There wasn’t as much action at the front as had been hoped for, but the concept of the non-points $1 Million Challenge allowed the series to try out new ideas
JOEY BARNES PHOTOGRAPHY
Alex Palou was simply untouchable in what became a routine Sunday drive to the top step of the podium to win the inaugural $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club last weekend. The reigning and two-time IndyCar Series champion controlled the field from pole and led every one of the 20 laps in the two-segment final of the non-points exhibition – the first in IndyCar since the 2008 race in Surfers Paradise – to claim victory with Chip Ganassi Racing by 5.8 seconds over Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin and take home $500,000 prize money.
There were two heats and a final at the 3.067-mile, 17-turn road course just outside of Palm Springs, California, and Palou also led all 10 laps of his heat (the second) from pole to underline his domination of an event that had its dramas. “Right from the start, we had all the speed we needed,” said the 26-year-old. “The race format was obviously different to our regular championship, so we weren’t sure how saving tyres was going to play out in the final but, with no restarts at the end, everything was amazing.”
When the dust settled on the day’s action, which began at an unheard-of 0930, McLaughlin was left smiling after collecting $350,000 for his runner-up result but also lamenting an inability to take full advantage of the single-file restart on lap 11 to begin the second half of the final.
“I better put some money up at the bar tonight,” McLaughlin said. “We just didn’t have quite enough for Alex. Once you get that clear air, it was good. I thought maybe that first restart would be OK, just to have a bit of a play around and see if we can get him, but ultimately I just settled for my pace to make sure we come home in a good spot. I was pumped with my first restart. That was a lot of fun. I got from fourth to second, and that really set up our race.”
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist finished third after starting on pole and winning the opening heat to advance into the final, where he collected $250,000 for taking the last step of the podium. After Chevrolet swept the top four spots at the season-opening Grand Prix of St Petersburg earlier in the month, it was Honda that flexed its muscles in the ‘all-star’ event, with five of the top six finishe
