Palou rolls on with perfect race in Long Beach

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CGR’s Alex Palou extended his scorching hot streak in the NTT IndyCar Series on Sunday in Long Beach, storming to his third win in just five races while triumphing in the Acura Grand Prix.

After a tense mid-race battle and a perfectly timed final pit stop, the Spaniard vaulted past Felix Rosenqvist and never looked back, pulling away on the restart and controlling the closing stint with trademark calm and pace.

The win also moved him Palou into the series lead by 17 points over Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood as he continues his chase for a fifth championship.

“It’s huge,” Palou said. “Super proud of everybody’s job but especially this crew. Incredible to finally win here at Long Beach.”

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MSR’s Rosenqvist, who started on pole and led a race-high 51 laps in the No. 60 SiriusXM/Acura Honda, settled for second after a slightly slower final stop but still earned a strong return to the podium. Six-time champion Scott Dixon completed a Chip Ganassi Racing double on the podium in third with a composed drive in the No. 9 PNC Honda.

With Palou in peak form and CGR firing on all cylinders, the rest of the field may be left chasing shadows as the series shifts to Indianapolis.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.