Palou: Hybrid, an advantage and a disadvantage at the Indy 500

Hybrid. The word was obviously on everyone's lips as they concluded two productive days of testing in Indianapolis. For the first time, next May, the Indy 500 will be contested with 33 cars equipped with an electric power charging and deployment system. Not bad, for a classic that will take place for the 109th time on May 25! While Álex Palou impressed observers with the pace of his car in the pack, the Spaniard, double champion IndyCar in title, believes that the addition of supercapacitors to 6L twin-turbo V2,2 engines could change the face of an increasingly competitive race.

“P"For the race, it's actually a big boost.", he declared at a press conference. « It gives you just enough to get you in the lead, maybe hold the lead for a lap, and then need to reload. You are likely to be overtaken at this point. You can overtake when you are from fourth to third place or from fifth to fourth, when the tires are good. When there are no more tires, it's quite difficult."

The disadvantage of the hybrid can become an asset

Gaining positions in the pack may seem trivial, but at the Indy 500, once the field has been going for several laps, it is indeed very difficult to catch up with the pack. While the two leaders generally swap positions lap after lap, the turbulence created by the machines in front of you makes it more difficult to do so in the pack. Even with a good corner exit, passing on the straight is difficult, as the car being passed generally stays in the slipstream. The boost provided by the hybrid could therefore counteract this.

On the other hand, tire wear and the added weight at the rear of the cars make them more prone to understeer. Thus, it is likely, as we saw during these tests, that the green-flag runs will become a bit more of a procession. Second at Indianapolis in 2021, Alex Palou, however, hopes that the additional weight, which makes the cars harder to drive, can in turn create more errors, and therefore more opportunities to overtake in the queue.

« I would say the weight makes the car more difficult to drive, but I also think it's not easier to overtake with the weight we have. But because it's harder, it's much easier to see people make mistakes. I think over the last two or three years it was very easy, if you were comfortable with your car, to stay there, not go 100%, wait for the car in front to make a mistake, and then go for it. Now, even if you're comfortable and you have a really good car, it's very easy to make a mistake, which then creates a gap for the guy behind who has a chance."

Palou at ease in traffic

One thing is certain, however, Palou, who is seeking his first Indy 500 victory, looked comfortable in the pack. In recent years, the drivers at the front of the field during the April test have tended to find themselves in the same positions on race Sunday… So could we be heading towards a duel between teammates Álex Palou and Scott Dixon for the victory? It is, of course, far too early to tell…

« I don't know how it compares to others. I need to analyze the data and watch the videos. I felt good. I also didn't have an incredible feeling where I was much faster. I think it was quite difficult to get through. During testing it always depends on fuel and tires. Sometimes you go out with 10-lap old tires, you can't move. Suddenly you come out with new tires and you're like King Kong. I think it is difficult to draw conclusions. But yes, I felt really good in traffic."

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