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Alex Palou continued his command of the 2023 NTT IndyCar season, winning the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio IN his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Sunday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Starting fourth as part of a first through sixth qualifying sweep for Honda power in the two-engine series – Chevrolet and Honda – Palou took the lead after the first round of pit stops and held it. Honda at 759 points leads Chevrolet at 693 points in the manufacturer’s championship.
The result marks Palou’s third IndyCar win in a row in 2023 and fourth in the last five races. It also extends his championship lead to 110 points over teammate and now-second place driver in the standings, Scott Dixon who finished second. Will Power, driver of the #12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Verizon Team Penske – a fierce rival of Chip Ganassi the owner of Palou’s and Power’s race cars took third place. It wasn’t all roses for Chip Ganassi – previously second place in the championship in the fourth Ganassi Racing car, Marcus Ericsson was involved in a lap one incident, ending his race.
Scott Dixon came up just short of a record-extending seventh Mid-Ohio win in his 20th race at the track. However, second place finish moved him up three spots in the championship fight to potion number two behind Paulo. behind his teammate. Honda drivers have won 12 of the 18 Indy car races run at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course since the series returned to the circuit under the Honda Indy 200 banner in 2007. Given Honda’s automotive manufacturing presence in Ohio, it is considered Honda’s home track.
“Yeah, very solid day. I had no clue where I finished, actually,” said Will Power, the defending series champion driving for Team Penske Chevrolet. “I saw P3, but thought, ‘Oh wow, third!’ I thought I was like eight or something. There’s no mistakes all day. We drove really hard. Got the fuel when we needed it and had a fast car. Maybe I was a bit slow on my out laps. So, I’ll take a podium any day in this series.”
“Obviously everyone needs to beat Palou,” said Power, “but I don’t think – that’s going to be a very tough challenge to beat him in a championship this year. He is so on point in every respect, in every respect. He is not missing a thing, which is very difficult in this series to be extremely fast, which there are a lot of guys that are, but then being able to do all the disciplines as well plus the intricacies of fuel save, tire conservation, in-and-out laps, the qualifying. It’s bloody hard to have that all nailed, and he is doing it.”
Next IndyCar Race
The NTT IndyCar series heads to Toronto, Ontario for the 16 July Honda Indy Toronto, held on a temporary street circuit on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (aka “the Ex”) fairgrounds and entertainment district.
Alex Palou and Honda Outstanding at Mid-Ohio Indy 200
Click to enlarge.
Alex Palou continued his command of the 2023 NTT IndyCar season, winning the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio IN his #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Sunday at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Starting fourth as part of a first through sixth qualifying sweep for Honda power in the two-engine series – Chevrolet and Honda – Palou took the lead after the first round of pit stops and held it. Honda at 759 points leads Chevrolet at 693 points in the manufacturer’s championship.
The result marks Palou’s third IndyCar win in a row in 2023 and fourth in the last five races. It also extends his championship lead to 110 points over teammate and now-second place driver in the standings, Scott Dixon who finished second. Will Power, driver of the #12 Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Verizon Team Penske – a fierce rival of Chip Ganassi the owner of Palou’s and Power’s race cars took third place. It wasn’t all roses for Chip Ganassi – previously second place in the championship in the fourth Ganassi Racing car, Marcus Ericsson was involved in a lap one incident, ending his race.
Scott Dixon came up just short of a record-extending seventh Mid-Ohio win in his 20th race at the track. However, second place finish moved him up three spots in the championship fight to potion number two behind Paulo. behind his teammate. Honda drivers have won 12 of the 18 Indy car races run at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course since the series returned to the circuit under the Honda Indy 200 banner in 2007. Given Honda’s automotive manufacturing presence in Ohio, it is considered Honda’s home track.
“Yeah, very solid day. I had no clue where I finished, actually,” said Will Power, the defending series champion driving for Team Penske Chevrolet. “I saw P3, but thought, ‘Oh wow, third!’ I thought I was like eight or something. There’s no mistakes all day. We drove really hard. Got the fuel when we needed it and had a fast car. Maybe I was a bit slow on my out laps. So, I’ll take a podium any day in this series.”
“Obviously everyone needs to beat Palou,” said Power, “but I don’t think – that’s going to be a very tough challenge to beat him in a championship this year. He is so on point in every respect, in every respect. He is not missing a thing, which is very difficult in this series to be extremely fast, which there are a lot of guys that are, but then being able to do all the disciplines as well plus the intricacies of fuel save, tire conservation, in-and-out laps, the qualifying. It’s bloody hard to have that all nailed, and he is doing it.”
Next IndyCar Race
The NTT IndyCar series heads to Toronto, Ontario for the 16 July Honda Indy Toronto, held on a temporary street circuit on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition (aka “the Ex”) fairgrounds and entertainment district.