Ganassi dominates Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge
The first Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge near Palm Springs, Calif., proved to be both successful and lucrative for Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and its drivers.
Three CGR drivers advanced from Sunday’s two heats to advance to the Sprint to the Purse race in the afternoon. One of those, defending NTT INDYCAR SERIES champ Alex Palou, then dominated the 20-lap sprint, winning by nearly six seconds. Teammate Marcus Armstrong took fifth, while rookie Linus Lundqvist – driving the No. 8 American Legion Honda – delivered an INDYCAR career-best sixth place finish.
Lundqvist, carrying Be the One branding on his livery, earned his way into the finals about finishing fourth in the second heat race. He started the sprint in seventh and briefly moved to fifth in the second half of the race before settling into sixth. He was the only rookie to advance to the final.
”Great day. Very happy,” Lundqvist said via CGR media. “A little bit of a strange format with the race being split into two halves and different strategies going on with super tire savings in the first one and dead tires in the other one. We were kind of somewhere in the middle, but I think it worked out really well.
“We were smart and stayed out of trouble and had decent speed. I feel like I’m leaving the weekend more confident than when we got here.”
Palou, driving the No. 10 Ridgeline Honda that also carries American Legion branding, earned the pole for the second heat race and then led every lap in the Sprint to the Purse. His effort earned he and CGR $500,000.
“The Ridgeline car was amazing,” said Palou, who became a first-time father in the offseason. “The 10 crew and all the Chip Ganassi Racing team did an amazing job. I have been super proud all weekend. I was a bit surprised how all the competitors treated the first 10 laps saving tires, I was like ‘that’s alright, that’s our game, I like it.’
“Super proud of the 10 car. With all the money I won, I’ll use it to buy a lot of diapers.”
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to points race on April 21 when it moves back to California for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.