Disaster Strikes for Alex Palou: Championship Lead Crumbles Before Green Flag

Disaster struck Alex Palou just as the championship leader was poised for another race in his 2024 campaign in Milwaukee. Before the green flag could even signal the start of the race, Palou’s dreams took a severe hit when his car stalled on the track. Initial reports suggested a hybrid issue, but it was later identified as a problem with the 12-volt battery, eventually forcing him to start nearly 30 laps behind.

Palou, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver, found himself struggling with his car from the very beginning.

“We faced a battery issue before the race started, which was incredibly frustrating,” said race strategist Barry Wanser. As the Spaniard awaited the green flag, the 12-volt battery malfunction threw a wrench in his championship hopes.

Adding to the chaotic start, Josef Newgarden, who began from pole position, was taken out by an incident involving Linus Lundqvist. Frustrated and terse in his post-accident interview, Newgarden expressed his discontent:

Alex Palou, driver of the #10 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, prepares for practice of the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 22, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana….

Justin Casterline/Getty Images

“Don’t ask me that question,” he retorted when asked about Lundqvist’s involvement by NBC Sports. He added, “I got clobbered on the start. Honestly, it’s not our day. They go yellow and I get run into. Of course, someone didn’t get the message.”

Lundqvist, at the center of the early chaos, was penalized with a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact. Although he managed to continue without significant damage, his misjudgment led to Marcus Armstrong crashing into the inside wall and compounded Newgarden’s destruction.

Will Power, Palou’s closest championship rival trailing by 43 points, led early in the race but faced his own troubles. A mid-race spin placed him a lap down, somewhat offsetting Palou’s misfortune.

Despite these setbacks, Palou strove to claw back positions after re-entering the race on Lap 29 as the 30th car, significantly behind. By Lap 150, he had managed to move up six spots, putting him in 21st place.

As the race unfolded, Palou’s plight seemed an almost insurmountable challenge, yet he continued to push. The issues he faced could have spelled disaster for his championship bid, yet the struggles of others offered a glimmer of hope.