Palou’s Dominance And Power’s Contract Drama: The 2025 INDYCAR Season Unfolds Post R13 Toronto

2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Championship Season winds down with only four races - two dedicated road courses and two oval tracks - left to decide who's best and who's left. Interesting to see the teams in the top 10 in the points championship shows Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren, Andretti Global, and Meyer Shank Racing each with two drivers where Team Penske has only one and the surprise showing of AJ Foyt Racing also with one driver in the ranking. This observation leaves Ed Carpenter Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Juncos Hollinger Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and first season PREMA Racing out swinging and scratching their heads as to what do they need to do to be a Top 10 competitor. Image Credit: NICS Screengrab via FB/META (2025)

Palou’s Dominance And Power’s Contract Drama: The 2025 INDYCAR Season Unfolds Post R13 Toronto

With only four races remaining in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, the championship battle has taken an intriguing turn following the Toronto event. Alex Palou holds a commanding lead with 536 points, positioning him as the frontrunner for a potential three-peat and a fourth title. A recent analysis from the Motorsports and Car Culture Committee of the MPG suggests that Pato O'Ward, trailing by 99 points, faces a steep challenge to overtake Palou, needing victories in all remaining races - each worth 50 points - while Palou finishes 12th or worse, a scenario deemed highly improbable by Motorsports Journal Managing Editor Edmund Jenks.

SELFIE ... Podium Style! Winner of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward grabs a phone and snaps the picture with P2 Dale Coyne Racing's Rinus Veekay and P3 Chip Ganassi Racing's (first podium) Kyffin Simpson. Image Credit NICS via FB/META (2025)

The standings underscore Palou’s consistency, with O'Ward and Kyle Kirkwood, 173 points back, struggling to close the gap. Scott Dixon, 174 points adrift, and Christian Lundgaard, 219 points behind, also appear out of contention barring extraordinary circumstances. Critics argue that Palou’s lead, bolstered by Chip Ganassi Racing’s strategic prowess, makes his championship defense nearly unassailable. O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren team will need flawless execution and a significant dip in Palou’s form to shift this momentum, a feat that seems unlikely with the season winding down.

Will Power does not seem too concerned about his chances at keeping another year on contract with Team Penske while delivering the most consistent performance season of any Team Penske driver in 2025. Image Credit: Christopher Owens via FB/META (2025) 

Adding intrigue to the season is a subplot surrounding Will Power’s future with Team Penske. With his current contract nearing its end, Power’s position is under scrutiny, especially as rumors swirl about David Malukas as a potential replacement for 2026 - with four races left in 2025, Power is at 263 points vs Malukas at 259 points. This uncertainty has heightened the stakes for Power, who must prove his worth in the final races held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Portland International Raceway, Milwaukee Mile, and the finale held in Nashville at Nashville Superspeedway to secure a new deal.

Despite the pressure, Power has emerged as Team Penske’s most consistent and highest points-scoring driver in 2025, again, amassing 263 points - 24 points ahead of teammate Scott McLaughlin, who stands at 239 - and DNF season-prone Josef Newgarden at 213. This unexpected dominance has fueled speculation about whether Power can leverage his performance to sway the team’s decision, adding a layer of tension to the championship narrative - with the backdrop of Team Penske rule-breaking that led to firings at the top level of management - as the driver market chatter intensifies.

Much more champagne has to flow on O'Ward at P1 in the next four races for this season's championship to become an actual points race as long as Palou runs and finishes down in double digit positions (which is very doubtful, at best). Image Credit: Christopher Owens via FB/META (2025) 

As the season heads into its final stretch on July 21, 2025, the focus remains split between Palou’s seemingly inevitable title and the off-track drama surrounding Power. With only four races left, the combination of on-track competition and contract negotiations promises a dramatic conclusion to an already compelling INDYCAR season.

Practice for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca kicks off on Friday at 5 p.m. ET (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network), marking the 14th of 17 races in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The 95-lap race, a critical event with only four races remaining, is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. on FOX. A Spanish-language telecast will also be available on FOX Deportes, adding to the anticipation as the championship battle intensifies.

... notes from The EDJE

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TAGS: Alex Palou, Pato O'Ward, NTT INDYCAR SERIES, #IndyCarOnFOX, Will Power, Team Penske, David Malukas, 2025 season, Toronto event, Chip Ganassi Racing, Arrow McLaren, Scott McLaughlin, contract negotiations, #motorsports, racing analysis, The EDJE