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Racing Twitter was set ablaze Tuesday night as controversy arose over the battle between Chip Ganassi Racing and McLaren F1’s claim to 2021 INDYCAR champion Alex Palou.
Late Tuesday afternoon, CGR issued a media release and tweet that said the team had exercised the lone option year on Palou’s contract. In other words, Palou is contractually obligated to drive for CGR in 2023, the final year of his current three-year deal.
Palou, on the other hand, along with a media release from McLaren saying it had signed the defending IndyCar champ to a deal that begins in 2023, both feel otherwise and that he is not beholden to CGR for one more year.
What’s interesting about the whole situation, particularly from McLaren’s side, is that its release does not indicate whether Palou will drive in IndyCar or potentially even Formula One.
Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter since McLaren released its statement claiming it has signed Palou:
Palou reacts to McLaren F1’s press release after denying a quote Chip Ganassi Racing attributed to him.
The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck sums up Tuesday night’s drama well here.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown welcomes Palou to McLaren Racing. He fails to say anything about Formula One specifically.
Motorsport.com corrected themselves after leaving Palou off their list only hours earlier:
Beyond the Flag has a cheeky explanation for the supposed Palou extension:
This one fan summed up Ganassi’s reaction pretty well.
Former INDYCAR driver Townsend Bell summed up things pretty plainly:
Freelance Formula One journalist Chris Medland chimes in on the drama.
Even INDYCAR is weighing in by using the popular Usher Tiny Desk meme:
NASCAR driver and defending Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric jokes the two bosses should literally fight it out for Palou:
And then there’s IndyCar driver Conor Daly, who also is rumored to be considered for a Formula One seat, jokes about the drama:
Chip Ganassi Racing’s twitter team quickly got rid of some Palou tweets:
We definitely haven’t heard the end of this tale, for sure.
