Alex Palou held off Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and David Malukas to win the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix IndyCar Series race on July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. What a finish! Palou was absolutely on fire, controlling that race right when it mattered most.
The Caution Flag That Changed Everything
Seriously, you gotta talk about Palou’s insane timing to grab that lead. He came down pit road *just* before a mid-pit cycle caution flag dropped with 100 laps to go. Talk about pure luck, or maybe just brilliant strategy! That move put him in the perfect spot, and from that moment on, he wasn’t letting anyone pass him. This wasn’t the only time a green-flag pit cycle got totally messed up by a caution, either. It happened twice, throwing a wrench into everyone’s plans.
Holding Off the Attack
Once he had the lead, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver didn’t look back. He just controlled the front for the rest of the race, keeping that distance from Newgarden. Newgarden tried to make a move, absolutely pushing for the final 35 laps, but Palou was just too strong. Meanwhile, other drivers got caught in the crossfire of those yellow flags. David Malukas had to take a wave-around after a Lap 124 caution, losing crucial track position after a stop. Scott McLaughlin and Kyle Kirkwood, who actually snagged pole position in qualification, also got hit by a caution with 45 laps to go and had to take wave-arounds, totally losing their spot.
What a drive from Palou! He earned that checkered flag in a race where timing under caution was everything. You love to see a driver hold his nerve and keep pushing when the pressure is on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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