Palou wins in Portland to clinch IndyCar title
Alex Palou is a two-time IndyCar champion with Chip Ganassi Racing following a dominant run Sunday at Portland International Raceway.
Palou earned his fifth win of the season to lock up the title with one weekend remaining in the 17-race schedule. It’s the first time in IndyCar the championship has been settled before the finale since the late Dan Wheldon won in 2005.
Palou started the race with a comfortable points lead over Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon, the only driver mathematically eligible to challenge the Spaniard for the title. But it didn’t matter what Dixon did in the race because if Palou podiumed, the championship would be over.
He did far more than podium at Portland.
Palou led 69 of the 110 laps to score a decisive victory over runner-up Felix Rosenqvist, who finished 5.4353 seconds back. Dixon, the six-time IndyCar champion, finished third.
It’s the second series championship in three seasons for Palou.
College football: Clemson transfer DJ Uiagalelei got off to a fast start for his new team, throwing three TD passes and running for two more to lead No. 18 Oregon State to a 42-17 victory over host San Jose State. Uiagwas 20 for 25 for 239 yards.
Golf: Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg surged to a two-shot win at the European Masters. Aberg stunned long-time leader and former U.S. Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick of England by reeling off four straight birdies from Nos.
14 to 17 in a 6-under 64 for a 19-under total of 261. Fitzpatrick shot 69 and faded to a tie for third, three shots back, though secured direct qualification for the Ryder Cup team to face the U.S. on a year-long points ranking. So too did Robert MacIntyre.
NFL: The Cowboys signed RT Terence Steele, 26, to a five-year extension worth $86.8 million, including $50 million guaranteed, ESPN reported.
Palou earned his fifth win of the season to lock up the title with one weekend remaining in the 17-race schedule. It’s the first time in IndyCar the championship has been settled before the finale since the late Dan Wheldon won in 2005.
Palou started the race with a comfortable points lead over Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon, the only driver mathematically eligible to challenge the Spaniard for the title. But it didn’t matter what Dixon did in the race because if Palou podiumed, the championship would be over.
He did far more than podium at Portland.
Palou led 69 of the 110 laps to score a decisive victory over runner-up Felix Rosenqvist, who finished 5.4353 seconds back. Dixon, the six-time IndyCar champion, finished third.
It’s the second series championship in three seasons for Palou.
College football: Clemson transfer DJ Uiagalelei got off to a fast start for his new team, throwing three TD passes and running for two more to lead No. 18 Oregon State to a 42-17 victory over host San Jose State. Uiagwas 20 for 25 for 239 yards.
Golf: Swedish rookie Ludvig Aberg surged to a two-shot win at the European Masters. Aberg stunned long-time leader and former U.S. Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick of England by reeling off four straight birdies from Nos.
14 to 17 in a 6-under 64 for a 19-under total of 261. Fitzpatrick shot 69 and faded to a tie for third, three shots back, though secured direct qualification for the Ryder Cup team to face the U.S. on a year-long points ranking. So too did Robert MacIntyre.
NFL: The Cowboys signed RT Terence Steele, 26, to a five-year extension worth $86.8 million, including $50 million guaranteed, ESPN reported.
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