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
