real Madrid not to underestimate ‘historic' Juventus
Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso has urged his side not to underestimate Juventus, as the two clubs prepare to meet in the Club World Cup round of 16. Bayer Leverkusen's Spanish head coach Xabi Alonso looks on ahead of kick-off in the UEFA Europa League final football match between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dublin Arena stadium, in Dublin, on May 22, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) Both teams made light work of their group – Real Madrid finishing top of their group on seven points and Juventus finishing in second place in theirs with six points. Madrid dropped points against Simone Inzaghi's Al-Hilal whilst Igor Tudor's side lost 5-2 to Manchester City in the final group stage match. Advertisement Despite this thumping at the hands of the Premier League giants, Xabi Alonso has urged his Real Madrid not to underestimate the Bianconeri, with quotes via Tuttosport, arguing that 'the result against [Manchester] City doesn't matter – they have a great team and it will be really tough.' Alonso on Juventus threat to Real Madrid and Mbappe fitness Alonso is aware of the threat the Old Lady pose, adding that 'once you get past the group stage, every match feels like a final. Juve is Juve – they are a historic club in Europe.' BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 11: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Jude Bellingham during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on May 11, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by) Kylian Mbappe's availability may prove decisive, with the player a doubt after recovering from a stomach-related injury. When asked about the French forward, Alonso said 'We need Kylian, obviously. We want him back as soon as possible and in the best condition. He's one of the best players in the world so I hope that he will be ready. I can't guarantee he'll play but we are optimistic.' Mbappe was instrumental for Real Madrid last season after his move from PSG, scoring 31 goals and assisting three in 34 La Liga matches. However, Madrid failed to win their domestic title, with Hansi Flick's Barcelona proving too tough to overcome.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Barcelona name asking price for out-of-favour attacker
The board at La Liga giants Barcelona have placed an asking price on the head of versatile attacker Pau Víctor for the summer. That's according to Diario Sport, who have this weekend provided an insight into the situation. Advertisement Frontman Víctor, for his part, is fresh off something of a difficult campaign in Catalunya's capital in 2024/25. Owing to the fierce competition for places in Hansi Flick's frontline, the 23-year-old largely struggled for game-time, to the tune of just two starts across all competitions. At such a crucial point in his development as a player, it has in turn come as little surprise to see Víctor linked with a summer transfer away from the Camp Nou. Girona, for one, are understood to boast a long-standing interest in the signature of the Spaniard. And as alluded to above, should the Blanquivermells, or any other club for that matter, choose to move ahead with a bid for Víctor, they will now be aware of the kind of sum which will Barcelona are seeking to sanction a sale. As per a report from Sport, the Blaugrana are seeking a fee in excess of €5 million. Conor Laird – GSFN
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
The Most Important Packers: No. 25 — Jordan Morgan
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jordan Morgan will try winning the left tackle job in training ... More camp. The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way. Overall, though, no one in the building was happy. The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building. 'We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,' Gutekunst said. 'I think it's time we started competing for championships.' Those are fair expectations. The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move. 'I think they're ready,' Gutekunst said. Now, it's time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right. Green Bay's first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the '30 Most Important Packers' heading into the 2025 campaign. At No. 25 is offensive lineman Jordan 25 Jordan Morgan, OL Last season Morgan, Green Bay's first round draft pick in 2024, played in just six games before going on the injured reserve list Nov. 16 with a shoulder injury. Morgan, a left tackle at Arizona, was given every chance to win the Packers' right guard job last summer. That didn't happen, though, and he split time with Sean Rhyan early in the season. Morgan averaged 24.2 snaps per game in the five contests he split time with Rhyan. Then he started and played all 65 snaps at left guard in Week 9 against Detroit when Elgton Jenkins moved to center for an injured Josh Myers. After a bye in Week 10, though, Morgan went on the injured reserve list ending his rookie to date Morgan was strictly a left tackle in college and allowed just two sacks in 787 total snaps in 2023. Morgan led Arizona's offensive line in total blocking grade that season (84.3), run-blocking grade (77.0), and pass-blocking grade (87.3) per Pro Football Focus. His overall offensive blocking grade (84.3) was fifth in the Pac-12, his pass-blocking grade (87.3) was also fifth in the Pac-12 and he was named first-team all-conference. In Morgan's final two years with the Wildcats, he allowed just three sacks in 880 pass-blocking snaps. Morgan is a high-level athlete, but his arms are extremely short compared to most left tackles. Many teams want their left tackles to have 34-inch arms, but Morgan's are 32' 7/8', meaning his best spot could eventually be as an interior lineman. Still, Green Bay believes Morgan can play left tackle, and the Packers will give him a chance to prove it this summer. 'Well, certainly, I mean, it's something we feel like he can do,' LaFleur said. 'Otherwise we wouldn't do it. So we'll let them battle it out and see where it goes.'Outlook One of the more fascinating battles of training camp will be Morgan trying to dislodge two-year starter Rasheed Walker from the left tackle position. Walker has been serviceable the past two seasons, but will be a free agent after the 2025 campaign ends. So if Morgan wins the job, it could benefit Green Bay both short and long term. Walker won't be easy to unseat, though. And the Packers aren't going to simply hand Morgan the job based on his lofty draft status and Walker's likely exit in free agency. If Morgan wins the left tackle job, he'll climb several spots on this list. The guess here, though, is Walker keeps the job and Morgan is the Packers' top backup at multiple Said It … 'Sometimes it looks like he's not straining or playing hard. I think it's just natural, it's easy for him to just move, to gain ground, to just skim the blades of the grass. It's effortless. Really like where he's headed and the direction he's going. Love it.' — Packers offensive line coach Luke Butkus on why he believes Morgan can play left tackle'One thing about him is he has that elite athleticism. Guy moves well, he's fast, he can redirect. I think now is just a good time to put him out there and see how he does and just watch him compete.' — Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Morgan'It's going to be a great competition. Him and Sheed are going to battle it out and hopefully push each other to be that much better.' — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on the looming left tackle battle between Morgan and WalkerTHE TOP 30 • No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd • No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks • No. 28 — S Javon Bullard • No. 27 — WR Savion Williams • No. 26 — Isaiah McDuffie
