Palou, Honda Finish 2022 INDYCAR Season With Victory at Laguna Seca
・Alex Palou dominates the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey to win for Honda and Chip Ganassi Racing
・NTT INDYCAR SERIES completed its 2022 season today at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
・Christian Lundgaard finishes fifth to claim series Rookie of the Year honors
Alex Palou closed off the 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES in dominating style Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with the Honda driver leading 67 laps to win the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. The outgoing series champion started 11th, but used a strong second stint work his way into the lead, then built that advantage throughout the second half of 95-lap contest, holding an impressive 30-second margin of victory at the finish.
Seeking his seventh INDYCAR drivers’ title, Scott Dixon was unable to make the progress he needed in heavy traffic to finish 12th in today’s race, and third in the championship points standings.
In the tight battle for series Rookie of the Year honors between two Honda drivers, Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Christian Lundgaard recovered from a disappointing qualifying effort yesterday to finish fifth today to claim the title. Rival David Malukas finished 13th in his Dale Coyne Racing with HMD Honda to complete an otherwise excellent debut season, highlighted by a second-place finish at World Wide Technology Raceway in August.
Fast Facts
・Today’s dominant win by Alex Palou is the third consecutive INDYCAR SERIES victory for a Honda driver at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Andrettti Autosport’s Colton Herta won in both 2019 and 2021. No race was held here in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.