'Professor of precision' Alex Palou seals second IndyCar title with one round to spare
Alex Palou is a two-time IndyCar champion.
Despite back-to-back wins for Scott Dixon, the Spaniard ended all hopes of the New Zealander winning a seventh title after dominating the Grand Prix of Portland.
With victory in the penultimate race, Palou sealed the title with one round to spare having extended an unassailable points lead.
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It's the first time since 2007 that the title has been wrapped up with a round to go. The last man to do that was Sebastian Bourdais, who clinched the Champ Car World Series on the Gold Coast before the season finale in Mexico City.
Alex Palou celebrates winning his second IndyCar title at Portland. Stan Sport
The title win draws Palou level with Italian legend Alex Zanardi as a two-time IndyCar Series winner for Chip Ganassi Racing.
"If there was ever a mic drop in IndyCar racing, we just witnessed it," said IndyCar driver turned commentator Townsend Bell.
"That was a dominant, perfect day from the professor of precision."
It marked the fifth race win of the season in a campaign that has seen Palou finish no lower than eighth.
He remains the only driver to finish every race of the season so far inside the top 10.
Palou's main title rival Dixon finished third, just behind McLaren driver Felix Rosenqvist.
"It was an amazing weekend overall, we just had really fast cars," said Palou.
"We knew we had to go for it and we just raced how we've been doing the whole season.
"Super proud to be here in victory lane, super proud of the second championship and 15th for the team.
"I never thought I would be an IndyCar champion and to be a two-time IndyCar champion is amazing – like a dream."
Alex Palou celebrates winning the IndyCar Series title with his Chip Ganassi Racing team. Joe Skibinski via IndyCar
Following the race win, team owner Chip Ganassi confirmed Palou will race for his team in 2024.
"Alex Palou is going to be in our car, I can tell you that," he said on Stan Sport's broadcast.
There was an expectation that Palou would race at McLaren next year. However, a contract with the team was torn up by the 26-year-old.
Now, the rival team is suing him for damages upwards of $30 million.
One round remains in the IndyCar Series at Laguna Seca on September 11.
