Herta, Honda Win Nashville as Palou Claims INDYCAR Championship

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September 16, 2024 — LEBANON, TN

Late-race pass secures Colton Herta’s second victory of 2024 – and career first oval win – in the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES finale at Nashville Superspeedway
Alex Palou repeats as Drivers’ Champion, his third title in the last four years
Linus Lundqvist named 2024 INDYCAR Rookie of the Year

#26: Colton Herta, Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian Honda #51: Katherine Legge, Dale Coyne Racing Honda

Colton Herta and Alex Palou saved their best for last, as Palou successfully defended his NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship and Herta won today’s 2024 season finale at the Nashville Superspeedway.

Leading the championship by 33 points coming into today 17th and final race of the season, Palou’s 11th-place finish secured the Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s second consecutive INDYCAR title, and third in the last four years. It also is Honda’s 20th Drivers’ Championship in 31 seasons of INDYCAR competition.

But neither driver had an easy time of it. After running at or near the front all day in his Andretti Global Honda, Nashville resident Herta made a thrilling three-wide pass for the lead in the closing laps of today’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, then pulled away to score his second win of 2024, and his career-first oval victory.

For Palou, issues in qualifying and an engine-change penalty left him deep in the field – 24th – for the start of today’s 206-lap contest. But a strong early run saw Palou gain 10 positions in the opening stint, and his 11th-place finish was more than enough for the title; while Herta’s race win vaulted him from fourth to second in the final championship standings.

Palou’s teammate, Linus Lundqvist, also closed out the 2024 season in strong fashion with an eighth-place result after clinching series Rookie of the Year honors at the penultimate round in Milwaukee earlier this month. Lundqvist becomes the 23rd Honda driver to win IndyCar’s Rookie honors.

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix Honda Race Results

1st Colton Herta	Andretti Global Honda
4th Kyle Kirkwood	Andretti Global Honda
7th Marcus Armstrong	Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
8th Linus Lundqvist-R	Chip Ganassi Racing Honda [Wins Rookie of the Year for 2024]
9th David Malukas	Meyer Shank Racing Honda
11th Alex Palou	Chip Ganassi Racing Honda [2024 INDYCAR Champion]
13th Jack Harvey	Dale Coyne Racing Honda
17th Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
19th Christian Lundgaard	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
21st Pietro Fittipaldi	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
22nd Kyffin Simpson-R	Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
23rd Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda
25th Marcus Ericsson	Andretti Global Honda [Did not finish – contact]
26th Katherine Legge	Dale Coyne Racing with RWR Honda [Did not finish – contact]
27th Felix Rosenqvist	Meyer Shank Racing Honda [Did not finish – contact]

R – Rookie

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Drivers’ Championship Standings (after 17 of 17 rounds)
1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing                            544 points (2 wins)
2. Colton Herta, Andretti Global                                  523 (2 wins)
3. Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske                                505 (3 wins)

Quotes
Alex Palou (#10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finished 11th, 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, second consecutive drivers’ title and third in last four years: “What an amazing year! We made it a bit more exciting than we wanted, obviously, with the issues we had in race 2 at Milwaukee. But, what an amazing year! We were able to win three races. One didn’t count at Thermal—but next year counts and that’s good. And we won the championship back-to-back! Amazing job by HRC, everybody on the #10 car, and DHL.”

Colton Herta (#26 Andretti Global Honda) Race winner, second win of 2024, INDYCAR career first oval track victory, second to fellow Honda Racer Alex Palou in the Drivers’ Championship: “The whole race, I was getting my passes done coming off the corners. I was able to drive off the middle to exit of the corners, and get the power down really well. We had a lapped car to play off of, and we had just enough room between us to go down low and get the pass [of race leader Pato O’Ward] done. I’m just so happy. The Gainbridge Group 1001 Honda has been so fast this whole weekend. We didn’t get to show it in qualifying, but we knew we had a hot rod in the race today. It’s been an amazing year. Second in the championship is awesome, but it gives us something to shoot for in 2025.”

Linus Lundqvist (#8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finished 8th, wins 2024 INDYCAR Rookie of the Year honors: “Winning Rookie of the Year is obviously amazing. We’re very proud of that, to join that list of names who have done it before me. I mean, it’s a title you can only win once so happy and proud to have down that. I’ve made plenty of rookie mistakes, but I’ve also learned a lot. I think the second half of the season, we’ve really shown what we’re capable of. I’m leaving this season extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished and also very hopeful for the future.”

David Salters (President, Honda Racing Corporation USA) on this weekend’s season finale and the 2024 INDYCAR season: “In summary: Pole, Win, Drivers’ Championship. All down to the superb skill, efforts and teamwork of Honda Racing Corporation and our fantastic teams. Huge congratulations to Andretti Global on their race win today and of course to the folks at Chip Ganassi Racing on Alex’s third drivers’ title. Huge thank you to all the men and women at Honda Racing Corporation. We are incredibly proud to represent Honda in pinnacle racing in North America. Pure teamwork, hard work, and the results speak for themselves. Now, regroup—perhaps a cheeky beer—and let’s get on with the big fight for next year. We’re looking forward to the challenge. Bring it on.”

Next
This weekend’s Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway concludes the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The 2025 season begins March 2 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida.

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