LONG BEACH, Calif. — Alex Palou entered the Long Beach Grand Prix having won 21 INDYCAR races and four series titles.
But among the few things he hadn’t accomplished? A victory at Long Beach, arguably annually the second-biggest race on the INDYCAR calendar.
That was until Sunday when Palau — driver of the No. 10 car for Chip Ganassi Racing — earned his 22nd career victory as he crossed the start-finish line by almost four seconds over second-place finisher Felix Rosenqvist.
Alex Palou finally made his way to Victory Lane in Long Beach.
“Every win is so special,” Palou said in his postrace news conference. “Obviously, the [Indy] 500 is at all times going to remain up prime.
“This most likely ranks top-three. It is tremendous, tremendous cool. However we have been so fortunate to have a lot success.”
Listed here are my takeaways:
1. Palou Doing Palou Issues
Palou began third, shortly handed Pato O’Ward for second after which took benefit of a quicker pit cease than pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist within the race’s solely warning to take the lead.
As soon as he received out entrance, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver made no errors. That’s the blueprint for a Palou win, and it was his third triumph in 5 races this 12 months — and eleventh within the final 22 occasions. The win additionally lifted Palou into the sequence factors lead by 17 factors over Kyle Kirkwood.
Alex Palou moved into the championship factors lead following Sunday’s victory.
“Folks suppose that we’re not shocked of being right here,” Palou mentioned. “We do not take it for [granted].”
2. Rosenqvist Wanted Disappointing Second
Felix Rosenqvist had not had a top-10 end all 12 months, so whereas the Meyer Shank Racing driver noticed a possible win slip away, he’ll take a second-place end.
“I had such a poor begin to the 12 months, so I used to be at all times going to take a podium,” Rosenqvist mentioned in his postrace information convention. “It is very uncommon that you’ve a race like that, tempo like that.
“I do not truthfully suppose I’ve ever had that. It’s somewhat bit disappointing whenever you can not wrap it up.”
Rosenqvist did suppose he had probability of holding off Palou over the ultimate 32 laps if he didn’t have the gradual pit cease.
Felix Rosenqvist made the rostrum for the primary time in 2026.
[WATCH: Pit Crew Member Clipped By Will Power Car]
3. Kirkwood Repeat Denied
Kyle Kirkwood was denied in his hopes of repeating at Lengthy Seaside and incomes a 3rd win general. The Andretti World driver, who had entered the race because the sequence factors chief, began fourth and completed fourth.
“It was simply so exhausting to go on this monitor,” Kirkwood informed a workforce consultant after the race. “I’m unsure why it was like that this 12 months.
“You simply get shut, and then you definately don’t have sufficient traction to make a transfer. … I can’t be too upset with the top-four.”
Kyle Kirkwood wasn’t in a position to defend his crown in Lengthy Seaside, settling for fourth place.
4. Wonky Begin Simply Lengthy Seaside
The vehicles within the entrance few rows in the beginning of the race didn’t stay double-file as they received strung out shortly because the green-flag waved.
It appeared somewhat disjointed, however within the view of Scott Dixon, who began sixth and completed third, it was regular for Lengthy Seaside.
“It was very Lengthy Seaside-esque,” the six-time sequence champion mentioned in his postrace information convention. “It simply at all times is.
“It is exhausting, particularly [if you’re] fourth by way of eighth or tenth, in the event you catch the entrance two rows on the fallacious spot, you need to brake and all people behind you is accelerating.”
Drivers take the inexperienced flag in the beginning through the Grand Prix Of Lengthy Seaside.
4 ½: What’s Subsequent
There are two weekends off earlier than the subsequent race because the Month of Might kicks off with the Might 9 occasion on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway highway course.
However the drivers might be on monitor sooner as all of them might be testing April 28-29 for the Indianapolis 500. It’s a pivotal take a look at as they prepare for the most important race of the 12 months.
You recognize who received that race a 12 months in the past? Yeah, Alex Palou.
