2021 IndyCar champ Palou returning to Chip Ganassi Racing after claiming he was jumping to McLaren.
Icon SportswireGetty ImagesAlex Palou isn’t going anywhere, after all.
And Felix Rosenqvist still has a job.
The NTT IndyCar Series silly season took another, well, silly turn today when Palou, the 2021 IndyCar champion, said on social media that he was was returning for another season at Ganassi Racing in 2023. That, after he earlier said, almost defiantly, that he had signed a contract with McLaren Racing to race there next year.
It was believed that Palou would have replace Rosenqvist at McLaren. Rosenqvist was believed to be out of an IndyCar ride and possibly heading to McLaren’s Formula E team.
I’m also grateful that @CGRTeams will allow me to pursue F1 testing with @McLarenF1 outside of my INDYCAR commitments.
— Alex Palou Montalbo (@AlexPalou) September 14, 2022
McLaren Racing this morning announced that Rosenvist is returning for a third IndyCar season with McLaren and will join Pato O’Ward and Alex Rossi in a three-car IndyCar effort at McLaren.
Palou added in a tweet that team owner Chip Ganassi is allowing him to be part of the McLaren Racing program, but just on the Formula 1 side. Palou has joined McLaren’s F1 testing program and is testing for McLaren today.
Rosenqvist was IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year in 2019. Rosenqvist finished eight in the 2022 IndyCar points standings. Palou finished in a tie for fourth with Team Penske’s Scott McLauglin in the 2022 IndyCar standings.
“There’s no better way to enter the off-season than with this news,” Rosenqvist said. “I love this team, and I’m so happy to continue working with all the incredible people I’ve gotten to know over the past two seasons. With everything the team has in the pipeline, the continuing relationship with Pato and the addition of Alex Rossi, we are going to bring our A-game for 2023. It will be the most exciting season for me so far.”
We are ready to bring our A-game in 2023! So happy to continue working with everyone at @ArrowMcLarenSP next year. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/OczXD8NO4M
— Felix Rosenqvist (@FRosenqvist) September 14, 2022
Mike Pryson Mike Pryson covered auto racing for the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen Patriot and MLive Media Group from 1991 until joining Autoweek in 2011.
Keyword: IndyCar Silly Saga Update: Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist Staying Put