IndyCar Qualifying at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio gave Alex Palou yet another NTT P1 award – starting at the front of the grid gives him a clear advantage at this track. The championship points leader went well during qualifying and safely secured his number one spot.
The Chip Ganassi driver got through Q1 with a fast car as he topped his group. However, he struggled with some balance issues in the second phase and dropped to P3 at that point.
He also humorously referenced an angry Will Power who visited him after FP2.
“Yeah, it was great. Really fast car since practice one. A good exchange with Power after practice 2, and then off to a great — …He gave me some compliments. No, it was all good. He was frustrated about traffic. Yeah, it wasn’t too bad.
“Yeah, then qualifying was interesting. We had a ton of speed in Q1. Then Q2 we struggled a little bit with the balance and also speed-wise. We’re still in and we’re still like P3 or P4 but we were still two tenths off, so we wanted to go aggressive. We went on a brand new set of softs for Fast Six instead of keeping it for the race, like I think three guys did it, to try and get that pole, and it worked out.”
On track for a repeat success
Overall, the car was staying consistent throughout all the rounds of qualifying. Historically Palou has seen success at Mid-Ohio in the past 4 years. He has been on the podium the past four years – including two pole positions and one victory from pole.
“It’s one of those tracks that you think it’s huge and it’s a very, very big advantage, but it’s not one of the most. Actually last year I started leading. I actually opened a gap to Pato, and then we lost it on pure pace in the second stint and we couldn’t really pass back.
“It’s for sure good, but I think a fast car or a fast pace, driver and car, it’s more beneficial, actually.
“The other years I’ve never been starting on pole, and we were still able to make it on pace. I like where I start for sure, but I know it’s just going to make easier the first lap, hopefully.”
Discussing different strategies tied to tyre usage, both Palou and second-place starter Lundgaard seemed to have similar strategies. Both used three sets of alternate tyres during qualifying. This sets them apart from some of the other drivers who have an extra set of alternates to use during the race, like teammates Kyffin Simpson who starred in qualifying to place his CGR machine P3 on the grid.
”Even Kyffin has — he’s starting third and he has one more set of alternates than us. … It’s big. It’s a huge advantage.
“We were debating. I think everybody was in the same boat of do we try and shoot for pole, start up front, try and keep position during the first couple stints and then try and be okay, or do we give the pole away or fighting for pole away and start from fifth or sixth.
“So we decided to go that route. But yeah, he’s starting third on another set of alternates.”
Knowing what to expect
Mid-Ohio has seen cautions at the start of the race the past three years. Palou understands what to expect but isn’t too worried it seems. With different strategies being run across the grid in race day, things can smooth out.
“Yeah, you try and always expect no yellows or no incidents, try and expect a clean start and just go for it, if then suddenly there’s yellows or not. But yeah, I would say the last six races there’s been a yellow in the first two or three laps, so it’s going to make it interesting. I think once it gets going and with the different strategies, that’s why probably we don’t see as many cautions, which I think is a good thing because we’re going to see like two, three different strategies or maybe one less stop, one more stop, like just different fuel mileages, and that’s when you start seeing overtakes and just good track action happening.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be a good race, a good show. But yeah, from my standpoint, you just go and try and keep the lead, which is number one. It’s not always a given. And try and run your rhythm, take care of the tyres and stuff like that.”
What the Spaniard will need to watch seems to be his tyre wear – running one set short of new tyres means managing tyres and staying consistent.
Healthy ompetition and confidence
Looking ahead at Sunday’s race, the Spaniard understands the challenges ahead. At some parts of the track, it can be hard to pass cars ahead.
While Palou does have a set of new alternates, there will be used alternates to run as well. It will truly be up to him how everything lines up for the race.
“Yeah, it’s not easy, but I think there’s a huge gap in between the primaries and the alternates, which is good. I think everybody loves that. That creates different strategies and different opportunities. I think it’s going to be tough if somebody is on primaries and there’s a fast car as well on alternates, it’s going to be tough to defend it. You’re going to be burning on that OT and the hybrid. But it’s going to be tough.”
If there is anyone up for a challenge, it’s Alex Palou. With his already impressive track record this IndyCar season, there is no doubt that success can be repeated at Mid-Ohio.
