Current IndyCar frontrunner [autotag]Alex Palou[/autotag] caused quite a stir in 2023 when he attempted to leave Chip Ganassi Racing by breaking his contract and going to Arrow McLaren. And now, in 2023, it seems as if he may be going back on another contract.
According to the AP’s Jenna Fryer, Palou told McLaren CEO Zak Brown that he doesn’t plan on driving for Arrow McLaren in 2024 in the IndyCar championship. While many may speculate that this means Palou may have an F1 seat lined up for the next season, he told reporters during practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he didn’t have any such agreements.
#IndyCar silly season… it has come to @ZBrownCEO's attention that @AlexPalou will not be joining @ArrowMcLaren next season. https://t.co/xkGHADUtfK
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) August 11, 2023
Both Brown and Palou’s management who helped foster his deal to McLaren last year, Monaco Increase Management, expressed disappointment in Palou’s decision. Here is what Brown said about Palou’s decision:
“This is incredibly disappointing considering the commitment he has made to us both directly and publicly and our significant investment in him based on that commitment.”
Whether or not Palou intends to continue with Chip Ganassi Racing next year is unknown, but the team itself put out a statement on Saturday asserting that Palou “remains under contract with [Chip Ganassi Racing].”
New from @CGRTeams: A statement from @GanassiChip that disputes the @ZBrownCEO characterization of @ArrowMcLaren's contractual relationship with @AlexPalou. pic.twitter.com/ruoTp8CwET
— Nate Ryan (@nateryan) August 12, 2023
As it stands, Palou is the currently leader in IndyCar by 84 points. He is currently lined up to test McLaren’s F1 car during practice this year, but whether or not that occurs now that he has seemingly reneged on his deal with the team remains to be seen.
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