Chip Ganassi-Zak Brown acrimony underpins Alex Palou dispute

It couldn’t have been more than a decade ago that Chip Ganassi hosted a dinner at his usual window table in his favorite Indianapolis steakhouse — and the guest list included Zak Brown.

The movers and shakers of the local IndyCar scene were present, and the group played credit card roulette to determine who would cover the bill.

There’s been some sort of falling out between Ganassi and Brown since that dinner – a business agreement gone bad? Brown’s failed attempt to lure away Ganassi star driver Scott Dixon? – and the acrimony between the two team owners is common knowledge in the IndyCar paddock.

Now, they legitimately have beef.

Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren Racing both believe they have reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou signed for next season in a messy contract dispute that likely will be resolved by lawyers.

Rumors swirled at the Indianapolis 500 that Brown was attempting to poach Palou, but the Spaniard last month insisted he was happy in the No. 10 car with Ganassi and not looking to leave.

Palou’s denials shifted speculation toward another run at Dixon, but the six-time IndyCar champion and Ganassi’s longest-tenured driver said he’d had no conversations about moving to Arrow McLaren SP. Ganassi heard the same gossip, rolled his eyes, huffed and puffed and insisted his four-driver lineup next year would be status quo.

Brown, meanwhile, continued signing drivers to McLaren’s expanding roster.

It finally erupted last week when Ganassi called The Associated Press and said he’d picked up the option year on Palou’s contract. A few hours later, the team made it official with a news release announcing Palou would be back for a third season.

Palou hit back in a series of tweets that claimed he’d not authorized any