So Near, Yet So Far

That’s pretty much the story for Alex Palou, “close but no cigar”. As in 16 laps from tying the record for most wins in an IndyCar season. No one can deny that Alex Palou is having a successful season. With 8 wins this season, Alex is now tied for 3^rd on the all-time list for most IndyCar wins in a single season, with Al Unser Jr., Sebastian Bourdais, and Michael Andretti.

When the season began Alex Palou was the 2024 IndyCar Champion, and as the season progressed, he had won 8 races. With three events left in the season, it was possible for Alex to win the three remaining races, and take the single season record away from “Super Tex” – A.J. Foyt, and Al Unser Sr.

The last chance to tie the record expired on Sunday at the “Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250”.

Let’s just say that Alex gave it a hell of a shot. First by taking the Pole position, and then leading 199 of 250 laps. Right, 199 laps, but 16 short of the win. That win went to Christian Rasmussen driving the Ed Carpenter Racing / Splenda car, to take his first IndyCar win, and deny Alex Palou the chance to tie for the all-time record of most wins in a season.

Although Alex seemed to have the race in hand, with just a few laps to go, Christian Rasmussen put on a charge unlike anything seen this season. A late race re-start saw Rasmussen drive through the field like a Ferrari moving through a near empty freeway in downtown Los Angeles at 2;00 in the morning. Aided by a seasoned spotter letting him know who was ahead and behind, Christian bobbed and weaved and with just 16 laps left to go simply drove around the outside of Alex Palou to take the lead.

Someone must have hit the set-up on the money, or Christian really did eat his Wheaties on Sunday, because he sliced through the field like the proverbial “Hot Knife Through Butter” for 25 laps. Inside, outside or up the middle, it was a masterclass in skill and timing. By the last lap his spotter told him “You don’t need to pass anybody” because everyone, and I mean everyone, was so far adrift it was silly! A nice little burn-out and on to Victory Circle. Congratulations to the whole Ed Carpenter team, and especially to Christian.

Alex is left with one race to go, and potentially tie for 2^nd on the all time wins in a season record, but this week the accolades got to Christian Rasmussen.