Alex Palou returned to the top step of the IndyCar podium at Road America, taking victory with an unusual strategy.
After taking a shock pole position in Road America qualifying, Louis Foster found himself in the best seat in the house for Sunday’s race.
The RLL rookie faced a tough test however to keep a determined Alex Palou behind him, who looked to put a difficult two previous rounds behind him at Road America.
With air temperatures in excess of 32 °C and track temperatures at 115 °C, drivers and teams at Road America faced a near-impossible challenge of staying cool. Tyre degradation would become a major factor in the race.
Green flag leads to frantic Turn 1 and cautions at IndyCar Road America
At the green flag, Foster held his line into Turn 1, with Alex Palou falling backwards, ending the first lap in seventh place.
Scott McLaughlin moved into second place and attempted to challenge Foster into Turn 3, but the RLLL driver held his line. Kyle Kirkwood was third, Christian Lundgaard in fourth, Graham Rahal fifth, and Will Power sixth.
David Malukas spun into the gravel after out-braking himself, resulting in a full-course caution. After some assistance from the marshals, Malakus got going again, albeit at the back of the field.
Scott Dixon, Conor Daly and Marcus Armstrong pulled into the pits after a lap under caution, fitting the red tyres. This could bring them into play later on.
At the restart, Foster once again had McLaughlin on his gearbox. He pulled to the outside into Turn 1, taking the lead. Palou passed Power at the same corner, only to be re-passed a few corners later. The battle continued through the lap, with Power diving down the inside of Kirkwood, with Palou passing them both.
Robert Schwartzman became the next driver to out-brake himself, going wide at Canada corner and hitting the barrier, resulting in another caution.
The second restart, McLaughlin led the field to start lap 7. Foster found himself under pressure from Lundgaard, who in turn was under attack from Palou. Lundgaard took second from Foster at the start of the next lap, with Palou next to attempt to overhaul the rookie.
Sting Ray Robb became the next driver to bring out a caution, losing control at 190mph, angry with Malukas’ move under braking.
A split in strategy at Road America
McLaughlin led a gaggle of cars into the pits, including the top four cars. All fitted the hard tyres. It was Lundgaard who won the race in the pits, with Newgarden also benefiting.
This left Dixon leading from Pato O’Ward and Rossi, after their first lap stops, leading to a fascinating split in strategy on the grid.
At the restart, Dixon led away, with fierce battles behind. Those who pitted started to advance through the field.
Kirkwood and Power had light contact, which allowed Palou to sail by and move up a place. Lundgaard led the group of cars that pitted under the caution in eighth place.
O’Ward pitted on lap 21 for fuel and more red tyres, rejoining in the lower order. Race leader Dixon pitted the next lap to cover off the McLaren. Both faced an uncertain second half of the race, as the as yet unknown performance of the yellow tyre would be needed at their final stop.
Conor Daly became the next driver to find the barriers, resulting in the fourth caution of the afternoon. This gave an advantage to Dixon’s strategy. Daly rejoined the track, but had the tow rope used to retrieve him still attached to his car.
When the pits reopened, a flurry of cars took to the pits. Palou won this pitlane battle, but Rahal gained six places.
Lundgaard and Kirkwood stayed out, potentially penalising them in the short term as they would drop to the back if pitting under green.
Fourth and fifth restart at IndyCar Road America
At the green flag, Lundgaard and Kirkwood pulled away immediately. Kirkwood pulled to the outside into Turn 1, but ran wide. Lundgaard retook the lead by taking to the grass. Rahal dropped back dramatically, putting himself out of contention.
Lundgaard pulled away from Kirkwood and attempted to pull a gap on the field. He pitted on lap 28, giving Kirkwood the lead from Armstrong and Dixon.
Kirkwood pitted on the next lap, exiting behind Lundgaard, and lost position to Rosenqvist due to cold tyres.
Newgarden brought out the fifth caution of the afternoon, crashing into the wall at the entrance to the pitlane. Dixon did not take to the pitlane during the caution, opting to continue his strategy.
He led the fifth restart and pulled a gap on second-placed Rossi, with Palou now moving up to third on the alternate strategy. Lundgaard, attempting to make progress, spun while trying to pass Colton Herta, ending his race hopes.
Palou took the lead on lap 39 as the others pitted, as he attempted to take victory, he pitted on the next lap, leaving Rosenqvist in the lead of the race.
As the race entered the closing stages, a duel developed between Dixon and Palou. With 8 laps to go, it was a straight run to the finish.
The gap settled at 1.1 seconds, with just six laps to go. Palou comfortably held off Rosenqvist to take victory, with Ferucci taking third.
Session Classification
- Alex Palou
- Felix Rosenqvist
- Santino Ferucci
- Kyle Kirkwood
- Marcus Armstrong
- Kyffin Simpson
- David Malukas
- Nolan Siegel
- Scott Dixon
- Rinus Veekay
- Louis Foster
- Scott McLaughlin
- Alexander Rossi
- Callum Ilott
- Will Power
- Colton Herta
- Pato O’Ward
- Christian Rasmussen
- Devlin DeFrancesco
- Graham Rahal
- Marcus Ericsson
- Conor Daly
- Jacob Abel
- Christian Lundgaard
Non Classified
Josef Newgarden
Sting Ray Robb
Robert Shwartzman
