Column: Palou contract fight is business, not personal
Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia arrives prior to the second practice session at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, July 9, 2022. The Austrian F1 Grand Prix will be held on Sunday July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Mclaren driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia arrives prior to the second practice session at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, July 9, 2022. The Austrian F1 Grand Prix will be held on Sunday July 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Jul. 09, 2022 04:52 AM EDT
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)

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)

Jul. 18, 2022 02:29 PM EDT
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 - 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)

Jul. 18, 2022 02:29 PM EDT
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 - 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)

Jul. 18, 2022 02:29 PM EDT
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, drives during practice for the IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Friday, July 15, 2022. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jul. 15, 2022 06:29 PM EDT
Colton Herta of the United States celebrates winning the pole position following qualifying at the 2022 IndyCar Toronto, in Toronto, Saturday, July 16, 2022. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colton Herta of the United States celebrates winning the pole position following qualifying at the 2022 IndyCar Toronto, in Toronto, Saturday, July 16, 2022. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jul. 16, 2022 03:35 PM EDT
First place finisher Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, center, second place finisher Colton Herta, of the U.S., left, and third place finisher Felix Rosenqvist, of Sweden, celebrate in the Winner's Circle during an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 17, 2022. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

First place finisher Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, center, second place finisher Colton Herta, of the U.S., left, and third place finisher Felix Rosenqvist, of Sweden, celebrate in the Winner's Circle during an IndyCar auto race in Toronto, Sunday, July 17, 2022. (Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jul. 17, 2022 07:06 PM EDT