Monaco, August 9 – Monaco Increase Management driver Alex Palou came out of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix in Nashville with a comfortable 42 points lead over second-placed Scott Dixon in the overall standings of the IndyCar series. But finishing the race in 7th place was not a breeze for the #10 CGR driver. Palou’s brilliant qualifying would have earned him third spot on the starting grid, but he had to serve a six-place penalty following an unplanned engine change during the summer break. The 80-lap race on the new 2.17 mile street course proved to be cahotic, with as many as nine interruptions including two red flags. One of those saw Palou being stuck in a multiple accident, from where he resumed a lowly 20th after a new start. But the 24-year old Spaniard consistently made his way up the pack, avoiding accidents and regaining the top ten group. In the end, he was even able to pass Felix Rosenqvist for seventh and score more valuable points ahead of the next race on the Indianapolis road course.