IndyCar points leader Alex Palou keeps rolling with second consecutive victory

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — Alex Palou built on his commanding lead in the IndyCar points standings by winning Sunday at Road America for his third victory in his last four events.

Palou won for Chip Ganassi Racing by 4.5610 seconds over Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who won at Road America last year. Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward was third, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon fourth and Andretti Autosport’s Colton Herta fifth.

This is the 250th overall team win for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Palou’s title follows victories on May 13 at the Indianapolis road course and on June 4 at Detroit. He has a 74-point lead in the points standings over Ganassi teammate Marcus Ericsson, the biggest margin anyone has owned in three years.

“Yeah, we’ve had really good results so far,” Palou told NBC Sports’ Kevin Lee. “We’re good in points so far, but IndyCar, you never know.”

Palou’s weekend finished much better than it started. He spun out in a Saturday morning practice, hitting the tire barrier with the right side of his car — one of several drivers who stepped over the limit after Road America underwent an offseason repaving the produced smooth asphalt with maximum grip and high speeds.

But after the team worked to rebuild his car later that day, Palou qualified third to put himself in position for another victory. The Spaniard is seeking his second IndyCar series title in three years after winning the crown in 2021.

Herta started from the pole position and led most of the way, but a late pit decision caused him to fade down the stretch.

Herta was in front when he went to pit road on the 40th lap, one lap before the rest of the lead group. Herta remained ahead of the competitors who pitted a lap later but was in a much more precarious fuel