Indianapolis Motor Speedway is set for two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races this month of May, and the hottest driver in the sport -- Alex Palou -- insisted Thursday that he and others must not look too far down the road.

Specifically, that means tuning out the anticipation of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, which opens for practice Tuesday, to focus on this weekend's Sonsio Grand Prix. The first practice for the 85-lap race is Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

“Both races pay the same number of points,” Palou said of Saturday’s race, which begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. “Yes, the ‘500’ is the one everyone is talking about and everyone is excited about it, but this race is first.”

Palou said that can be a hard lesson to learn and one he struggled with in his early years racing at IMS in May. Coincidence or not, the driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda has won the past two road course races held here in advance of the “500.”

Palou did say there can be a connection between the Sonsio Grand Prix and the “500.” It’s called momentum, and it's there to be had.

“It's true that momentum and having good results is going to impact, not only the driver, but also the overall mindset of the team,” he said. “Not winning here doesn't mean -- or not having a good result doesn't mean -- that it's going to be a tough month, but for sure you (can have) that extra boost from the Indy road course.”

The Sonsio Grand Prix has been held annually since 2014. Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud is the only driver to win both May races at IMS in the same month. He did so in 2019.

Palou Regrets Barber Comment

The winner of last weekend’s Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix presented by AmFirst at Barber Motorsports Park effectively apologized Thursday for a comment he made post-race on the FOX broadcast.

After winning the race by 16.0035 seconds, Palou described being “lonely” out front. Later, his father suggested to him that it sounded disrespectful to his opponents. Palou reflected and agreed.

“I think looking back, it sounded a lot worse than I wanted it to sound,” Palou said. “But at the same time, it's true that looking at (the television replay), I think I appeared only like once or twice (in the camera shot) at the beginning and in the last couple laps.

“Yeah, probably not the best of my comments. Probably not the worst, but something that I probably wouldn't say again now that I look back.”

Felix Rosenqvist didn’t seem fazed by Palou’s words. The driver of the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian noted that the race went flag to flag without caution, allowing for a driver as hooked up as Palou and his car were to drive away from the field.

“In a way (caution-free races are) pure, like the quickest guy wins,” Rosenqvist said. “There's no way around it. I think Alex winning those races is a pretty clear -- there's no luck. There's no ingredient that makes it easier. It's just pure racing, which I think is cool.

“There is definitely less action (in those races), less overtaking. I found myself in Barber kind of like waking up in a dream, like it feels like you're just going around forever on your own. So, it gets kind of 'lonely,' I guess.”

Abel Car Pays Tribute to 'Spin and Win'

Dale Coyne Racing and rookie driver Jacob Abel unveiled a special Miller High Life livery that Abel will carry on the No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda in the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, paying tribute to one of the most iconic victories in the race's long history.

The red-and-white Miller High Life car resembles the Team Penske machine in which Danny Sullivan drove to victory in the 1985 "500" that also included Sullivan spinning with no contact on Lap 120 in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 while trying to pass Mario Andretti for the lead. Sullivan gathered the car and  passed Andretti for the victory.

Pacers, Knicks and the Borg-Warner Trophy

Scott McLaughlin is calling his shot for the "500."

The Team Penske driver might be the biggest New York Knicks fans in Indianapolis this month, and he admittedly was euphoric flying here Wednesday night as his NBA team completed a second straight playoff victory over the Boston Celtics.

Adding to McLaughlin’s basketball excitement is that the Indiana Pacers are also 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Given the current state of the playoffs, it's shaping up to be a Pacers-Knicks battle in the conference finals. If that happens, Game 3 of that series would be in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m.

That’s Race Day in Indianapolis.

McLaughlin told anyone willing to listen Thursday that if that game is held, he is planning to win the “500” and take the Borg-Warner Trophy to the game. And here’s the deal: He wants to have a front-row seat with his arm around the trophy as he sports his favorite Knicks gear. He will not be shy about his hoop fandom.

“I’m going to embrace the booing,” he said.

Lundgaard Eager for Saturday’s Race

Christian Lundgaard stands second in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, and the IMS road course is one of his favorite circuits on the calendar.

The driver of the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet made his first series start here in 2021 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, finishing 12th after qualifying fourth. Lundgaard finished second in a July 2022 race and won the pole for the May 2023 race. Last year, he finished third.

“I would say I'm as excited as I would be or have been,” he said. “I think we have good momentum right now, and I think we've had good momentum leaving Barber in the prior years. I don't think anything's really changed from my perspective from a mindset.

“We've got to go out and do the best that we can and execute. I was vocal in the offseason about I just wanted to be competitive at every single event, and we have been so far, and it's just continuing that.”

Lundgaard has finished in the top three in each of the past three series races. He trails Palou by 60 points in the standings.

Friday's qualifying session is at 4:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).