Alex Palou dominated the competition and secured the victory in the inaugural IndyCar Thermal $1 Million challenge. He earned a substantial amount of $500,000 for his impressive performance. The race took place at the exclusive Thermal Club venue and featured a unique format. The grid was divided into two heats, each with its own qualifying session to determine the starting order. The elimination races took place just before the final event on Sunday, where the $1 million prize was at stake.
The final race consisted of 20 laps, with a mandatory break halfway through the course. During the break, teams had the opportunity to refuel and make adjustments to the wing angles. This format was designed to eliminate the need for fuel-saving strategies in a non-stop race. However, the decision to allow only pressure changes during the break, instead of tire changes, posed a challenge for the drivers.
Five cars chose to drop back in the pack and save their tires for the final 10-lap segment. One of the notable drivers who adopted this strategy was Colton Herta, who expressed his frustration with it. Despite the setback, Herta managed to move up in the pack, going from 11th to sixth place in just two laps. However, he was unable to catch Palou, who had established a significant lead and ultimately secured the victory.
Palou, the reigning IndyCar champion, gave Chip Ganassi Racing a reason to celebrate with his win. The team had a strong presence in the final race, with three cars among the top 12. Palou, who is currently facing a lawsuit from McLaren, joked that he would use the prize money to buy diapers. Ganassi praised Palou’s performance, stating that he didn’t even break a sweat during the race.
Other drivers also came out with substantial earnings. Scott McLaughlin earned $350,000 for finishing in second place, while Felix Rosenqvist took home $250,000 for third place. Colton Herta and Marcus Armstrong received $100,000 and $50,000, respectively, for their performances.
The race was not without incidents. Romain Grosjean and Rinus VeeKay were taken out in a collision caused by Scott Dixon’s aggressive driving. Grosjean expressed his frustration with the incident and questioned who would be responsible for the damage to his car. Despite the setbacks, the race provided an exciting spectacle for fans and showcased the talent and skill of IndyCar drivers.
