Following the conclusion of the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, we are halfway through the 2025 NTT IndyCar Season. So far we’ve seen impressive rookies, team scandals, and a dominant Alex Palou. But with half a season to go, the road ahead is not laid down. Let’s explore the first half of the season. Who’s on the racing line and who’s fallen to the back of the pack?
A Look Back At The Thrilling IndyCar Season
2025 has not disappointed IndyCar fans. The season has seen twists and turns at every moment, and yet, Palou has remained a consistent force. Each race brought exciting moments, talking points, and some surprises. Here’s a look back at what you might have missed.
An Early Lead in the Early Stages
The 2025 IndyCar season started off with a bang in St Petersburg, with the very first lap bringing a caution. Nolan Siegel, Will Power, and rookie Louis Foster collided at Turn 3, all having to retire – a disappointing start to the season for them all. After starting 8th on the grid, Alex Palou took the lead on Lap 75 and went on to win the race. It was a race that set the pace for the season and kept us coming back for more.
Christian Lundgaard achieved his first papaya podium when he finished 3rd at The Thermal Club. He and teammate Pato O’Ward were fighting the heat, but Palou came out on top. Coming to the Streets of Long Beach, drivers and viewers alike were wondering if Palou could be beaten. However, it was Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood who went on to prove everyone wrong and took the win.
Month of May Showed an Unstoppable Palou
Palou returned to the top step in Alabama, foreshadowing his success to come. Leading all but 8 Laps, he finished with a 16-second lead over Lundgaard. After the Lap 1 caution period at St. Pete, we had a record-breaking 408 laps of green running. The Sonsio Grand Prix broke this streak, with David Malukas finding the grass. But Palou was still unstoppable, winning from pole. Power completed the podium, and Team Penske became the first team to have all their drivers finish on the podium.
An iconic and historic race which never fails to be a spectacle, the 2025 Indy 500 was no exception. Featuring a rookie on pole, 13 retirements, and 5 disqualifications, it was not to be missed. Taking a last-minute victory, Palou won for the first time on an oval track – solidifying his path to becoming one of the greatest IndyCar drivers.
A Fight For First Prevails
Having his first DNF of the season, Detroit saw drivers take a bite into Palou’s championship lead. A late red flag, due to Foster colliding with Felix Rosenqvist, paused the race in the closing stages. Despite having a broken front wing, Kirkwood achieved his second win of the season.
Foster was on an unlucky streak. After his crash at Detroit, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 saw him crash with Josef Newgarden. Newgarden was leading, but this crash took him out of contention, and instead, Kirkwood took his first oval win.
Heat challenged the drivers at Road America. An unfortunate touch with Colton Herta took Lundgaard out of the fight for the win. It left the Chip Ganassi drivers Palou and Scott Dixon to manage fuel and fend off Rosenqvist. In the end, Palou took the victory and his 6th win of the 2025 IndyCar season.
With a packed season so far, there have been eyes on a lot of drivers and teams. Let’s dive into the hits and misses of the season.
Standouts and Surprises: The Season’s High Flyers
It’s no surprise that reigning champion Alex Palou is once again delivering an impressive season. His calm and respectful style of racing has seen him become an undeniable force on the track. Having 6 out of 9 wins and a 93-point lead, he has been almost faultless this year.
Rookie Robert Shwartzman has also been a standout driver. Despite experiencing some initial issues with new team Prema Racing, Shwartzman did something drivers dream of. He secured pole position for the Indy 500. He is the first since 1983 to achieve this in his rookie year. While he was unable to finish the race, he’s clearly leaving a strong impression in his debut season. A top ten finish at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 shows that he is impressively quick on ovals!
David Malukas has also had an incredible comeback from his 2024 season. Despite securing his dream seat with Arrow McLaren, a pre-season incident saw him leave the team without ever racing for them. This year, he’s showing he has pace with A. J. Foyt, often finding himself in the top ten of practice sessions and standing P12 in the championship. A podium finish at the Indy 500 showed everyone what he is capable of. Paddock rumours are that Team Penske are looking to take him on as Power’s potential replacement in 2026.
Struggles and Setbacks: Teams and Drivers Off Pace
It’s been a season to forget for Team Penske. The year has been marred by drama, including technical infringements and illegal car modifications that saw their drivers forfeit qualifying positions for the Indy 500. The team has also suffered from the resignation of several key team personnel. Up until now, they haven’t shown the pace and dominance we’ve come to expect over the years.
Talking of Team Penske, 2-time champion Josef Newgarden seems to be struggling this year too. Being the lowest placed Penske driver, in 17th, and suffering an unlucky streak, he has only finished on the podium once. With 5 DNFs, he is on track to have his worst season since his debut.
Marcus Ericsson has also faced a difficult campaign with a season plagued by spins, and poor strategy calls. A technical infringement dropped him from a P2 finish to P31 at the Indy 500. Ericsson currently only has one top ten race finish and sits only 21st in the championship standings. It’s been an unlucky and frustrating season for the Swede.
The Road to the 2025 IndyCar Championship
With 8 races left, everything is still to play for. IndyCar is nothing if not unpredictable. It would only take a couple of bad results for the championship to switch hands. Keep an eye on Kirkwood in 2nd and O’Ward in 3rd. They are looking to bring the fight to Palou and vie for the championship title.
But the drivers championship isn’t the only thing to win. It will be a close fight for Rookie of the Year. Shwartzman leads Foster by only 2 points. The third rookie, Jacob Abel, is currently P27 in the standings. Half a season remains, can Abel turn his season around and mount a late charge?
Honda also currently leads the manufacturers championship by 183 points. Honda have won every race this season, but the Chevrolet-powered teams aren’t giving up. The likes of the Arrow McLaren and Team Penske drivers are hungry to take a victory.
The second half of the 2025 NTT IndyCar season will see some iconic races – visiting tracks like the Iowa Speedway and Laguna Seca. The drivers also have three oval tracks and a double-header weekend to contend with. Anything really can happen in IndyCar, so don’t count anyone out. Will anyone be able to deny Alex Palou a 4th championship? Stay tuned to catch every twist as the season unfolds.
Up next? The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio this weekend! Tune into the race to see if O’Ward can get a back-to-back win at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.