IndyCar: Drivers talk about Palou’s Situation
Some of the NTT INDYCAR Series drivers spent time with the media this morning before the autograph session for the Canadian fans that are at the track on Free Friday.
Interesting to see the media flock to ask Alex Palou, the Ganassi Racing number 10 NTT Data driver, about his future driving situation with McLaren that was announced in the last few days. Palou, the 2021 Series Champion, even stated he wanted a picture taken with all the attentive media around him.
“I completely understand that this is something the media is super interested in and I would be the same if I were in your position, but I have nothing else to add to what I said. I am not going to tell more about what I said already. We are in Toronto and my team and I are fighting for the championship together.”
“I have never been in this position before, I have no idea how this will get resolved. I know that Chip Ganassi and everyone around me want the same thing.”
Palou’s teammate, Scott Dixon, had a few words to say about the whole situation. “This is 100% not the way to go about this. It does not impact us as a team as far as the goal. We are still here to win.”
“I do not know the ins and outs of it. It sounds pretty complicated. I was disappointed in how the situation was handled. Honesty and loyalty is key to me. It is a small community, and it can change how you are looked upon quite quickly. Personally, I would not have done this in this way.”
“Honestly, my deals with Chip have been very straightforward. You kinda sit down and have a chat of what you are doing. Even when I have had options, I have gone to him and said these are my options. I have always respected the black and white function of how the operation has been with me.”
Changing topics…..
“The track looked very dirty during the track walk yesterday. There is a shiny spot of concrete in turn 5 which could be tricky to manage. Turn 8 looks a bit difference. The wall always kinda moves due to how the blocks fit on the curb.”
“Turns 9, 10, 11 might be a bit tricky. I think most of the track is the same as before. ”
David Malukas, the rookie driving the Dale Coyne Racing with HMD no 18 entry, was instructed to interview his driver idol, Scott Dixon, for an INDYCAR special. AR1 spoke to the nervous 20-year-old just after he finished the interview.
“Your job is hard”, he stated to AR1. “I have done the Indy Lights races in the broadcast booth. But asking Scott Dixon questions was very intimidating for me to do.”
“The track has changed since we were last here. Actually overnight after the track walk, I noticed that in the driver meeting, they have changed some potholes and they kinda patched some things up. They are some parts when you are walking the track, you think like wow, that is going to be quite scary.”
“And thankfully some drivers have told the officials of these issues. That is the one crazy thing about this series. I have never been in a series where a driver complains, and they just fix it right away. It feels very nice that they are actually listening to the drivers.”
AR1 asked if he was looking at the possible open seat at Ganassi Racing. Reluctantly he answered with, “It is looking very good, very confident for next year. They are many options. HMD Motorsports and I are kinda separate. I do have a manager within HMD. So, I could drive for another team, and me and my Dad would then be battling against each other.”
The young driver has impressed people with his rookie year so far in the series. Stay tuned to see if he has a chance to drive for a different team next season.
Lucille Dust reporting live from Toronto.