Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou is the 2024 IndyCar Series Champion, winning his third title with an eleventh-placed finish in this morning’s race at Nashville Superspeedway.
Needing only to start the race to eliminate Scott McLaughlin from title contention, Palou did just that, leaving Australia’s Will Power as the sole remaining challenger.
Power needed to overcome a 33-point deficit should he secure his third IndyCar title, but a loose seatbelt during the opening 15 laps put paid to that, with the Penske #12 losing several laps while stopping to address the issue.
“We just had to keep on going,” Palou said of his focus after he learned of Power’s troubles. “I have to thank everyone working on the 10 car. Super proud. It’s been an amazing year, and I’m happy we got the championship back home.”
Andretti Global’s Colton Herta powered to his second win of 2024 in the season finale, his first ever on an oval, topping Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward and Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden.
“I’m so happy,” Herta said. “We knew we were going to have a hot rod in the race. It’s been an amazing year. I just saw I finished second in the championship, which is awesome. Hoping to do a little bit better next year.”
Herta’s victory elevated him to second in the standings, 31 points behind Palou.
McLaughlin was the first Kiwi home in fifth, which sees him retain third in the championship, ahead of Power, who dropped from second to fourth because of his issues.
“I was driving down the front stretch there, and I just felt a pop on the lap belt,” Power said. “That’s a very abnormal thing. I don’t know what went wrong. Very strange failure. I’ve never had that before. You have engine failures and gearbox failures; I had a belt failure.
“Disappointing, but big congrats to Alex. A tough guy to beat. Ganassi did a great job. It’s been fun racing those guys this year.”
Marcus Armstrong enjoyed another strong oval outing to finish seventh, his eighth top ten of 2024. Armstrong finishes the 2024 IndyCar Series in 14th overall.
Scott Dixon, meanwhile, finished two laps off the pace in 17th. The six-time IndyCar Champion finished the season sixth overall, behind O’Ward.
Kyle Kirkwood, Newgarden, Santino Ferrucci and Alexander Rossi complete the championship top ten.
Linus Lundqvist won the Rookie of the Year title.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment: Joe Skibinski
