Palou began this 12 months’s IndyCar blue ribband race from pole, however was pushed out of the lead combat following a collision with Rinus VeeKay within the pitlane. He bounced again to complete fourth, having charged up from final place.
When requested about his hopes for successful the 2024 Indy 500, after ending his title-winning season with a 3rd place at Laguna Seca on Sunday, Palou replied: “Nicely, that may be an enormous, large aim.
“If we may get the Indy 500 subsequent 12 months, that may be already a very good 12 months clearly. We simply have to proceed working like we have been doing.
“I feel now we have probabilities if we put ourselves once more through the Indy 500 to be up there within the high 4, high 5 for the final restarts, we will be in an excellent place.
“So, yeah, hopefully we will win a bit of extra subsequent 12 months.”
Palou revealed that he’s contemplating utilizing the #1 subsequent 12 months, as reigning champion, having eschewed the chance to take action in 2022 after his first title – when he continued utilizing #10.
He additionally thinks it will match together with his automobile’s sponsor, The American Legion, and its Be the One marketing campaign to forestall suicide amongst veterans.
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
Photograph by: Gavin Baker / Motorsport Images
The #1 was final used season-long in IndyCar by champion Josef Newgarden in 2020, though Tony Kanaan and JR Hildebrand have used it for current one-offs within the Indy 500 in 2022 and ’21 respectively.
“Truthfully, I like the #10,” mentioned Palou. “It was my first quantity once I began racing. That is why I wished to maintain it after 2021.
“However then, throughout final 12 months, I simply sort of thought and was like, ‘Oh man, we must always have raced with the #1.’
“I’ll push for it. I am going to have plenty of discussions with Chip. I am going to include, like, ‘the Be the One’. I feel that is nice.”
Turning to Dean Kessel, chief advertising and marketing officer for The American Legion, he added: “You must push for it, as effectively, on the identical time. We’ll push on the identical time for the #1 for the Be the One.
“I feel it is simply particular when you’ll be able to win the championship and you may simply have the #1 for a full 12 months.”