Alex Palou remained cheerful following an eighth place finish at the HyVee Homefront 250.

The NTT IndyCar Series points leader started the 250-lap contest seventh and hovered around the top five much of the day.

The driver of the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda felt that he gave all he had.

“Our car was really good on on the long run. We didn’t we, I would say that we didn’t really have the pace on the first couple 20 laps, let’s say, but from there until the end, we had really good tire deg. Not as good as the three, the two and the 12. But I would say for best and then yeah, we we didn’t risk it too much on strategy. That yellow didn’t help us but didn’t hurt us either. So yeah, pretty happy with P8.

Josef Newgarden’s dominating moved him into second in the championship with six races remaining albeit 98 points out of the lead. Despite wanting more pace, the 2021 NTT IndyCar Series champion feels up to the mark about holding his points lead.

“We count on that so if they don’t do it tomorrow it’ll be in trouble,” he said. “We knew our pace. We knew what we could achieve here in Iowa and a top eight is great.”

Palou’s eight career wins have all come on road courses with an oval win being the last feather in his cap stat wise. His results of third and fourth bolster his desire to improve and contend on ovals.

“I think we got really good that takes us and Indy obviously, Texas, we were battling with Pato and Josef till the last lap so we made a huge improvement there. We didn’t make it here but, it’s a learning process.

“I wish I could be on victory lane now but it’s not the case. I don’t think we have the pace and I don’t think I have the I’m not as comfortable here as other trucks. So yeah. We’ll come back stronger tomorrow.”