Spain's Alex Palou wins third consecutive IndyCar season title / Photo: James Gilbert - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
Spain's Alex Palou wins third consecutive IndyCar season title
Spain's Alex Palou captured his third consecutive IndyCar season title and fourth in five campaigns by finishing third in Sunday's Portland Grand Prix, which was won by Australian Will Power.
Palou became only the fourth driver in IndyCar history to win three consecutive season crowns after American Ted Horn, France's Sebastien Bourdais and Scotland's Dario Franchitti.
"It's unbelievable. It's crazy. I couldn't be happier right now," Palou said. "This has been an amazing season, an amazing five years with CGR (Chip Ganassi Racing).
"I have no words to describe how grateful I am to everybody at CGR. This has been an amazing year and I cannot wait for more."
With four career season titles, Palou ranks third on the all-time IndyCar list behind the record 10 won by A.J. Foyt and the six taken by New Zealand's Scott Dixon.
Power collected his second Portland victory in a row with Dane Christian Lundgaard second and Palou third.
"It was a shame we couldn't end it with another win but we fought," Palou said of the race. "I gave everything that I had. I tried everything to overtake Lundgaard but I couldn't make it today."
Palou's eight triumphs this season include the Indianapolis 500, St. Petersburg, Thermal, Alabama, Indianapolis Grand Prix, Road America, Iowa and Laguna Seca.
Palou, 28, can still match the one-season IndyCar win record of 10 with triumphs later this month at Milwaukee and Nashville.
A.J. Foyt won 10 races in 1964 and Al Unser Sr. won 10 in 1970 while Mario Andretti captured nine in the 1969 campaign.
K.R.Jones--EWJ
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