Quick final pit stop helps Alex Palou win Long Beach Grand Prix

Alex Palou holds his first place trophy after winning the Long Beach Grand Prix. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times) For two thirds of Sunday’s Acura Long Beach Grand Prix , Alex Palou bided his time… waiting for the one break he needed. It came in the form of a caution on the 58th lap, allowing him to overtake front-runner Felix Rosenqvist exiting pit lane and hold the lead the rest of the way, taking the checkered flag by 3.

96 seconds for his third triumph in five IndyCar Series races this season and his first at Long Beach. Right after being showered with applause and confetti at victory lane, the 29-year-old Spaniard thanked his crew, whose quick work on the last pit stop proved to be the difference. “Everyone was coming in on that yellow and they did an incredible job,” he said.

“We were either going to win it or not win right there. ” Rosenqvist settled for second and Scott Dixon, Palou’s Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, was third. It was the 11th win over the last 22 races dating back to 2024 for the Barcelona native and the 22nd win of his career, tying him with Tony Bettenhausen and Emerson Fittipaldi.

It also vaulted him to the top of the Series standings as he chases his fourth Series championship in a row and fifth overall. Palou won the opener March 1 in St. Petersburg (also a street course) and the fourth race March 29 in Alabama.