The combat over IndyCar champion Alex Palou is headed to courtroom as Chip Ganassi Racing filed a lawsuit in Indiana in opposition to the Spanish driver who’s making an attempt to go away the group on the finish of the season.
Palou is in his second season driving for Ganassi. The group proprietor stated he picked up the unique choice he held on Palou for the 2023 season. Palou, in the meantime, says he knowledgeable CGR he doesn’t intend to return for a 3rd season, and McLaren Racing stated it has signed the driving force for subsequent yr.
The lawsuit filed in Marion County Superior Courtroom in Indianapolis names each Palou and ALPA Racing, which is listed as Palou’s “racing entity” as defendants.
“Alex Palou is underneath contract with Chip Ganassi Racing by the top of the 2023 season,” the group stated in a Wednesday assertion. “He’s a valued member of our group, and we’ll proceed to assist him in chasing wins, podiums, and IndyCar championships.
“As the results of a competing racing group improperly making an attempt to contract with him however the clear phrases of our contract, we’re continuing to authorized course of pursuant to the contract. Any and all inquiries on the matter shall be dealt with by our authorized counsel.”
McLaren Racing head Zak Brown has repeatedly instructed The Related Press that he signed Palou underneath the illustration that Palou is a free agent. Brown has not determined the place he’d use Palou, and the choices vary from a 3rd seat within the IndyCar Sequence, a potential shot at a Components One seat and even the brand new Components E group it plans to launch subsequent yr.
Palou spent his first IndyCar season driving for Dale Coyne Racing in 2020 after which moved final yr to Ganassi, the place he received the championship and have become the primary driver since Dario Franchitti in 2012 to win races in Ganassi’s No. 10 automotive.
Ganassi on July 12 stated he had exercised the choice on 2023 for Palou. Hours later, Palou issued a collection of tweets stating he had no intention of returning to the group subsequent yr.
Minutes after Palou’s tweets, McLaren stated it had signed the driving force.
Palou has come underneath heavy scrutiny within the IndyCar paddock because the drama unfolds, with teammate Scott Dixon amongst these most important of the best way Palou has dealt with the state of affairs. Palou one month earlier had insisted he was not occupied with leaving Ganassi, and he maintains that his June statements weren’t a lie.
With 5 races remaining within the season, Palou is ranked sixth within the IndyCar standings, 44 factors behind Indianapolis 500 winner and Ganassi teammate Marcus Ericsson.