Alex Palou makes his feelings known after losing for the first time this season

Modified Apr 14, 2025 21:33 IST

IndyCar: Long Beach Grand Prix - Source: Imagn — Alex Palou driving his #10 Chip Ganassi car at the Long Beach Grand Prix - Source: Imagn

Alex Palou expressed his happiness to be in second place at the Long Beach Grand Prix after he finished outside the top spot in a race for the first time in the 2025 IndyCar season. Kyle Kirkwood claimed his first win of the 2025 season on Sunday.

Kyle Kirkwood converted his pole position into a victory during Sunday's Long Beach GP to claim his first win of the season, and his third overall in IndyCar. Alex Palou, who had won the previous two races at St. Pete and Thermal, finished just behind in second place.

After the race, the reigning IndyCar champion explained that he was not disappointed at all after missing out on a potential third victory, and admitted that Kirkwood's Andretti was too quick for him and his car throughout the weekend. FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass shared a clip from the post-race press conference via his X account, sharing Palou's words.

"Yeah, I'm not disappointed," said Palou. "100%, I'm super happy to be here, honestly. I think it's been a great weekend but we didn't really have that ultimate speed that the #27 car had, and Kyle did an awesome job thoughout the weekend, in qualifying and the race. He was managing, and every time I had a small chance, he just had a little bit more pace."

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Alex Palou is still sitting pretty at the top of the championship standings with 142 points, mainly thanks to his brilliant drives in the last two races. Kyle Kirkwood is now the closest driver to him in the standings though, as the American has jumped multiple spots after his win around the streets of Long Beach, and now sits in second place with 108 points.

Alex Palou shares pictures from the Long Beach GP podium via social media

Kyle Kirkwood, Alex Palou & Christian Lundgaard on the podium after the Long Beach Grand Prix - Source: Imagn

Alex Palou shared images of himself, alongside Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Lundgaard, on the podium of the Long Beach GP via his X account. The Spaniard also expressed his love for the event and thanked his fans for backing him in California.

Palou shared the post after the race on Sunday, and the caption read:

"P2 in Long Beach 🏝️ Amazing atmosphere today, love this place, thank you to all the fans for making it so special! 😄"

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After the 28-year-old has claimed three out of the last four IndyCar championships, out of which the last two have been back-to-back, it remains to be seen who can take the challenge to Palou this year. The Spaniard has started the season strongly and is the only driver to have finished on the podium in all three races, yet again showcasing the consistency that has made him a three-time IndyCar champion.

About the author

Samyak Sharma is a Motorsports journalist at Sportskeeda, covering Formula One and IndyCar. A graduate in Mass Media and Journalism, he aims to transform his lifelong passion for playing and following sports into a thriving career in sports journalism. He believes that sports naturally deliver the most compelling stories, needing no script to captivate the world.

Samyak is dedicated to providing detailed and insightful coverage, keeping an eye on all developments on and off the track to ensure timely and accurate reporting. He closely follows Max Verstappen, inspired by the Dutchman's ability to balance precision and aggression on the track.

Samyak envisions the continued growth of motorsports globally and hopes to see Formula One return to the V8 engines while still continuing to be sustainable. As for IndyCar, he envisions greater international exposure to rival the global reach of F1.

Outside the world of motorsports, Samyak immerses himself in his love for football and cricket, passionately cheering for his favorite team, Manchester United. He also enjoys catching the occasional tennis match, broadening his appreciation for sports.

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Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar