Private Touch Helps To Lengthen Ganassi’s Championship Magic

Alex Palou secured his fourth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship Aug. 10 within the BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland offered by askROI.

Palou formally receives his third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup trophy following Sunday’s Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix offered by WillScot at Nashville Superspeedway, airing at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

The Spaniard enters the season finale with eight wins, essentially the most in a single season since Sebastien Bourdais in 2007. Among these wins was a victory within the 109th Indianapolis 500 offered by Gainbridge, making Palou the primary driver since Dario Franchitti to win the “500” and the championship in the identical 12 months, additionally with Ganassi in 2010.

Palou’s statistical dominance continues: six NTT P1 Awards, essentially the most since Will Power’s similar tally in 2017, and 12 podiums, essentially the most in a single season since Scott Dixon achieved the identical quantity throughout his 2008 title run. Only Alex Zanardi (15 in 1998) and Al Unser (15 in 1970) have topped that podium mark within the final half-century.

Joining Palou on the championship podium Sunday might be Chip Ganassi, workforce proprietor and architect of one of many best dynasties in trendy motorsport. This 12 months’s title marks the seventeenth championship for Ganassi, a quantity that ties his workforce with Team Penske for many in INDYCAR SERIES historical past. All 17 had been earned inside the previous three many years.

“It’s very rewarding,” Ganassi mentioned. “To have a driver like Alex (Palou) under your roof is special. You surround him with great people, the right engine, tires, chassis and race strategy, and you end up with a pretty good package.”

The season started with pressure, together with 5 wins and a runner-up within the first six races, however even Ganassi admits he didn’t count on this degree of dominance.

“We knew we had a strong team going in, but no one predicted a year like this,” Ganassi mentioned. “I said at the start of the season we were just tapping into Alex’s talent. Unfortunately for everyone else, I don’t think he’s hit the ceiling yet.”

It’s clear Chip Ganassi Racing hasn’t hit its ceiling but, both.

The wealthy profitable legacy started with Jimmy Vasser’s title in 1996, continued with back-to-back championships by Zanardi in 1997 and 1998 and a fourth title in succession by Juan Pablo Montoya in 1999.

Six extra got here through Scott Dixon (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020) whereas Franchitti notched three straight (2009-11).

Palou’s period could be the most dominant but, however Ganassi (picture, above) refuses to check his drivers throughout generations.

“That’s like saying Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Brady – who’s the best quarterback?” Ganassi mentioned. “Different eras, different teams, different contexts. That’s the great thing about sports: We’ll never really know.”

What Ganassi does know is he likes winners. And no workforce has received like his within the final 17 years.

Since open-wheel unification in 2008, Chip Ganassi Racing has claimed 12 of 18 championships. In that very same span, Team Penske has earned 5 and Andretti Global one.

Even when evaluating throughout sports activities, the dominance stands out. Since Ganassi’s first title in 1996, solely NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports (13 titles) comes shut. Red Bull Racing leads Formula One with eight titles in that span. The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers have six championships apiece, the New York Yankees 5 and the Detroit Red Wings 4.

“I’m not blind to the fact that some of our strongest competitors are struggling,” Ganassi mentioned. “That’s part of it. But we’ve stayed consistent.”

Ganassi attributes the sustained success to his workforce’s tradition. But what does Ganassi do otherwise than others?

“I’d like to think in our team, we work a little harder at giving drivers what they need,” Ganassi mentioned. “That could be one thing completely different for Palou than it’s (Scott) Dixon, or completely different than Kyffin (Simpson).

“Different individuals want various things. We’re not etched in granite with each single factor we do on the workforce. We personalize, whether or not it is the setups or the therapy of individuals. Everyone’s not the identical. I’d prefer to assume we do an excellent job of getting essentially the most out of our individuals from high to backside, from the drivers all through the group.

“That’s what it’s all about. And it’s working.”

He additionally believes that tradition constructed on superior communication and dedication units his group aside and that he creates an surroundings the place his workers can do their greatest work.

That mindset he instilled within the group was rooted in his early grownup years and the relationships he’s made alongside the best way.

“You spend a lot of your time in life, in your 20s and 30s, of learning, whether it’s in school or in college or whatever,” Ganassi mentioned. “I had this architect buddy of mine inform me one time: ‘You get to a point in life where you’re not emulating everyone else, you’re emulating yourself now. That’s who you become one day.’

“I’d prefer to assume I’ve taken so much from lots of people. I took so much from my father. I took so much from nice relationships I’ve had with individuals at Target. I’ve taken elements of Roger Penske. I discovered so much from Mario Andretti.

“I’ve been lucky through the years to come back in touch with a whole lot of nice individuals. When you are in touch with a whole lot of nice individuals, these issues rub off on you.

“I guess that’s a combination of all those is what makes up this championship team.”