Palou Triumphs with Blazing Speed in The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge
In a spectacle of strategic maneuvering, speed emerged as the ultimate victor as Alex Palou clinched a lucrative win on Sunday at The Thermal Club’s Sprint for the Purse event, part of the $1 Million Challenge.
The reigning champion of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Palou, secured a staggering $500,000 for his flawless performance in the non-points exhibition affair held at The Thermal Club, nestled near Palm Springs, California. Leading from the front, Palou dominated all 20 laps of the Sprint for the Purse from the pole position, steering his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to a commanding 5.7929-second lead over Scott McLaughlin’s No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet, who earned $350,000 for his commendable runner-up finish.
Results
Reflecting on his triumph, Palou expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The car was amazing. I was a bit surprised how the competitors did the first 10 laps, saving tires. I was like: ‘All right, that’s our game. I like it.’ Super proud of the 10 car and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing.”
Joining Palou on the podium was Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda, fielded by Meyer Shank Racing, earning a respectable $250,000. Both Palou and Rosenqvist demonstrated their prowess earlier in the day by clinching victory in the heat races, ultimately securing their positions among the 12 drivers vying for the Sprint for the Purse title on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile circuit.
Colton Herta, piloting the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda under Andretti Global, strategically clinched fourth place, earning $100,000. Herta’s deliberate approach, intentionally finishing more than 90 seconds behind Palou in the initial 10-lap segment to preserve his Firestone Firehawk tires, paid dividends. Tire changes were prohibited during the break between segments, prompting Herta and several others to opt for a slower, tire-preserving strategy in the opening laps.
Commenting on his team’s strategy, Herta remarked, “I think our strategy worked… Obviously, the tire advantage was pretty big, so we were able to pick off everybody on the way up there.”
Marcus Armstrong sealed the top five in the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, contributing to CGR’s dominance with two drivers among the top five, and earning $50,000.
Palou’s unchallenged dominance throughout both segments of the race, coupled with his comfortable cruise to the checkered flag, allowed the new father to contemplate his $500,000 payday, humorously remarking, “I need to buy a lot of diapers… I’ll probably do that and probably do some small party with the boys (Ganassi crew).”
The climax of the final 10-lap segment witnessed a thrilling battle between Herta and Alexander Rossi. Leveraging his fresher tires, Herta meticulously picked off competitors one by one while judiciously managing the allocated 40 seconds of push-to-pass. Meanwhile, Rossi, having conserved his tires in the initial stint, displayed full aggression following the restart after halftime.
The race concluded with Rossi finishing seventh, after engaging in a spirited duel with Josef Newgarden. Both drivers’ aggressive maneuvers ultimately impacted their positions, allowing others to seize opportunities and solidify their standings.
Next race: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, slated for Sunday, April 21, on the streets of Long Beach, California.
Article by AutomotiveWoman.com Editor, Juliana Chiovitti, aka @AutomotiveWoman online.
IMAGES: IndyCar
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