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Grand Prix of Long Beach: Alex Palou recalls 2021 IndyCar glory

April 4, 2023

LONG BEACH — It was just over 18 months ago that Alex Palou realized a goal he had since he was a youngster. In the final NTT IndyCar race of the season, he finished fourth at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and with that won the coveted series championship.

His father, Ramon, was on hand to see his son make history Sept. 26, 2021, and become the first Spaniard to win the title. Palou and his father could be seen hugging on the track not long after the finish of the race, which was pushed back from its usual time of April to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was the best time of my life, the best day,” Palou said Tuesday during Grand Prix media day at the track ahead of next week’s 48th running. “Obviously, when you are crowned champion, in the NTT IndyCar series, it’s something huge, something I dreamt of since I was a kid.”

Palou, who turned 26 on April 1, was just 24 at the time. It was a big deal, especially as it pertains to making history for Spain.

“It didn’t change much, honestly, my life,” he said. “Except when they introduce me as a champion, obviously. And I just want more. We missed it last year, but we fought until the end and, hopefully, this year we can try and get it again.”

By this time, Palou was smiling ear to ear.

“It’s a special place for me,” he said, of Long Beach. “My first IndyCar championship. We had a huge crowd, I remember, that day. It was the end, let’s say, of the pandemic. It will always be a special track for me.”

Thanks to having won three races and a total of eight podiums in just his second IndyCar season, Palou entered that final race of the 2021 season in Long Beach needing only to finish 12th to win the title.

That his father was on hand to see it all unfold made it even sweeter.

“My parents, all of my family, have been with me since Day One,” Palou said. “But, obviously, once you get let’s say the present of being a champion, it’s super rewarding, especially for them. Seeing them so happy made me happier.

“Obviously, they can’t be here each race because it’s a long championship. But it was great that he was there for that special day.”

Palou finished fifth in series points in 2022 with one victory and six podiums. One of those podiums was in Long Beach, where he finished third.

Palou said he would love to add the Grand Prix of Long Beach to his list of winning accomplishments. That was clear when he was asked what a victory April 16 would mean to him.

“Oh, man, everything,” he said. “I mean, I never won this race. Finished fourth in 2021, third last year. We led at some point, but couldn’t really get the win. It’s, I would say, our second-biggest event in IndyCar after the (Indianapolis) 500 just because of the crowd, the placing of this race and the track itself.

“It’s one of the most fun … it’s the most exciting street course that we have. It’s really high speed. We also have the tightest and slowest corner (the hairpin) of them all. And it’s really bumpy, but not so bumpy that you don’t enjoy it. It has a lot of character. So, yeah, beautiful place.”

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Alexander Rossi went back to back at Long Beach in 2018 and 2019. That was the first time a champion repeated since Sebastien Bourdais won three in a row from 2005-07. But 2022 winner Josef Newgarden could be a good bet to repeat. He is coming off a thrilling victory at the Texas Motor Speedway this past Sunday. …

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Racing days are Friday (April 14), Saturday (April 15) and Sunday (April 16).

Orange County Register

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Grand Prix of Long Beach: Alex Palou recalls 2021 IndyCar glory

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