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.
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
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)
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.”
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.
•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).
Three-time champ Kyle Kirkwood showcases his versatility, with titles in USF2000 (2018), USF Pro 2000 (2019), and INDY NXT (2021). Beyond INDYCAR, he co-drives the No. 14 Lexus for Vasser Sullivan Racing in IMSA endurance events. Off the track, Kirkwood’s relentless drive shines through his rigorous training and commitment to growth. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)
At 50th AGPLB, Kirkwood Chases Palou’s Pace In 2025 NTT INDYCAR Season
Kyle Kirkwood has started the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season on a high note with Andretti Global, sitting sixth in the standings. He’s part of an elite group - alongside Alex Palou, Scott Dixon, Christian Lundgaard, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alexander Rossi - as one of only six drivers to achieve top-10 finishes in both races so far.
With a fifth-place result at St. Petersburg and an eighth-place finish following, Kirkwood’s performances are commendable. Yet, the 26-year-old admits to feeling the pressure of chasing Alex Palou, the three-time champion who has swept both races this season and is gunning for a third straight title.
The No. 27 Andretti Global Chili's Honda exits the Pitlane on the required single-stint soft compound Alternate REDS. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks - Motorsports Journal (2025)
In a recent press conference, Kirkwood addressed the challenges of climbing the order when qualifying doesn’t go as planned. Reflecting on his St. Pete run - where he turned a ninth-place start into a fifth-place finish - he outlined two key strategies for success from mid-pack: “You either go off strategy or you have a ton of pace and are able to run by people.” He pointed to examples like Dixon’s fuel-saving masterclass from a deep starting spot last year or Palou’s strategic brilliance from eighth this season.
“There’s a multitude of things you can do to get yourself back up front,” Kirkwood said, though he emphasized the simplest path: “Ultimately, you just want to qualify up front and stay up front.”
Kirkwood also discussed the interplay between the hybrid system’s regen energy and push-to-pass, which he sees as distinct tools. “The hybrid is essential - you have to use it every lap,” he explained, contrasting it with push-to-pass, an optional boost he reserves for critical moments like overtakes or pit strategy. Heading into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, a track where Honda-powered cars have an edge, he weighed in on passing opportunities, particularly around the tricky Turn 7 on Pine Avenue.
“You can make a pass happen there,” he noted, though it requires aggression and the right setup - preferably later in the race.
As Kirkwood prepares for Long Beach, his focus is clear: sharpen qualifying and seize every chance to close the gap on Palou’s commanding lead. With the season still young, the Andretti Global driver is determined to turn solid starts into statement wins.