Chip Ganassi Racing star and NTT IndyCar Series points leader Alex Palou has been handed a six place grid penalty at the first race of the Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit doubleheader for an unapproved engine change prior to the Indianapolis 500.
According to IndyCar, Palou’s team was in violation of Rule 16.5.4, which states that “once an Indianapolis 500 Engine is fitted to the Car, removal of the Engine prior to the Indianapolis 500 Race is an Unapproved Engine Change-Out, unless it is for Repair”. Palou’s team required a new engine following Carb Day, due to an unspecified issue according to a Honda spokesperson.
“That’s going to make our stuff really hard, but we’ll try and have some clean and good strategies, and we’ll be up there by the end of the race,” Palou said.
Belle Isle is a track that the young Spaniard has never raced at, but Palou stated that it is also a track he is excited to learn.
“The track looks awesome, really bumpy,” he said, “but yeah, I think the layout is super nice as a street course. I’m looking forward. I think it’s super good for me that there’s a double race just so I know I have a second chance on Sunday…The Chip Ganassi Racing team had some good results in ’19 and ’18, so I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ve never been there. It’s a street course. It’s also more difficult to get up to speed. But it’s all right. It is what it is. It’s what we have. We have one hour and 15 of practice so we’ll try and make the most of it, try to run as much as possible, and what gives me a bit of confidence is that at the Indy road course we missed Free Practice 1 because we had an issue and we were able to be up there in qualifying. So I think we should be OK at Detroit, just need to keep focused, look at what my teammates are doing and try and follow them.
“I’m looking forward to the track. Everybody says it’s super challenging with all the bumps. I have to say, it’s really fast for being a street course, especially the last two corners and the first two. I think they are super challenging…
Palou, like many of the series other young stars and veteran rookies, will have to do most of their track acclimatization during Friday’s free practice session.
“During free practice it’s going to be tough. I’m going to have to be able to get up to speed really quick, and I just need to focus on everything. I need to focus on all the bumps. I need to see how the car rides the bumps. That’s super important. And then braking zones. I think it’s super important on street courses to really nail and attack the braking zones.
“Hopefully we are able to do that soon enough so we can start developing our car during free practice.”
Free practice kicks off the weekend on Friday 11 June at 1700 EST / 2200 BST, while Race 1 takes place on Saturday 12 June at 1400 EST / 1900 BST.