Alex Palou spent Sunday watching his fellow Spaniards win the FIFA World Cup and then went and got himself a very different trophy on Monday.
The Ganassi Racing driver won the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls at Nashville Superspeedway to pick up his fifth win of the season and extend his points lead as he looks to win his fourth-consecutive IndyCar title and the fifth of his career.
The race was postponed from Sunday due to rain and shortened due to excessive heat from the planned 300 laps to 225 laps, which was the same length as last year’s race that won by Nashville native Josef Newgarden.
Palou started on the second row in fourth next to Scott McLaughlin and behind Newgarden, who lined up on the front row alongside pole-sitter Kyle Kirkwood.
Read Also: NASCAR JUST MADE ITS CARS LESS POWERFUL FOR DAYTONA — HERE’S WHY
Kirkwood led the first 23 laps before a crash brought out a yellow flag and kicked off the first round of pit stops early. Ten lead changes followed until Palou found his way to the front on lap 131 and never gave up the position.
His mirrors were full of Team Penske cars the rest of the way, however, as Newgarden, David Malukas and Scott McLaughlin stayed within striking distance but couldn’t close the gap before the checkered flag.
“That’s a pretty good weekend for Spain, right, like it was impressive what they did yesterday over the World Cup,” Palou said. “My first ever win on Monday, never raced on Monday, so it’s very cool.”
Palou thanked the fans at the track and at viewers at home for coming back to watch the postponed race then picked up the track’s signature Gibson Les Paul winners trophy.
Read Also: FORD RACING UNWRAPS V8-POWERED LE MANS HYPERCAR FOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY
Palou heads to the next race in Portland on Aug. 9 with an 83 point lead over Malukas, who started from the 25th position and was racing with a leg injury he suffered during a crash in Saturday’s final practice session.
There are six races left in the season including the Freedom 250 in Washington D.C. on Aug. 23 and finale at Laguna Seca on Sept. 6.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING YOUTUBE CHANNEL
