Alex Palou Wins St. Petersburg Grand Prix – 2024 IndyCar Race
St. Petersburg, Florida – Reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou continued his dominant form, securing victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on . The Spaniard, driving the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, finished 2.8669 seconds ahead of teammate Scott Dixon, marking Ganassi’s first 1-2 finish since July 2023 at Mid-Ohio.
The win is Palou’s 12th career victory in the series and his first on the streets of St. Petersburg. It also represents a strong start to his bid for a third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup as series champion. The question of how to challenge Palou’s championship reign remains unanswered, even after the opening race of the season.
The race unfolded with a significant strategic shift during the first caution period, a change Palou and his team navigated effectively. “What an amazing job by everybody,” Palou said after the race. “They gave me everything we needed this weekend to win. I told you yesterday we had a really, really fast car. Our strategy changed a lot during that first yellow, but I’m so glad we got that No. 10 in Victory Lane. It’s been 138 days since Nashville (2024 season finale), and I’ve been dreaming about this every single night.”
Dixon, piloting the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, completed the last 90 laps of the 100-lap race without radio communication, a testament to his experience and skill. He ultimately secured second place, narrowly edging out Josef Newgarden on the final lap.
Newgarden, driving the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, finished third, rounding out the podium. Scott McLaughlin, who started on pole position, finished fourth in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet. The strong performance from both Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske saw drivers from both teams occupy the top four positions.
McLaughlin led a race-high 40 laps, demonstrating the competitiveness of the Team Penske Chevrolet. However, Palou’s strategic execution and consistent pace ultimately proved decisive. The race saw seven different drivers lead laps, highlighting the dynamic nature of the St. Petersburg street circuit.
The victory margin of 2.8669 seconds, while significant, was not the largest in the history of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. According to reports from , Palou’s win came with a margin of 12.4948s, the largest ever margin of victory in IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg history.
The race also saw notable performances further down the field. Christian Lundgaard of Arrow McLaren finished third, climbing from 12th on the starting grid. Kyle Kirkwood, starting 15th, briefly challenged for second place before needing to conserve fuel, ultimately finishing fourth. Pato O’Ward finished fifth, also driving for Arrow McLaren.
Marcus Ericsson, who started alongside McLaughlin on the front row, faded to sixth place. Josef Newgarden mounted a strong recovery drive, advancing from 23rd to finish seventh. Romain Grosjean finished eighth for Dale Coyne Racing, while Rinus VeeKay and Dennis Hauger completed the top ten.
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is traditionally the season opener for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, setting the tone for the championship battle. Palou’s victory establishes him as the early favorite, but the series is known for its unpredictable nature and intense competition. The next race on the calendar is the INDYCAR Desert Double Race at Phoenix, with details on how to watch available through FOX Sports.
The race at St. Petersburg also marked the debut of several drivers, and the early stages were punctuated by incidents that reshaped the running order. The ability to adapt to changing conditions and execute a sound strategy proved crucial for success. Palou’s win underscores the importance of both speed and tactical acumen in IndyCar racing.
The result at St. Petersburg reinforces Palou’s status as a four-time IndyCar Series champion and a formidable competitor. His ability to consistently deliver results under pressure makes him a key figure in the series, and his performance will be closely watched throughout the season. The challenge for his rivals will be to find a way to match his pace and strategic brilliance.