Alex Palou clinched his second podium finish out of three races this year, and the eleventh in his IndyCar career, as he crossed the finish line in third place at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in his #10 CGR team car. MIM’s Palou had qualified in third place and felt very optimistic ahead of the 85-lap event. Actually, as the race developed, it looked like Palou could even improve from his starting position, despite the track’s notorious overtaking difficulties. A perfectly executed pit-call on lap 28, as the first driver in the leading grup to pit for tyres and fuel, gave him the lead of the race, which proved to be very eventful with a number of drivers crashing and causing caution periods. Eventually, though, the strategy backlashed as Josef Newgarden was able to stay out longer and fend off Palou’s attack in coming out of the pit-road. Another interruption meant that Romain Grosjean, who had fitted ‘Alternative’ softer tyres, could make up the gap under safety car and take P2 from Palou. But Alex fought to the end and could have tried another passing move on the very last lap, had it not been for Sato’s accident which caused the race to be finished under yellow flags. The 25-years-old Monaco Increase managed Spanish driver led another solid race and kept a cold head throughout the event and this attitude allowed Palou to reduce the gap to the lead in the overall point standings, which sees him running third and only 15 points behind new series leader Newgarden. Next race in the calendar is the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama on May, 1st.