Spanish racer Alex Palou has etched his name into motorsports history, becoming the first driver from Spain to win the prestigious Indianapolis 500. He secured the hard-fought victory on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, overcoming a strong challenge from Marcus Ericsson.
The pivotal moment of the race occurred with just 14 laps remaining. Palou executed a decisive pass, diving bravely to the inside of the Swedish driver Ericsson in Turn 1. He successfully held the lead from that point until taking the checkered flag.
Palou, who has demonstrated exceptional form throughout the current IndyCar season, already boasts multiple series championships. His triumph at the Indy 500 elevates him into an elite group of drivers in the sport.
Expressing his joy after the race, Palou exclaimed, “`I can`t believe it! What an amazing day, what an amazing race!`”
He added, “`It`s amazing to be here and win. There were some moments I felt really good in the race, but I didn`t know if I could pass Marcus or not, but I made it happen.`”
“`My first oval win, and there`s no better place to do it,`” Palou concluded.
After a first half marked by several caution periods (five Safety Cars), the final 94 laps of the event ran uninterrupted under green flag conditions.
Ericsson initially held an advantage through strategy, making his final pit stop later than many front-runners with 28 laps to go, which put him back in the lead. However, Palou first had to navigate past David Malukas, who ultimately finished the race in third place.
Palou`s overtake on Ericsson late in the race will be remembered as a defining moment in his career. He expertly defended his position, navigating traffic in the challenging `dirty air` to keep the pursuing Swede at bay over the final 14 laps.
Elsewhere in the field, Josef Newgarden`s attempt to win the Indy 500 for a third consecutive time was hampered by a fuel pressure issue in the latter half of the race. Pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman was involved in a dramatic incident, crashing into his own pit crew.
Indy 500: Top 10 Result
- 1) Alex Palou
- 2) Marcus Ericsson
- 3) David Malukas
- 4) Pato O`Ward
- 5) Felix Rosenqvist
- 6) Kyle Kirkwood
- 7) Santino Ferrucci
- 8) Christian Rasmussen
- 9) Christian Lundgaard
- 10) Conor Daly
