2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Race Recap: Kirkwood Controls Long Beach to Earn Third Career Victory

Kyle Kirkwood delivered a commanding performance on the streets of Southern California, winning the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach to claim his third career NTT IndyCar Series victory — and second at the historic venue. Starting from pole, the Andretti Global driver led 46 of 90 laps and fended off late-race pressure from Alex Palou to take the checkered flag by 2.6859 seconds.

"This was a flawless weekend," Kirkwood said. "When you have weekends like this, you tend to win. This is a big step in the right direction... hopefully this is a continuation of great things." 

A Textbook Performance in a Tactical Race

The 90-lap contest ran green from start to finish, with no full-course yellows. With passing limited and tire degradation high, strategy and execution were paramount. Kirkwood led from the drop of the green and remained in control through three pit cycles. Though Palou and Christian Lundgaard each led brief segments due to alternate strategies, the No. 27 Honda was always within reach — and ultimately back in front when it mattered.

Palou briefly threatened during the final pit exchange around Lap 65, when he emerged just behind Kirkwood after a rapid stop and a timely overcut. But a touch of oversteer at corner exit dashed the Chip Ganassi Racing driver's hopes of a pass.

"I thought I was going to have a chance, but then my tires were not 100%," Palou said. "He was managing. Every time I had a small chance, he had a little bit more pace." 

Andretti Ascending Under New Leadership

The result marked Andretti Global's third win at Long Beach in the last five years and underscored the team's rising trajectory early in 2025. Team owner Dan Towriss, in his first full season as majority stakeholder, credited the internal investment and collaborative culture as foundational to the team's progress.

"We want high-performing, high-functioning teams," Towriss said. "We've raised the bar for everyone, and Kyle has responded. We're producing fast race cars. There's a big will to win." 

Kirkwood echoed that sentiment, noting the team's consistent upgrades since the off-season and the influence of Towriss' leadership.

"It's all due to their efforts," he said. "We can feel it. Things are starting to click… We're getting better at the places we weren't so great at." 

Lundgaard's Strategy Pays Off

Christian Lundgaard rounded out the podium in third after executing a bold off-strategy approach. Starting 12th and on primary tires, he ran a long opening stint and made up ground through clean-air running and consistent pace. It was his second consecutive podium and his fifth overall in IndyCar.

"We went aggressive today," Lundgaard said. "I told the team this morning, 'Let's see what we can do.' We were the first primary runner and made up a lot of pace through the pit cycles." 

Lundgaard now sits third in the championship, 46 points behind Palou, and sees the early-season results as validation of his off-season goals.

Execution Over Chaos

The race's calm nature — zero cautions and nine lead changes, all via pit cycles — stood in contrast to many past Long Beach editions. Palou and Lundgaard both acknowledged that while the clean race left little room for overtaking, the challenge lay in maximizing every phase of execution.

"When you have a fast car up front and not many out of position, it's tough to overtake," Palou said. "But it was a great day." 

"It might have been boring to watch," Kirkwood added with a smile, "but these are the races we drivers live for." 

Championship Picture

With three races complete, Palou remains atop the standings with 142 points, followed by Kirkwood (108), Lundgaard (96), and Rosenqvist (88). Andretti Global's upward trajectory sets the stage for a more competitive title chase — especially as the month of May approaches.

Warm-Up Recap: Rahal Tops Morning Session as Final Race Preparations Wrap at Long Beach

Graham Rahal paced Sunday morning's warm-up for the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach with a 1:08.0151 in the No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda. The 25-minute session offered teams a final opportunity to validate setup choices under race-day conditions before this afternoon's 90-lap contest.

The session began at 9:02 a.m. local time under overcast skies and notably cool temperatures—59°F ambient and 68.7°F on track, according to Firestone engineers.

Herta Penalized for Red Flag Incident

A red flag at 9:13 a.m. briefly paused the session following contact between Colton Herta and Jacob Abel exiting Turn 11. Race Control ruled that Herta caused the incident and issued a five-minute hold penalty for violating Rule 7.1.4.1.1—causing a red flag during practice.

The session resumed at 9:16 a.m. and remained green through the checkered flag at 9:27 a.m. Herta completed just 11 laps and finished 19th on the timesheet with a best lap of 1:10.0892. Abel turned 14 laps and ended the session 24th.

Top Performers and Race Readiness

Josef Newgarden was second fastest with a 1:08.3474 in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet, followed by Marcus Armstrong in third. Armstrong, driving for Meyer Shank Racing, posted a 1:08.4736—continuing his impressive street course form this weekend.

Scott Dixon and Pato O'Ward rounded out the top five. Pole-sitter Kyle Kirkwood ranked sixth with a best lap of 1:08.9668, and teammate Marcus Ericsson was ninth. Alex Palou, who starts third, finished warm-up in 11th.

Felix Rosenqvist (8th) and David Malukas (7th) completed the top 10. Scott McLaughlin, who starts sixth, was 13th in the session with a best lap of 1:09.2925.

Practice Pace: A Look at the Weekend Trends

Although Rahal led warm-up, the quickest lap of the weekend still belongs to Will Power, who posted a 1:07.3227 during Practice 1 on Friday. That time remains the fastest among all practice sessions, though it was not set under qualifying conditions.

Kirkwood, Ericsson, and Armstrong all finished in the top five of the combined practice standings, suggesting sustained pace across multiple sessions from key contenders heading into the race.

What's Next: The 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

The 50th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach goes green at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET, airing live on FOX. The official starting grid will be confirmed following post-warm-up technical inspections.

With cooler conditions and unpredictable tire degradation expected to shape the day's strategies, Sunday's race promises to be a pivotal chapter in the early-season title race between Andretti Global's frontrunners and championship leader Alex Palou.

Qualifying Recap: Kirkwood Captures Long Beach Pole in Andretti Front Row Lockout

Kyle Kirkwood delivered a commanding performance in qualifying Saturday for the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, earning his third career NTT P1 Award—and his second on the Southern California streets. His fastest lap, a 1:06.1921 in the Firestone Fast Six, puts the No. 27 Andretti Global Honda on provisional pole for Sunday's 90-lap race.

Kirkwood will be joined on the front row by teammate Colton Herta, whose recovery from a brush with the wall in Segment 1 punctuated a gritty run to second place.

"No shocker, right? Andretti has been really good here in recent years," Kirkwood said. "Even more so this year… especially these more bumpy, less grip street courses. We proved it here once again."

The front row lockout underscores Andretti Global’s strong form at Long Beach, where the team has now claimed three of the last five poles, including both of Kirkwood’s and Colton Herta’s 2022 effort. If expanded further, Andretti has captured five of the last seven poles dating back to Alexander Rossi’s back-to-back pole positions in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 race was canceled due to the pandemic.

How Qualifying Unfolded

Under cool and cloudy conditions (62°F ambient, 82°F track), the three-segment knockout format followed its typical high-stakes script:

• Segment 1: Christian Lundgaard led Group 1 with a 1:07.2092 before contact in Segment 2 ended his day early. Herta, Felix Rosenqvist, Pato O'Ward, Marcus Armstrong, and David Malukas also advanced.
• Group 2 was delayed for Race Control review following Santino Ferrucci's wall contact and subsequent yellow. Kirkwood posted a session-best 1:06.9367, followed by Alex Palou, Scott McLaughlin, Nolan Siegel, Marcus Ericsson, and Alexander Rossi.

Ferrucci received a penalty for causing a local yellow that affected another competitor and was stripped of his best lap, while Lundgaard lost his two fastest laps in Segment 2 for causing a red flag at Turn 9.

• Segment 2 (Top 12): Kirkwood again led the field, this time with a 1:06.4219. Herta, Palou, Ericsson, McLaughlin, and Rosenqvist secured spots in the Firestone Fast Six.
• Segment 3 (Firestone Fast Six): Kirkwood's 1:06.1921 proved untouchable. Herta secured second with a 1:06.4232. Palou, Rosenqvist, Ericsson, and McLaughlin rounded out the top six.

Herta Bounces Back for Home Race Front Row

Herta's path to the front row wasn't without incident. He made contact with the wall exiting Turn 11 in Segment 1, damaging the left rear suspension on his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda. Quick work by the Andretti crew allowed him to return in time for Segment 2, where he ultimately advanced.

"I've done that to them a few times," Herta admitted. "They never cease to amaze me how fast they can fix the cars I break."

For the Valencia, California native, starting on the front row at his home race adds extra meaning.

"This is one that I personally mark my calendars for," Herta said. "We tend to come here with good race cars. I'm glad to see that hasn't changed."

Championship Implications and Strategic Variables

Championship leader Alex Palou qualified third, placing him right behind the Andretti duo. After two wins to open the season, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver is poised to contend again—but Kirkwood and Herta know the value of keeping him behind.

"You obviously want to keep beating the guy that is the most likely to win," Kirkwood said. "We're there, but we need to maintain it tomorrow."

Strategy is expected to play a major role in Sunday's race, especially with Firestone's alternate tire (the guayule-based green sidewall compound) posing questions around durability. Kirkwood confirmed the tire is the same compound used at St. Petersburg, where degradation heavily influenced strategy.

"You're not going to want to run very long on the alternates," he said. "Which is why you see most of the guys just use them all up right away."

Herta added that Andretti Global tends to let its drivers race, though team coordination remains critical when locking out the front row.

"We understand that if there's an opportunity to pass, we're going to pass each other—but without unnecessary risks," Herta said.

Unofficial Top 10 – Qualifying

1. Kyle Kirkwood – 1:06.1921 (Firestone Fast Six)
2. Colton Herta – 1:06.4232
3. Alex Palou – 1:06.6254
4. Felix Rosenqvist – 1:06.6358
5. Marcus Ericsson – 1:06.7061
6. Scott McLaughlin – 1:07.0393
7. Marcus Armstrong – 1:06.9381 (Segment 2)
8. Alexander Rossi – 1:07.1989
9. Pato O'Ward – 1:07.5540
10. David Malukas – 1:07.9818

Nolan Siegel and Christian Lundgaard rounded out the Top 12, though Lundgaard's red flag incident in Segment 2 relegated him to 12th.

What's Next

The NTT IndyCar Series returns to the track for a 25-minute warm-up on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET, broadcast live on FS1. The official starting grid will be confirmed following that session. The race is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET) on FOX.

Kirkwood may start from the front, but as he noted: "That's the starting position… now we need to maintain it."

Practice 2 Recap: Siegel Leads the Field with Breakthrough Session at Long Beach

Nolan Siegel posted the fastest lap in Saturday morning's second practice session for the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, clocking a 1:07.1169 in the No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It was a milestone moment for the 20-year-old in his first full season with the team, as he led a tight and uninterrupted session that ran 45 green-flag minutes without incident.

Running from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. PDT, Practice 2 saw just two minor wall brushes—Scott Dixon and Robert Shwartzman each made light contact with the barriers but were able to continue without assistance, allowing the session to proceed without a red flag.

Confidence Boost for Siegel

After a pair of difficult outings at St. Petersburg and Thermal, Siegel's early pace at Long Beach represents a significant step forward in his development with Arrow McLaren. Though no longer classified as a rookie after his partial campaign in 2024, Siegel continues to gain experience and momentum with each outing.

"It feels good. It doesn't mean all that much right now, so it would be nice to carry that on later today," Siegel said after the session. "Everyone on the 6 car worked really hard, and it's good to see that start to pay off… I'd like to turn this into my first Fast Six. I think that's the goal later today."

The California native reflected on the personal meaning of competing in the 50th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach—a race he grew up attending from his nearby home in the Bay Area.

"IndyCar at Long Beach is so iconic, so just to be a part of it is really special," he said. "Having a good weekend here would mean a lot."

Honda Strong Behind Siegel

Andretti Global's Colton Herta and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing's Louis Foster slotted in second and third, respectively, both within one-tenth of Siegel's benchmark. Foster, one of three Rookie of the Year contenders this season alongside Robert Shwartzman and Jacob Abel, continued his strong showing on street circuits with a 1:07.2093—his best performance of the season to date.

Will Power's fastest lap from Practice 1 remained fourth overall in the combined times, while Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top five with a nearly identical lap to his Andretti teammate Marcus Ericsson.

Herta's presence near the top of the charts adds further strength to Andretti Global's Long Beach form, with all three entries looking competitive heading into qualifying.

Strategy and Tires on Everyone's Mind

As drivers and teams prepare for knockout qualifying, tire management remains a key factor. Firestone's alternate compound—the green-sidewalled tire—has shown signs of degradation similar to St. Petersburg. Siegel expects tire strategy to be just as unpredictable on Sunday.

"It is definitely a tire that has a lot of degradation… I think we're going to see some interesting strategies come into play," he said. "It'll be a fun race to watch, and a fun race to be a part of if you're on the right strategy."

Combined Practice – Top 10 (Practice 1 & 2)

1. Nolan Siegel – 1:07.1169 (Practice 2)
2. Colton Herta – 1:07.1648 (Practice 2)
3. Louis Foster – 1:07.2093 (Practice 2)
4. Will Power – 1:07.3227 (Practice 1 – Group 2)
5. Kyle Kirkwood – 1:07.3460 (Practice 2)
6. Marcus Ericsson – 1:07.3503 (Practice 1 – Group 1)
7. Marcus Armstrong – 1:07.3602 (Practice 1 – Group 1)
8. Josef Newgarden – 1:07.3828 (Practice 2)
9. Felix Rosenqvist – 1:07.3875 (Practice 1 – Group 2)
10. Alex Palou – 1:07.4239 (Practice 2)

Qualifying Next on the Schedule

The field returns to the racetrack at 11:30 a.m. PDT for knockout qualifying, which will determine the starting grid for Sunday's 90-lap race. The session will air live on FS2 and features three rounds, culminating in the Firestone Fast Six.

With Siegel aiming for a career-first Fast Six appearance and heavyweights like Palou, Herta, and Power lurking just behind, qualifying promises to be a tightly contested affair on the streets of Long Beach.

Practice 1 Recap: Power Leads the Field as Long Beach Weekend Begins

Penske's Veteran Tops Opening Session; Ericsson, Kirkwood, Armstrong Round Out Top Four

Will Power delivered the benchmark lap in Friday's opening practice for the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, clocking a 1:07.3227 in the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet during the Group 2 segment to top the combined charts.

Practice 1, which ran from 3:05 to 4:25 p.m. local time, was structured with a 45-minute all-cars session followed by two 10-minute split-group segments. Rookies were allowed to participate in both group sessions, maximizing their track time on the 1.968-mile temporary street circuit.

Group Highlights and Overall Standouts

While Alex Palou was fastest in the all-cars session with a 1:07.6364 in the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, he ultimately ended the day seventh overall once lap times from the group sessions were factored in.

Power surged to the top in Group 2 with his 1:07.3227 lap—fast enough to lead the full 27-car field. Marcus Ericsson, who paced Group 1 with a 1:07.3503 in the No. 28 Andretti Global Honda, slotted in second overall, just 0.0276 seconds back. Kyle Kirkwood, Marcus Armstrong, and Felix Rosenqvist completed the top five.

Josef Newgarden, third in the all-cars segment and sixth overall, noted the solid start felt like a return to form for Team Penske after a difficult outing at The Thermal Club.

"It feels like business as usual here," Newgarden said post-session. "Our street course car has been in a really good window. I think we can really put something good together if we stay on it."

Ericsson Confident in Andretti Package

Ericsson's strong lap in Group 1 reflects the improved pace Andretti Global has shown on street courses in 2025. The Swede—who finished outside the top 10 at Thermal after an early mistake—emphasized confidence and setup as key elements for success on narrow, unforgiving circuits like Long Beach.

"Andretti does a really good job preparing the cars and giving us drivers confidence to push to the limit," Ericsson said. "I've been close here a few times. I still have that box to tick to win here."

Strategic Complexity Looms

Both Ericsson and Newgarden praised the current tire compound balance, noting increased degradation on the alternate tires as a key variable heading into the race. With five sets of each compound available and mandatory usage of both, strategy will play a pivotal role.

The introduction of hybrid deployment—unlimited activations, capped at 415 kJ per lap—adds further complexity. While drivers described the hybrid system as user-friendly under braking, maximizing its usage for lap time remains a fine art.

A red flag near the end of Group 2 briefly interrupted running after Louis Foster's No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda stopped in a runoff. The session was extended to allow one final timed lap for all participants.

Combined Top 10 – Practice 1

1. Will Power – 1:07.3227 (Team Penske Chevrolet)
2. Marcus Ericsson – 1:07.3503 (Andretti Global Honda)
3. Kyle Kirkwood – 1:07.3523 (Andretti Global Honda)
4. Marcus Armstrong – 1:07.3602 (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
5. Felix Rosenqvist – 1:07.3875 (Meyer Shank Racing Honda)
6. Josef Newgarden – 1:07.5191 (Team Penske Chevrolet)
7. Alex Palou – 1:07.5306 (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
8. Colton Herta – 1:07.6632 (Andretti Global Honda)
9. Christian Lundgaard – 1:07.7108 (Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
10. Scott Dixon – 1:07.8080 (Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)