Alex Palou, the IndyCar Series points leader, has been handed a significant setback heading into the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.
Due to an unapproved engine change, Palou will face a nine-place grid penalty for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix.
This penalty could greatly impact his title chances, as he needs to finish at least ninth to secure his third IndyCar championship in four years.
Despite the grid penalty, Palou remains focused on his own performance. He expressed that being in the top five would be ideal, but if he starts further back, his priority will be to move up the grid, regardless of his rivals’ positions.
Palou isn’t the only driver affected; Scott McLaughlin and Alexander Rossi also received grid penalties for engine changes, while Will Power, Palou’s closest title rival, avoided any penalties, giving him an advantage as he fights to close the 33-point gap in the standings. Despite the setback, Palou remains focused, hoping the fresh Honda engine will help him in the crucial race.
Palou is not the only driver affected by penalties; both Scott McLaughlin and Alexander Rossi will also drop nine grid positions for the race due to similar unapproved engine changes.
With a fresh Honda engine, Palou will have the power to push through the grid, but he must navigate the added challenge of overtaking on the 1.33-mile superspeedway.
With over 200 laps scheduled for Sunday’s race, and the unpredictable nature of the Nashville track, it’s set to be a high-stakes finale.
