After three weeks since the season opener in St. Petersburg, 27 drivers took on the second-ever event at the Thermal Club. Unlike last year’s experimental format, the 2025 edition turned into a full-fledged race, offering 50 points plus a bonus, making it a crucial event in the championship. However, the track’s narrow layout and long pit exit raised concerns about its suitability for IndyCar racing.
O’Ward Takes Pole, Penske Struggles
Pato O’Ward secured his sixth career pole position, his first since Mid-Ohio 2022. The track features three different configurations to accommodate various cars and motorcycles. Among the contenders, Santino Ferrucci expressed high hopes for his team, given their collaboration with Team Penske. However, Penske had a rough weekend—Josef Newgarden, who started 17th, dropped to 23rd by lap five, while Will Power and Scott McLaughlin faced difficulties, with the latter being hit by Devlin DeFrancesco even before the race began.
Race Start and Early Incidents
Marcus Ericsson went off track at Turn 1, losing three positions, while Robert Shwartzman’s Prema car also had an early off-track excursion. Power rear-ended Callum Ilott, adding to the chaotic opening laps. Many drivers struggled with hard tires, which took too long to reach optimal temperature, especially for those starting outside the top 12.
Tire Strategy and Key Battles
Firestone provided an extra set of hard tires compared to the St. Petersburg GP, emphasizing the challenge of tire management. O’Ward dominated the first 16 laps before pitting, while a thrilling battle ensued between Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou at lap 44. Their fight played into O’Ward’s hands, allowing him to extend his lead before his pit stop on lap 45.
As the race progressed, Palou launched a fierce attack on O’Ward, utilizing soft tires to close the gap. Meanwhile, Kyle Kirkwood lost positions to Colton Herta and Felix Rosenqvist, slipping out of the top five. Will Power, despite starting at the back, made impressive gains, overtaking Kirkwood in the latter stages of the race.
A Dramatic Finish
With 10 laps to go, traffic became a major factor. Palou executed a stunning overtake on O’Ward, securing a crucial advantage. The final laps saw intense competition, with tire management proving to be the decisive factor. Despite multiple incidents and contacts, no full-course cautions were deployed throughout the race. Alex Palou starts the championship in style with second consecutive victory
Alexander Rossi had a strong weekend in his first year with Ed Carpenter Racing, finding an environment where he could thrive after two underwhelming seasons with Arrow McLaren. Young talent Nolan Siegel also showed promising potential for the future.
In the end, the Thermal Club event delivered excitement, unpredictability, and a crucial test of strategy, proving to be another important race in the 2025 IndyCar season.