In a race where tire strategy played a major role, Alex Palou’s pure speed prevailed as he dominated the Sprint for the Purse at The Thermal Club $1 Million Challenge on Sunday. The reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion led all 20 laps from the pole position in his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to claim a $500,000 payday for the non-points exhibition victory.

Palou was in a class of his own, crossing the line 5.7929 seconds ahead of runner-up Scott McLaughlin, who earned $350,000 in the No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet. Felix Rosenqvist rounded out the podium in third place in the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda, taking home $250,000.

“The car was amazing,” said Palou. “Super proud of the 10 car and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing.”

Tire wear and strategy came into play with the unique format featuring two 10-lap segments with a mid-race break but no allowance for tire changes. Colton Herta in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda deliberately ran over 90 seconds off the pace in the first stint to conserve his tires, enabling him to charge through the field to fourth place and earn $100,000 in the final segment.

Marcus Armstrong made it two Chip Ganassi Racing Hondas in the top five by finishing fifth in the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants entry to collect $50,000.

There was plenty of action and passing behind the dominant Palou, with Alexander Rossi and Josef Newgarden engaging in a spirited side-by-side duel with contact during the second stint as they jockeyed for position. In the end, Rossi came home seventh in his No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

While he joked about using his winnings to “buy a lot of diapers” as a new father, Palou’s $500,000 payday was a lucrative reward for his sheer pace and flawless performance on the challenging 17-turn, 3.067-mile circuit.