NTT INDYCAR Hybrid Re-Gen Punch Reveals Insights During Indy 500 Qualifications

Alex Palou - 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Day After Photoshoot. Image Credit: Travis Hinkle via Penske Entertainment (2025)

NTT INDYCAR Hybrid Re-Gen Punch Reveals Insights During Indy 500 Qualifications

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 qualifications, spanning nearly 40 hours and involving 34 cars, provided the first real-world insights into the performance and strategic implications of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ new hybrid regeneration system. The weekend’s intense sessions highlighted how the electric hybrid power unit influences racing dynamics, challenging initial assumptions and revealing its nuanced role in competition.

Throughout the qualifications, the hybrid system’s additional 70+ horsepower was a focal point for FOX Sports commentators Will Buxton, James Hinchcliffe, and Townsend Bell. They frequently speculated that the extra power could propel drivers into the top 12 positions or the Firestone Fast Six, potentially overtaking competitors by boosting lap speeds. 

However, the flogging of this performance expectation was repeatedly unmet. Even when drivers posted competitive first laps, the hybrid’s power deployment did not consistently deliver the anticipated speed surges to climb/overtake in the order, prompting a reevaluation of its impact.

Robert Shwartzman - Indianapolis 500 Front Row Photo Shoot - Image Credit: Chris Owens via Penske Entertainment (2025)

In a post-qualifications interview, FOX Sports race announcer Will Buxton offered deeper perspective after speaking with drivers, particularly the top two qualifiers: veteran Takuma Sato and rookie Robert Shwartzman.

He found that despite Sato’s extensive INDYCAR experience and Shwartzman’s lack of oval racing background, both secured the front row, showcasing the hybrid system’s adaptability. Shwartzman revealed that he and Sato opted for higher downforce setups, prioritizing car stability over minimal drag. This approach allowed them to maintain precise control, extracting performance through “fingertip feel” rather than pushing the car to its limits with a looser, riskier setup.

Takuma Sato - Indianapolis 500 Front Row Photo Shoot - Image Credit: Titus Slaughter via Penske Entertainment (2025)

Buxton noted that most drivers adopted a similar hybrid deployment strategy during qualifications, using a gradual trickle of power across each lap. Sato, however, deviated slightly, hinting at a unique approach that contributed to his pole position. The real intrigue, Buxton emphasized, lies in how the hybrid system will influence race day strategy. Unlike the Push-to-Pass system, which provided a temporary horsepower boost, the hybrid’s regenerative energy can be accumulated by lifting off the throttle, particularly in traffic, and deployed strategically on straights or out of corners.

This dynamic introduces a strategic layer reminiscent of Formula 1’s Drag Reduction System (DRS). The race leader, unable to regenerate energy as effectively as trailing cars, may become vulnerable to overtakes. Conversely, drivers in the pack can leverage recharged energy for bursts of speed, potentially reshaping race dynamics. 

“This is a step into the unknown,” Buxton remarked, underscoring that none of the 33 drivers have raced with this system before on a superspeedway oval, making the 2025 Indy 500 groundbreaking in the reliability and advantage functions of the Hybrid-Powered Dallara platform.

Compared to previous performance-enhancing racing technologies like F1’s DRS or INDYCAR’s Push-to-Pass, the hybrid regeneration system appears less transformative in delivering raw speed. Its primary benefits seem to lie in mitigating tire degradation and managing weight distribution, subtly enhancing car balance rather than providing a dramatic power advantage.

Alex Palou & Family at the yard of bricks start/finish line of Indianapolis Motor Speedway  - 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Day After Photoshoot - Image Credit: Chris Owens via Penske Entertainment (2025)

Following the Indy 500, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou emerged victorious, solidifying his dominance in the 2025 season. After six races of the 17-race championship, Palou, the only driver since A.J. Foyt in 1979 to win five of the first six races, has clearly mastered the hybrid regeneration system’s subtle advantages, leveraging its strategic nuances to claim his first oval race and INDY 500 crown to further cement his legacy in INDYCAR’s hybrid era. 

Proving, that, ultimately, the driver controls the outcome of his own finish.

With his closest competitor of Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward at -112 point deficit, Alex Palou is well on his way - with 306 points in six of seventeen races scheduled - to a fourth INDYCAR SERIES Championship in five years (2021, 2023, 2024). 

Welcome the Hybrid-Powered age of NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship season racing.

Post Script >>>

Pato O'Ward has an opinion on the real value of HYBRID-Powered engines in NTT INDYCAR SERIES racing. O'Ward in the pits at the Chevrolet Grand Prix Of Detroit - Image Credit: Aaron Skillman via NICS (2025)

'The hybrid has brought zero benefit’ – O'Ward - Racer May 30, 2025

... notes from The EDJE


FEATURED SYNDICATION >>>

TAGS: NTT INDYCAR SERIES, hybrid regeneration system, #INDY500, #IndyCarOnFOX, #HYBRID, Re-Gen Punch, Pato O'Ward, Alex Palou, The EDJE

Carburation Day 2025 At Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hosts The Inaugural Wienie 500

 

Friday! Friday! Friday! It's the motorsports event of the year - the inaugural Wienie 500. For the first time ever all 6 Wienermobiles will race against each other at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The American Southwest will be represented by Oscar Mayer Wienermobile No. 04 - the Sonoran Dog. Image Credit: Oscar Mayer (2025)

Carburation Day 2025 At Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hosts The Inaugural Wienie 500

Today, Carburation Day, May 23, 2025, Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the first-ever “Wienie 500,” a thrilling marketing spectacle featuring Oscar Mayer’s iconic fleet of six Wienermobiles racing on the legendary track. This unique event, part of Carburation Day festivities ahead of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, marks the first competitive race for the Wienermobiles and their first “meat-up” in over a decade.

 
Representing the American Southwest, Wienermobile No. 04, the Sonoran Dog, distinguished visually by its Dark Green Accent, will compete alongside other regional-themed vehicles: the No. 01 Chi Dog for the Midwest, No. 02 - Red Accent New York Dog for the East, No. 03 - Purple Accent Slaw Dog for the Southeast, No. 05 - Blue Accent Seattle Dog for the Northwest, and No. 06 - Brown Accent Chilli Dog for the South.

The Wienie 500 will be streamed live at 2 p.m. ET on the FOX Sports app and @INDYCARonFOX social accounts, with highlights featured during the Indy 500 pre-race show on FOX. Each Wienermobile, piloted by Oscar Mayer’s Hotdoggers in custom racing suits, will vie for victory in a race complete with a trophy presentation in the “Wiener’s Circle,” featuring a celebratory condiment spray and a hot dog for the winner.

Wienermobile dimensions as provided by Oscar Mayer and presented by FOX S[ports for the Wienie 500. Image Credit: FOX Sports via YouTube (2025)

Hot dog enthusiasts nationwide can join the excitement through a free-to-play pool on DraftKings, available at Draftkings.com/wienie500. Fans can predict race outcomes for a chance to win a share of a $10,000 cash prize. “The Indy 500 kicks off summer and hot dog season,” said Kelsey Rice, brand communications director at Oscar Mayer. “The Wienie 500 brings delightful competition to the Speedway, celebrating delicious meats and American traditions.”

Oscar Mayer WIENIE 500
PUNS In 40 Seconds LINK

As the “Official Hot Dog” of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500, Oscar Mayer is launching the Wienie 500 with a nationwide advertising campaign, promising more surprises throughout the summer. For more details and to follow the crowning of the ultimate wiener, visit OscarMayer.com or follow @OscarMayer on Instagram and TikTok.

POST RACE UPDATE - Full Race Event Video Link >>>

The starting order for the race was set based on the car numbers assigned to each Wienermobile, as follows:

Row 1

No. 01 Chi Dog representing the Midwest - No. 02 New York Dog representing the East 

Row 2

No. 03 Slaw Dog representing the Southeast - No. 04 Sonoran Dog representing the Southwest

 

Row 3

No. 05 Seattle Dog representing the Northwest - No. 06 Chilli Dog representing the South 

The race began with a standing start, and when the GREEN Flag waved, the Wienermobiles proceeded cleanly in single-file order, Nos. 1 through 6, navigating Turns 1 and 2. On the back straightaway, the Wienermobiles started to jostle and challenge for position, though the order remained unchanged initially. The race unfolded as described below.

Over the course of the two-lap, five-mile race, there were two notable passes for the lead. The first lead change occurred on the front straightaway under the WHITE Flag, as the No. 04 Sonoran Dog surged forward, overtaking three Wienermobiles while crossing the yard of bricks. This bold move thrilled spectators, including those at The EDJE, who rose to their feet in excitement. However, the celebration was brief, as the No. 04 Sonoran Dog’s engine began spewing smoke exiting Turn 2.

On the second pass down the back straightaway, the competition intensified. The No. 04 Sonoran Dog was overtaken, and the No. 03 Slaw Dog for the Southeast made a decisive move, passing the No. 01 Chi Dog for the Midwest for the second time at the yard of bricks, this time under the CHECKERED Flag.

Inaugural Marketing Genius Event "Wienie 500" Finishing Order: 

• No. 03 Slaw Dog for the Southeast 

• No. 01 Chi Dog for the Midwest 

• No. 02 New York Dog for the East 

• No. 05 Seattle Dog for the Northwest 

• No. 06 Chilli Dog for the South 

• No. 04 Sonoran Dog for the Southwest (engine performance issues)

NEXT - The Big Show >>> The Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is Sunday (10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT, FOX - Over-The-Air, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED SYNDICATION >>>

TAGS: #IndyCarOnFOX, #NTTINDYCAR, INDY500, #WEINIE500, 04 Sonoran Dog, #TheEDJE, The EDJE

Surprise, Surprise For Rookies PREMA & Swartzman At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

ROOKIE Robert Shwartzman from the rookie team PREMA captures the NTT P1 Pole position - nipping our Takuma Sato.Robert Shwartzman & PREMA Team - Indianapolis 500 Qualification Photo By: John Cote via NICS (2025)

Surprise, Surprise For Rookies Shwartzman & PREMA At 109th INDY500 Qualifications

In a stunning turn of events at the 109th Indianapolis 500 qualifications on May 17-18, 2025, rookie team PREMA Racing and its debutant driver Robert Shwartzman defied expectations to claim pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The European powerhouse, new to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and grappling with a lackluster start to the 2025 season, showcased remarkable pace as Shwartzman, a 25-year-old Israeli rookie with no prior oval experience, delivered a blistering four-lap average of 232.790 mph to secure the top spot. This historic achievement marked PREMA as the first team to win pole in its IndyCar debut and Shwartzman as the first rookie pole-sitter since 1983, sending shockwaves through the paddock.

Israeli Robert Shwartzman, a 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion and 2021 FIA Formula 2 runner-up, built a versatile racing career with PREMA, served as a Ferrari F1 reserve driver, and competed in endurance racing before joining the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2025. Image Credit: Will Buxton via FB/META (2025)

PREMA Racing, a celebrated European racing team, has encountered a difficult start in its debut 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, struggling through the first five races: the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, The Thermal Club Indy Grand Prix, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park, and the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

Entering IndyCar with high expectations, the team fielded two Chevrolet-powered cars driven by veteran Callum Ilott and rookie Robert Shwartzman, but their performances have been lackluster. As the newest of the series’ 11 full-time teams, PREMA has grappled with the complexities of IndyCar’s competitive field, hybrid systems, and tire management, resulting in consistent finishes in the lower half of the 27-car grid.

Callum Ilott, a 25-year-old British driver with 38 prior IndyCar starts and two top-5 finishes, was expected to lead PREMA’s charge, but his results have disappointed. In St. Petersburg, he finished 19th after a suboptimal hard-tire strategy and a mistake at Turn 10, while at Thermal, he placed 26th following a refueling issue and a collision with Shwartzman. Ilott’s qualifying struggles, often starting outside the top 20, have compounded the team’s challenges, forcing him to fight from the back. Strategic missteps, setup issues, and PREMA’s inexperience have hindered Ilott’s ability to replicate his past IndyCar performances, despite his familiarity with tracks like Barber and the Indianapolis road course.

The front row for the 109th Indianapolis 500, held on May 25, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, consists of the following drivers, listed with their starting positions, car numbers, teams, engines, and key driver information, based on qualifying results:

Robert Shwartzman (Pole Position)

Car Number: 83

Team: Prema Racing

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.790 mph (4-lap average)

Driver Information: A 25-year-old rookie from Israel, Shwartzman made history as the first Israeli-born driver to qualify for the Indy 500 and the first rookie to earn pole since Teo Fabi in 1983 - Fabi secured the pole with a four-lap average speed of 207.395 mph, setting a new track record at the time, further, Fabi became the first rookie to win the pole since Walt Faulkner in 1950. This is Shwartzman's and Prema Racing's first-ever oval race. His pole-winning performance stunned the paddock, showcasing his talent in a highly competitive field.

Takuma Sato

Car Number: 75

Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Engine: Honda

Qualifying Speed: 232.478 mph

Driver Information: A 48-year-old veteran from Japan, Sato is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (2017, 2020). Known for his aggressive driving style, he has 11 career IndyCar starts at Indy, with a strong track record, including multiple top-10 finishes. Sato’s experience and speed make him a formidable contender, and his front-row start marks a return to prominence for RLL Racing.

Pato O’Ward

Car Number: 5

Team: Arrow McLaren

Engine: Chevrolet

Qualifying Speed: 232.098 mph

Driver Information: A 26-year-old from Mexico, O’Ward is a rising star in IndyCar with five career wins since 2021. He has yet to win the Indy 500 but has finished sixth or better three times, including a strong runner-up finish in 2024. Known for his bold passing moves, O’Ward’s front-row start positions him as a favorite for the 2025 race.

Despite a rocky start to their 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign, PREMA Racing has proven their mettle on the grand stage of the Indianapolis 500, with rookie Robert Shwartzman’s historic pole position at 232.790 mph and Callum Ilott’s respectable 23rd-place qualification at 230.704 mph. The team’s early struggles on road and street courses, where they often languished in the lower half of the 27-car field, exposed the challenges of adapting to IndyCar’s diverse demands. However, PREMA’s relentless focus on oval preparation, bolstered by Ilott’s experience and rigorous testing at tracks like Thermal and Barber, has begun to yield results, suggesting a stronger aptitude for ovals where setup and aerodynamics are paramount. 

As the checkered flag looms for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, PREMA Racing stands as an unexpected force, guided by sporting director Ryan Briscoe and reserve driver Romain Grosjean. Shwartzman’s composure under pressure and Ilott’s steady contribution have silenced doubters, positioning the team as contenders in a race defined by surprises. With their European precision and a steep learning curve behind them, PREMA’s breakthrough at Indy signals a potential turning point, setting the stage for an electrifying race day and a promising second half of the season.

... notes from The EDJE

FEATURED SYNDICATION >>>

TAGS: #PREMA, #Shwartzman, ##indycaronfox, #INDY500, #Ilott, 109th Indianapolis 500, #sato, #pato, #NTTINDYCAR, #TheEDJE

Design In The AAM Sphere: Senior Designer At Frank Stephenson Design, Euan McPherson Discusses Developments At AutoFlight

Design In The AAM Sphere: Senior Designer At Frank Stephenson Design, Euan McPherson Discusses Developments At AutoFlight

In Episode 178, host Jason Pritchard sits down with Euan McPherson, Senior Designer – Frank Stephenson Design (FSD), for a captivating discussion on the latest innovations in eVTOL design and FSD’s work with Chinese eVTOL OEM AutoFlight.

Euan shares his expertise on crafting cutting-edge electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the challenges of balancing aesthetics with functionality, and the future of Advanced Air Mobility.

Please tune in to this Spotify hosted eVTOL Insights Podcast for an insightful look at the design process behind next-generation air mobility solutions.

Follow along with the Ai generated Transcript provided by Spotify while listening to this shared exchange on how emotion might play a role in the design of AAM aircraft and what the biggest Human factor challenges might be when designing interiors and cabins, including how FSD envisions accessibility and inclusivity. 

These efforts, while new, has design function to normalize and build overall trust in these leading edge concept aircraft for personal and commercial uses.

… notes from The EDJE






TAGS: #frankstephensondesign, #evtol, #aam, #mobility, #autoflight, #design, #AutoFlight, The EDJE