makes a wrong move.

Palou came to the speedway as the two-time defending IndyCar champion — he has three titles in four years — and had opened this year with victories in four of the first five races. It’s the kind of start not seen since 1964, when A.J. Foyt won the first seven races of the season, including the Indy 500.

But it was win No. 6 that Palou had circled on his calendar. Without an Indy 500 win, he said, his career would be incomplete.

“Like he said last week, if he was to go through his whole career and not win here at Indianapolis, it wouldn’t be a complete career,” Ganassi said. “I don’t want to say his career is complete now — he’s got a lot in him yet. Look at the last five, six races we’ve had. It’s just incredible. He’s on a roll.”

Meanwhile, Kyle Larson couldn’t complete “the double” after crashing out of the Indianapolis 500 before he headed to North Carolina to compete in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600.

“Frustrated and sad, and all of the emotions,” Larson said in brief interview with Amazon Prime after boarding an airplane headed to Concord, North Carolina.

Larson crashed out near the midway point, ending the NASCAR superstar’s second shot at finishing both Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day.

Larson had been mired deep in traffic throughout the first half of the race, which was delayed about 35 minutes because of a rain shower that passed over the speedway. He was going through Turns 1 and 2 when his car wiggled on a downshift, sending him into a spin and into the outside wall, ending his race after 91 laps.

“Just a bit crazy there on the restart,” he said. “I got like, tight behind Takuma (Sato). I was really close in. I got loose and kind of got all over the place, and yeah, so it spun. Just hate that I got a little too eager on the restarter. Hate it for everybody else.”

Palou was in fuel-saving mode over the closing laps, following former Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Marcus Ericsson. Palou got tired of staying put with 16 laps remaining and charged ahead — a move Ericsson said “will keep me up at night. What I did and what I didn’t do.” Palou was never challenged from there, taking the checkered flag as a crash brought out a caution.

He stopped the car just beyond the Yard of Bricks, climbing out of it and nearly losing his balance as he raised his arms in triumph. Palou jumped down and took off in a run down the front stretch, pulling off his gloves and tossing them behind him, and ultimately was engulfed by his father, Ramon, and his team in a jubilant celebration.

Palou wasn’t sure what the win will do for him Spain, which celebrates Formula 1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr.. But he said for the first time he can recall he saw throngs of fans with Spanish flags chanting his name at an IndyCar race.

“It makes it extra special that I’m the first Spanish driver to win it,” Palou said. “But honestly, if I was the 50th Spanish driver to win, I would be as happy as I am now.”

Meanwhile, Ericsson climbed from his car in pit lane and pressed his hands to his face, the disappointment of coming oh-so-close to a second Indianapolis 500 victory etched across his face. David Maluks was third for A.J. Foyt Racing.

“It’s pretty painful,” Ericsson said of his second career Indy 500 runner-up finish.

Josef Newgarden’s bid to win three consecutive Indy 500s ended with a fuel pump issue. He was trying to become the first driver to come from the back row to win because he and Team Penske teammate Will Power were dropped to the back of the field for failing inspection before the final rounds of qualifying.

Power wound up 19th, the highest-finishing Penske driver on a miserable day for the organization.

Penske has won the Indy 500 a record 20 times.

It was the sixth Indy 500 win for Ganassi, who has been on a dominating wave since hiring Palou before the 2021 season.

“I’ll tell you what, that kid’s a good driver. I think he’s off to a good start,” Ganassi said. “Might be looking at a championship.”

Nascar

Ross Chastain passed William Byron with five laps left and won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, becoming the first driver to win the event after starting at the back of the field.

Byron won the first three stages and led 283 laps, but surrendered the lead to Chastain, who started in 40th place and led just eight laps in his first Cup victory of the year.

Chastain, running in a backup car, ran down Byron for his sixth Cup Series win and first crown jewel victory.

Pole-sitter Chase Briscoe finished third.

Larson didn’t fair any better in this race, wrecking out and finishing 37th.

“I hate the way the day went,” he said. “I wish I could hit the reset button. I feel terrible ... I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Larson is unsure if he’ll try The Double again.

“The Double is a tough undertaking,” he said. “The window of time is just too tight.”