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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda wins the NTT IndyCar Series Championship
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2021 IndyCar title is just the start for Ganassi's newest star

Alex Palou has captured Chip Ganassi Racing's 14th IndyCar drivers' championship, and in truly stellar manner. David Malsher-Lopez explains what made the Palou-Ganassi combo so potent so soon.

Even when driving for a team as strong as Chip Ganassi Racing-Honda, being able to finish in the top three in half the season’s races is a stellar achievement in a championship as wickedly tight as the NTT IndyCar Series right now. And when three of those eight podium visits see you standing on the center step, that’s a championship right there.

And that’s exactly what 2021 IndyCar champ Alex Palou delivered. But how did a veteran of just 14 IndyCar races coming into this season achieve such astounding consistency? Well, there seems little doubt that part of his (open) secret to success is his astonishing ability to stay out of trouble, to make great judgment calls on what is and isn’t feasible in the heat of battle, and to remember that Chip Ganassi – like most team owners – prefers you to bring home a certain second place rather than stick it in the wall going for a possible win.

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