IndyCar Series champion Will Power says the finer details of Alex Palou’s controversial contract spat will determine his fate.
Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren have laid claim to the Spaniard who won last year’s IndyCar Series crown.
Over the course of a few chaotic hours, Ganassi claimed it had re-signed Palou only for him to discredit the press release and label quotes attributed to him as false.
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Then, McLaren announced it had signed Palou as part of its racing program – conveniently omitting specifics around IndyCar – with the promise of a Formula 1 test drive.
Where he ends up in 2023 remains unclear. One way or another, the 25-year-old looks likely to stick around IndyCar.
It’s a curious case, one which the series hasn’t seen the likes of before.
It’s not uncommon for driver movements to be played out in the media, although the intricate details are often kept secret.
Power said that’s likely the sticking point in the debacle and will ultimately determine whether Palou is made to stay at Chip Ganassi Racing or moves to McLaren.
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“I haven’t seen this in IndyCar,” said Power.
“I mean, this sort of thing goes on obviously all the time, various businesses. It’s just one of those things where it’s going to come down to the wording in the contract simply.
“I think that’s been a distraction all year for those guys because this whole thing has been going on behind the scenes.
“Yeah, not ideal if you’re fighting for a championship within a team. Definitely not ideal.
“It can make some drivers perform better and some perform worse. Some need that sort of pressure to bring the best out of them, and some don’t do well under those situations.
“Ideally I think you want everything settled and you want pretty good vibes in the team. But it totally depends on the individual.”
https://twitter.com/AlexPalou/status/1546996392912109568
The curious omission of any reference to IndyCar in the McLaren statement raises some questions.
Ganassi don’t appear ready to back down in any case, reaffirming its belief that the three-time race winner is on their books.
“We can confirm that Alex Palou is under contract with the team through 2023,” a statement from the team read.
In any case, Power said a bit of spice to the silly season can only be a good thing for IndyCar.
“I’ve heard rumours around the paddock of exactly what’s transpiring right now,” he said.
“Yeah, it’s kind of good for the series really to have a bit of action in the paddock.
“Obviously I don’t know the details of everything that has gone on there. Yeah, it’s going to be interesting to see how that whole things plays out.”
The series finds itself in an interesting spot where two of the biggest teams are embroiled in controversy.
For Power, that can only mean good things for his Team Penske with few distractions.
A difficult situation does loom, however. Power sits second in the standings with teammate Josef Newgarden breathing down his neck.
With Scott McLaughlin on the rise – now seventh in the standings – the possibility of a three-way fight between the teammates for the title is looming.
Ultimately, Power wants to avoid similar scenes to those at the last round, where Andretti Autosport drivers Alexander Rossi and Romain Grosjean came to blows more than once.
“It is a very tough balance. To me, the most awkward thing about motorsport is that you have a teammate, and you’re absolutely compared off your teammates, you have the same equipment. Very tough balance,” said Power.
“But Penske, I don’t think Penske would ever allow it to get to the point where we’re having big issues with each other on track. We understand that. We understand that it’s about the team and not about the drivers. You never put yourself first.
“You work hard, you work together off the track. Obviously, we’re kind of separate teams on the track. I have to say with both Scott and Josef, it’s been very good as far as the information that we share. Like, they are both super quick. It has helped me a lot. That’s to me an advantage.”
The IndyCar Series continues this weekend in Toronto, Canada. The green flag will fly for Round 11 of the IndyCar Series at 05:20 AEST on Monday.
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