Analysis: Palou remains unflappable — but slappable — in winning 3rd IndyCar title

LEBANON, Tenn. — Chip Ganassi likes winners — its his catchphrase, in case you didn’t know — and his celebrations rarely deviate. At least that’s what Alex Palou has learned after winning three IndyCar championships in the last four years for his boss.

It starts with an embrace from Ganassi, one that Palou calls “an aggressive hug.” But the Spaniard then noted that Ganassi also tends to pat him on the cheek, a slight slap of sorts that Palou didn’t even know how to describe.

“He has very big and strong hands. That means maybe he’s happy, or that he’s not happy at all,” Palou explained.

And how was Ganassi on Sunday, after Palou held off Will Power to give Chip Ganassi Racing its 16th IndyCar title in 29 years?

“He was happy. I was happy,” Palou said, rubbing his cheek. “I got hurt, but I was happy.”

It’s such a strange turnaround at Ganassi with Palou, a driver who turned up out of nowhere from a Japanese racing series to drive for Dale Coyne Racing during the pandemic-restricted 2020 season. IndyCar operated in a bit of a bubble at the time — the Indianapolis 500 was held without fans for the first time ever

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