Palou insists he wasn't lying about being happy at Ganassi

FILE - Alex Palou, of Spain, talks with crew before the final practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday, May 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. There is no love lost between rival team owners Chip Ganassi and Zak Brown, and the two now find themselves entangled over the reigning IndyCar champion. Ganassi says he picked up the option on Alex Palou for 2023, but McLaren Racing says it has signed the Spaniard for next year.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, FIle)

FILE - Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, arrives at the track for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Thursday, March 12, 2020. There is no love lost between rival team owners Chip Ganassi and Zak Brown, and the two now find themselves entangled over the reigning IndyCar champion. Ganassi says he picked up the option on Alex Palou for 2023, but McLaren Racing says it has signed the Spaniard for next year. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File)

FILE - Car owner Chip Ganassi is seen in the paddock before an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Sunday, July 4, 2021. There is no love lost between rival team owners Chip Ganassi and Zak Brown, and the two now find themselves entangled over the reigning IndyCar champion. Ganassi says he picked up the option on Alex Palou for 2023, but McLaren Racing says it has signed the Spaniard for next year. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar, File)

Alex Palou, of Spain, drives during practice for the IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Friday, July 15, 2022. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alex Palou, of Spain, speaks to the media before an IndyCar Series auto race practice, Friday, July 22, 2022, at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. The Iowa-based supermarket chain Hy-Vee has pumped at least $10 million into the weekend, which features two IndyCar races and a slew of celebrity concerts. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)