Palou becomes first Spaniard to win IndyCar championship
NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with a team member after taking 4th place in an IndyCar auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with a team member after taking 4th place in an IndyCar auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 06:55 PM EDT
Indycar drivers race down Seaside Way during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Indycar drivers race down Seaside Way during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Sep. 25, 2021 06:46 PM EDT
Alex Palou (10) takes Turn 10 during the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Alex Palou (10) takes Turn 10 during the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 07:13 PM EDT
Colton Herta, center, sprays the crowd after winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar auto race with second-place finisher Josef Newgarden, left, and third-place winner Scott Dixon, right, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Colton Herta, center, sprays the crowd after winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar auto race with second-place finisher Josef Newgarden, left, and third-place winner Scott Dixon, right, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 06:45 PM EDT
IndyCars begin the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race into Turn 1 with Josef Newgarden (2) at the pole Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

IndyCars begin the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race into Turn 1 with Josef Newgarden (2) at the pole Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 04:35 PM EDT
IndyCars begin the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race into Turn 1 with Josef Newgarden (2) in the lead Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

IndyCars begin the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race into Turn 1 with Josef Newgarden (2) in the lead Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 04:36 PM EDT
Indycar driver Pato O'Ward, from Mexico, races up Pine Avenue during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Indycar driver Pato O'Ward, from Mexico, races up Pine Avenue during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Sep. 25, 2021 06:45 PM EDT
IndyCar series points leader Alex Palou (10) takes Turn 1 with Colton Herta (26) during an auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

IndyCar series points leader Alex Palou (10) takes Turn 1 with Colton Herta (26) during an auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 04:37 PM EDT
Colton Herta (26) takes Turn 10 during an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Colton Herta (26) takes Turn 10 during an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 07:08 PM EDT
Pole-sitter and second-place finisher Josef Newgarden takes Turn 11 during an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Pole-sitter and second-place finisher Josef Newgarden takes Turn 11 during an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 07:06 PM EDT
NTT IndyCar series champion Alex Palou celebrates after taking the title during an auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

NTT IndyCar series champion Alex Palou celebrates after taking the title during an auto race at Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 06:55 PM EDT
Indycar driver Josef Newgarden moves up Pine Avenue during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Indycar driver Josef Newgarden moves up Pine Avenue during the final practice session for the Grand Prix of Long Beach auto race Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (Will Lester/The Orange County Register via AP)

Sep. 25, 2021 06:41 PM EDT
NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with the trophy after taking fourth place in an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

NTT IndyCar Series winner Alex Palou, center, celebrates with the trophy after taking fourth place in an IndyCar auto race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Sep. 26, 2021 06:57 PM EDT