Alex Palou's podium leads to 1st conversation with Chip Ganassi since last month's lawsuit

NASHVILLE – Chip Ganassi loves winners, but it’s clear he doesn’t mind podium finishers either.

After nearly four weeks without a genuine one-on-one conversation with his IndyCar driver who’s now the defendant in a lawsuit filed by Chip Ganassi Racing last month, the team owner made a point to share a handshake, bro hug and what appeared to be some genuine words of appreciation after Alex Palou took 3^rd-place Sunday on the streets of Nashville.

The interaction was short – maybe 10 seconds, which NBC’s cameras caught during the post-race Peacock broadcast – but Palou clarified Sunday evening after conflicting remarks he’d made in recent weeks that the two hadn't shared more than a hello since July 12.

“I think he said, ‘Great job’ and something about one of the things he’d said before the race in a meeting, which was, ‘Don’t ever give up,’” Palou said Sunday. “Because we learned from Marcus (Ericsson) last year, and it was the same with Scott this year – and also for us. We were 4^th with two laps to go and made it to 3^rd-place. So yeah, ‘Don’t ever give up.’”

Did the interaction surprise Palou, after CGR made public on July 12 that Ganassi had picked up a team option in Palou’s contract to secure him for 2023, which prompted Palou to dispute the claim hours later and McLaren Racing to send a release announcing its own multi-year deal with the Spanish driver?

Palou effusively denied the notion – almost hilariously so – with a smile on his face.

“No, not at all. No, no. I mean … no,” he replied. “But yeah, a top-3? Even if Scott didn’t win the race, (Chip) would come congratulate me. He’s happy he had a car on the podium.”

The latest on the Palou-Ganassi saga: