NTT INDYCAR SERIES full-time drivers Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Romain Grosjean have a chance to win two of the world’s most prestigious races this year as all three drivers are on the entry list for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 15-16.
All three drivers also are aiming for spots in the field for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Two-time and reigning series champion Palou and six-time series champion Dixon drive for Chip Ganassi Racing, while former Formula One standout Grosjean drives for Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Palou and Dixon will be behind the wheel of the two Chip Ganassi Racing entries in the 24-hour classic on the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. Palou will share the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series R hybrid Hypercar prototype with World Endurance Championship standouts Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn. Dixon will share the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series R hybrid prototype with four-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Sebastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande.
Grosjean also will race in the premier Hypercar class, sharing the No. 19 Lamborghini Iron Lynx Lamborghini SC63 with Andrea Caldarelli and Matteo Cairoli. Grosjean is attempting to make his second 24 Hours of Le Mans start and first since 2010.
This will be Dixon’s sixth Le Mans start, while Palou is making his Le Mans debut. Both competed in the Rolex 24 At Daytona for the Ganassi-fielded Cadillac team in January.
“I love this race; it's one of the biggest and the toughest in the world,” said Dixon, from New Zealand. “We all know it is definitely a privilege to even be invited, so I'm excited to go back with Sebastien, Renger, Cadillac and everybody involved. I feel like the team did a tremendous job last year. We had some issues here and there but to go third and fourth was pretty spectacular.
“Hopefully, we can have a closer fight this year, but it's one I love to do. I'm very fortunate to be able to do this with the team and to be a part of it.”
The No. 2 car placed third overall last June in the centenary running of the world’s most prestigious sports car race, the best-ever result for Cadillac Racing. The No. 3 car finished fourth.
“Going to Le Mans is an amazing opportunity and a big challenge, as well,” said Palou, from Spain. “It’s only a couple of hours from my home and obviously it is one of the biggest races alongside the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona where you want to participate but also win. We have a chance to win it overall, and that is our biggest goal.
“I’m excited to be back in the Cadillac and join Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn. They had success there last year and the cars were quite fast, so with our recent pace at Daytona, I can’t wait to go there and win.”
Porsche Penske Motorsport, which won the Rolex 24 At Daytona overall with reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden, Felipe Nasr, Dane Cameron and Matt Campbell behind the wheel of the No. 7 Porsche 963, has three entries in the race. While no members of Team Penske’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES lineup were named to cars, two seats remain to be filled in the team’s No. 4 entry alongside Mathieu Jaminet.