Focus on family helps Palou cope with title pressure

Alex Palou has experience in this championship position.

The two-time and defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion held a 35-point lead over Pato O’Ward heading into the 2021 season finale on the streets of Long Beach, a lead he has carried into his first of two championship-winning seasons, having clinched the championship last year in the penultimate race of the season at Portland International Raceway.

With one race remaining in the season, Palou leads Team Penske driver Will Power by 33 points heading into the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Nashville Superspeedway.

“I’m pumped,” he said. “You don’t always get a chance to fight for a championship. I didn’t get a chance to fight in 2022. I’m just glad we have a championship to win in Nashville.”

What sets his quest to become the series’ first champion since Dario Franchitti’s three-year reign from 2009-2011 apart from the rest could be seen as the Spaniard’s advantage.

Palou has a secret weapon that helps him maintain the right attitude towards the championship – his child.

Palou and his wife Esther welcomed their first child, Lucia, on December 4. The newborn was not born with championships in mind, but she could be the deciding factor in Palou’s success as he battles for his third title in four years, all while driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

“The baby is amazing and it helps me with everything,” Palou said. “It just makes me more prepared as a person. It helps me to have a baby, just to see him smile.”

Being hunted can play with a driver’s mind, especially when you have an extra week to think about it.

Heading into the oval and winless in 26 starts on the track, Palou is also riding an eight-race winless streak. His last victory came June 23 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where he took and maintained the series points lead. It is his only win in the last 12 races.

The joy of family is a welcome distraction for Palou during a week off from classes and allows him to take a break from the pressure of competing for a championship.

Not that he’s averse to pressure. He welcomes the knowledge that the screws will be tightened as he arrives in Nashville next week in pursuit of becoming the second-youngest three-time champion. Palou trails only Sam Hornish Jr., who was 27 when he won his third title in 2006. Palou, born April 1, 1997, is also 27, but is a few months older than Hornish, who was born July 2, 1979, when he won his third crown.

“I like the pressure,” Palou said. “I like the chance to compete and the need to do something good. That’s why we’re here in this sport.”

Palou needs to finish ninth or better to secure a third championship. But he’s not approaching the season finale with less aggression. Why change the approach that got him there?

Consistency led him here.

Palou has 13 top-five finishes in 16 races this season, matching the total he had in his 17-race 2023 championship season. He has three second-place finishes in the last 10 races — July 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 14 at Iowa Speedway and Aug. 25 at Portland International Raceway.

All Palou needs to do in Nashville is continue to be the driver he has been since joining Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021. Palou has 54 top-nine finishes in 66 starts for CGR in the points, including 30 of his last 33.

It helps to take a break from the rigors of the race and spend time with family.