Early in the day on Tuesday, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that it had exercised an option in Alex Palou’s contract to keep him with the team for the 2023 season. But it seems that is not actually the case.
Alex Palou took to social media a few hours later to say that the earlier announcement was not accurate, and that he had recently told CGR he would not be driving for them next season.
He went on to say that the quotes included in the press release are not his, and described the announcement as an ‘unfortunate event.’
“I have recently learned from the media that this afternoon, without my approval, Chip Ganassi Racing issued a press release announcing that I would be driving with CGR in 2023,” wrote Palou on Twitter.
“Even more surprising was that CGR’s release included a “quote” which did not come from me. I did not approve that press release, and I did not author or approve that quote.
“As I have recently informed CGR, for personal reasons, I do not intend to continue with the team after 2022. This evening’s unfortunate events aside, I have great respect for the CGR team, and look forward to finishing this season strongly together.”
Shortly after Palou’s statement, Arrow McLaren SP released its own press release saying that the reigning series champion would be driving for them next season.
The statement was purposely vague, and stated only that Palou would be driving for McLaren, not which series he would take part. That correlates with the team’s recent signing of Felix Rosenqvist, when the team declined to say if he would drive in IndyCar or Formula E.
It would seem appropriate that Palou would stay in IndyCar, or at least have the first right of refusal, as he is the reigning champion. Further details on the lineup are expected at a later date, however.
“I’m extremely excited to join the driver roster for such an iconic team as McLaren,” Palou is quoted as saying in McLaren’s release.
Similar to Colton Herta and his future team-mate Pato O’Ward, Palou has also been offered a test with McLaren in a year-old Formula 1 car later this year.
“I’m excited to be able to show what I can do behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car and looking at what doors that may open. I want to thank everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing for everything they have done for me.”
Word has been buzzing through the paddock that Zak Brown had been aggressively courting multiple top-tier drivers, and that he had been ruffling a few feathers along the way.
This latest mishap with announcements concerning who will have the driving services of the reigning champion will surely add to the tensions in the IndyCar paddock.
