INDIANAPOLIS – The contract dispute between Chip Ganassi Racing and its driver Alex Palou is heading to court. The NTT IndyCar Series team filed court documents in Marion County, Indiana Superior Court 1 (Commercial Court) on Tuesday, July 26.
Alex Palou Montalbo (Palou’s legal) name as well as his legal licensing name, ALPA Racing, SL are listed as the “Defendant” with Chip Ganassi Racing, LLC listed as the “Plaintiff.”
The team paid the $157 court cost on Tuesday, July 26 in an “Emergency Motion for Expedited Discovery.”
Ganassi’s legal representation includes John R. Maley or Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in Indianapolis, and James H. Voyles, Jr, of Voyles Vaiana Lukemeyer Baldwin & Webb, also of Indianapolis.
Chip Ganassi Racing, LLC is seeking injunctive relief against its “under-contract driver.” His legal team is requesting a deposition from Palou and documents from McLaren Indy, LLC, and McLaren Racing within the next 14 days.
On July 12, Chip Ganassi Racing announced it was exercising the option year on Palou’s contract that would have him continue with the IndyCar Series team in 2023.
Just a few hours later, McLaren issued an announcement that the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series team was joining one of its racing teams in 2023. To add to the confusion, Palou took to social media to deny a quote attributed to him in the original Ganassi announcement and that he intended to driver for McLaren next season.
CGR has indicated Palou was part of the process on the announcement of his option year.
Ganassi is adamant that he has a contract with Palou for next season and is taking the driver to court to settle the issue.
Palou and Chip Ganassi Racing will compete in Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix of Indianapolis on Saturday, July 30.