Alex Palou capped the 2022 IndyCar season with a win at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and he won it convincingly.
However, the bigger question was where would the 2021 series champion drive next year. Palou had found success with Chip Ganassi Racing, but he had become embroiled in a lawsuit with the team over his future. CGR exercised an option on Palou for the 2023 season this summer only for rival team McLaren to announce that they had in fact signed Palou.
The drama had dragged out throughout the season and made the announcement today a bit of a surprise.
I’m excited to announce that @CGRTeams and I have come to an agreement and I’ll be back in the No. 10 car next season!
Looking forward to a BIG 2023! 🦍 pic.twitter.com/wIhaPdYj9q
— Alex Palou Montalbo (@AlexPalou) September 14, 2022
With Palou’s IndyCar ride secured for next season, it allowed Arrow McLaren SP to re-sign Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist for next season but still left the question: what, if any connection did Palou have with McLaren?
That was answered earlier this week when Palou was one of three IndyCar drivers to get a test for the McLaren F1 team. Palou will continue to test for the Woking-based team going forward.
Álex Palou announced that he will be sticking with Chip Ganassi Racing for the 2023 IndyCar season, and the team is allowing him to do Formula One testing with McLaren outside of his IndyCar commitments https://t.co/MEJOWGb16s
— SI Racing (@si_racing) September 14, 2022
Next season will be Palou’s third with Chip Ganassi Racing and fourth in IndyCar after debuting for Dale Coyne Racing in 2020. Palou has won four races along with his championship in his time in IndyCar.
