6 key INDYCAR questions for Indy and beyond: Can anyone catch Alex Palou?

It seems as if it has been another long break in the INDYCAR Series schedule. 

That’s because it is another long break in the schedule.

With two weekends off between each of the first four races, the INDYCAR season can feel a little disjointed.

But don’t worry, this is the last of those for a while. Looking ahead to the rest of the season as far as the schedule, there are no more lengthy breaks:

— Five consecutive weekends on track: Barber (May 4), Indianapolis road course (May 10), Indy 500 qualifying (May 17-18), Indianapolis 500 (May 25) and Detroit (June 1).

— One week off and then back-to-back weekends at St. Louis (June 15) and Road America (June 22)

— One week off and then four consecutive weekends at Mid-Ohio (July 6), Iowa doubleheader (July 12-13), Toronto (July 20) and Laguna Seca (July 27).

— And then a weekend off before the season ends with three races in four weeks: Portland (Aug. 10), weekend off, Milwaukee (Aug. 24) and Nashville (Aug. 31).

So get ready for your fill of INDYCAR racing. And there will be cars on the track Wednesday and Thursday this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Indianapolis 500 testing.

With the upcoming racing and the Indy 500 testing in mind, here are six questions for the coming weeks:

1. Will anyone catch Alex Palou ?

Kyle Kirkwood won Long Beach and went from being 48 points behind Alex Palou in the standings to 34 points — thanks to the fact Palou finished second. The key for Palou will be how much of a lead he can build in the next two weeks and then how he manages the ovals (two of the following three races) as he still seeks his first win on an oval. Only Kirkwood and Christian Lundgaard are within one race of points (max is 54 in a race) of Palou.

2. Will Team