2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500

Kirkwood Triumphs in Dramatic Night at Gateway

Kyle Kirkwood captured his fifth career NTT IndyCar Series victory — and his third of the 2025 season — in a strategy-heavy, attrition-filled 2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500, surviving 260 laps of chaos, contact and caution under the lights at World Wide Technology Raceway.

The Andretti Global driver earned his first career oval win, cycling to the front during the final round of green-flag pit stops and holding off Pato O'Ward and Christian Rasmussen by just over half a second at the checkered flag. The win caps off a pivotal weekend for both Kirkwood and the Honda-powered Andretti program, continuing their momentum after a victory in Detroit two weeks prior.

From Controlled Aggression to Calculated Execution

The race began with early fireworks. Polesitter Will Power lost the lead immediately to David Malukas, who made a bold move in Turn 3 on Lap 1 and led the opening 50 circuits. Malukas quickly established himself as the dominant early force, extending his lead by over five seconds before Power struck the Turn 4 SAFER Barrier on Lap 46, bringing out the second caution of the night.

That incident began a cycle of pit stops that shuffled the order. Scott McLaughlin won the race off pit road and held the top spot through a clean middle stint, but missteps on pit lane would later cost him dearly. Both he and Malukas were penalized for improper lane usage during stops under a Lap 131 caution — triggered by a frightening crash between Josef Newgarden and Louis Foster. Foster got loose exiting Turn 4 and slid into Newgarden, whose car flipped and slid upside down along the frontstretch. Both drivers were evaluated and released by INDYCAR medical officials.

Strategy at the Forefront

A pivotal moment came following the Lap 131 incident. McLaughlin and Malukas were relegated three positions each due to infractions, giving Pato O'Ward the lead on the restart. O'Ward would briefly surrender it to Conor Daly on Lap 154 before a cycle of green-flag stops reshuffled the order yet again.

From Laps 190 to 250, the race featured nine lead changes as strategy, fuel windows and clean air came into play:

• Lap 190: O'Ward
• Lap 191: Kirkwood
• Lap 193: VeeKay
• Lap 194: Dixon
• Lap 237: O'Ward
• Lap 238: Ferrucci
• Lap 246: Ericsson
• Lap 248: Ilott
• Lap 250: Rosenqvist

Scott Dixon, who led 43 laps, appeared poised to factor into the outcome until a late pit sequence dropped him to fourth, where he would ultimately finish. Felix Rosenqvist briefly led after passing Callum Ilott with 10 laps remaining, but both drivers were forced to pit shortly after. Kirkwood cycled to the front on Lap 256 and led the final five laps to seal the win.

A Milestone Victory

Kirkwood's win underscored his growing versatility across circuits and solidified his place among the title contenders. While Alex Palou — who finished 8th — still maintains the points lead, Kirkwood's trio of victories has vaulted him into serious championship contention.

Post-race, Andretti Global team manager Rob Edwards praised Kirkwood's growth. "I think what we're seeing now is what those of us that worked with him in INDY NXT always expected," Edwards said. "The difference with Kyle this year is the strength of the group around him."

Kirkwood added, "We were bouncing around a lot between strategies tonight. The call from the stand was exactly what it needed to be. We came in just at the right time. That's what won us the race."

Standout Performers

• Christian Rasmussen earned his first career INDYCAR podium with a composed run from 25th to 3rd, capitalizing on clean pit work and late-race pace.
• Juncos Hollinger Racing's Conor Daly impressed with a run to sixth after leading 36 laps.
• Robert Shwartzman delivered a career-best 10th-place finish, while Callum Ilott and Felix Rosenqvist each led late before fading to 18th and 17th, respectively.

Meanwhile, a rough night for Team Penske saw Power, Newgarden and McLaughlin all suffer setbacks — mechanical or otherwise — resulting in none of the three finishing inside the top 20.

Up Next

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES continues next weekend at Road America, where Kirkwood and the Andretti Global team will look to extend their momentum and continue closing the gap to Palou in the championship standings.

With eight races complete, the 2025 season has shaped up as a duel between two prolific winners — and after tonight, it's clear Kyle Kirkwood is ready to contend on any surface.

Final Practice Recap: Malukas Fastest as Teams Dial In Nighttime Setups

David Malukas led the way in final practice Saturday night at World Wide Technology Raceway, setting the fastest lap of the 45-minute session with a speed of 176.799 mph. As darkness settled over the 1.25-mile oval, teams made their final preparations for Sunday's 260-lap race under similar conditions.

The Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske cars once again featured prominently on the timesheets, but it was Malukas and the No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet that stood tallest under the lights—backing up his standout qualifying run earlier in the day, where he secured fourth on the grid with a two-lap average of 179.079 mph.

Cooler Conditions, High-Line Rubbering, and Final Adjustments

Saturday evening began with a 20-minute high-line session, split into two 10-minute groups. The return of this track-rubbering exercise gave teams a brief but valuable chance to evaluate car balance in less-favored grooves — a key factor in promoting side-by-side racing during Sunday night's race.

Final practice followed immediately afterward and offered the field its first extended stint of night running. With track temperatures having dropped significantly from the 116 degrees recorded at the start of qualifying, drivers reported improved grip but greater sensitivity to setup changes—especially in traffic.

Importantly, the 45-minute session ran without interruption. No caution periods were triggered, allowing teams to complete race simulations without disruption.

Carryover From Practice 1 and Qualifying

The session concluded a busy day that began with a rescheduled Practice 1, where Josef Newgarden topped the charts at 178.243 mph. The Team Penske driver continued to show strength in final practice, going second-fastest at 175.292 mph, completing 65 laps in the process.

Alex Palou, who qualified ninth and has dominated the season with five wins, was third on the final practice speed chart. Scott Dixon followed in fourth, helping affirm Chip Ganassi Racing's long-run pace potential.

Team Penske's Will Power, who earned his 71st career pole earlier in the day with a two-lap average of 180.329 mph, was 16th in final practice, suggesting the team focused less on outright pace and more on fuel mapping and tire degradation across longer stints.

Long-Run Focus and Race Readiness

Several drivers — including Christian Lundgaard, Felix Rosenqvist and Kyle Kirkwood — appeared to prioritize consistent race pace and hybrid deployment patterns rather than seeking a headline lap. With no caution flags to reset the field or alter plans, teams were able to stick to structured run plans and evaluate key performance windows.

In total, drivers turned over 1,600 laps during the session, capping a productive — if weather -adjusted — day of preparation. With Newgarden, Malukas and Palou each leading a session and the top 20 runners within 0.7 seconds of one another, Sunday's race is shaping up to be a tactical battle where pit strategy, tire longevity and hybrid system management could make the difference.

Qualifying Recap: Power Claims 71st Career Pole with Blistering Run at WWTR

Will Power stormed to his 71st career NTT P1 Award on Saturday afternoon at World Wide Technology Raceway, laying down a dominant two-lap average of 180.329 mph to secure pole position for Sunday night's Bommarito Automotive Group 500. It was Power's first pole since Iowa in 2023 and a return to form for the Team Penske veteran on a track where he last won in 2018.

Afternoon Delays and Rising Temperatures

With early weather delays compressing Saturday's on-track schedule, INDYCAR revised the afternoon lineup to accommodate a condensed one-hour qualifying window beginning at 4:35 p.m. CT. Ambient temperatures hovered around 83 degrees with track temps hitting 116 degrees, creating a slick surface and forcing teams to be precise with balance and timing.

Penske Flexes Muscle, Again

Power's pole came late in the session, and his two-lap run —24.9201 and 24.9887 seconds — put him atop the leaderboard with no challengers left to run. Teammate Scott McLaughlin briefly held provisional pole with a stout average of 179.783 mph, only to be bumped to second by Power's flyer.

Josef Newgarden, a five-time winner at WWTR, will start 5th after a strong 178.910 mph average, placing all three Penske entries in the top five.

Chevrolet Holds the Upper Hand

The top five qualifiers — Power, McLaughlin, Pato O'Ward (179.190 mph), David Malukas (179.079 mph) and Newgarden — all drove Chevrolet-powered entries. Malukas delivered one of the day's biggest surprises with a sharp, composed run that briefly placed him atop the speed chart. O'Ward, looking for redemption after a quiet run at Indianapolis, will roll off third for Arrow McLaren.

The best Honda qualifier was Marcus Armstrong of Meyer Shank Racing, who secured sixth at 178.754 mph. Armstrong outpaced Ganassi teammates Colton Herta (8th), Alex Palou (9th), and Scott Dixon (11th) in a tight midfield group where hundredths made a difference.

Midfield Shake-Up and Standout Performances

Felix Rosenqvist continued Meyer Shank Racing's strong form on ovals with a seventh-place effort at 178.696 mph. Alexander Rossi (12th), Marcus Ericsson (13th), and Christian Lundgaard (14th) followed, while Conor Daly placed 15th for Juncos Hollinger Racing.

PREMA Racing showed flashes of speed with Callum Ilott qualifying 16th and Robert Shwartzman 24th. Both drivers lost momentum on their second laps, compromising overall averages. Meanwhile, Devlin DeFrancesco and Rinus VeeKay will start side by side in 17th and 18th respectively.

Rookies and Trailing Pack

Louis Foster (21st), Robert Shwartzman (24th), and Jacob Abel (27th) were the three rookies in the field. Abel, the first to run, struggled to find speed on a green racetrack and posted a two-lap average of 171.424 mph—more than 8 mph off pole.

Christian Rasmussen and Kyffin Simpson also endured difficult runs, qualifying 25th and 26th.

Looking Ahead

With Power on pole and all three Penske entries in the top five, Sunday's 260-lap night race will begin with the usual suspects up front. But with cooler nighttime conditions and strategic hybrid deployment in play, the real battle may unfold in the long runs.

Final practice under the lights (7:50–8:35 p.m. CT) will provide one last glimpse of race setups before the field takes the green for the second oval race of the season.

Practice 1 Recap: Newgarden Sets the Pace After Rain Delay at WWTR

Josef Newgarden resumed his oval dominance Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway, leading a rain-delayed opening practice for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 with a best lap speed of 178.243 mph. The session — originally scheduled for the morning — was pushed to the afternoon after lingering rain and track dampness disrupted the schedule.

Team Penske Sets the Early Benchmark

Newgarden, a five-time winner at the 1.25-mile oval, wasted no time asserting himself once the green flag waved at 1 p.m. CT. After a pair of brief yellow flags early on for light moisture and track inspection, Newgarden clocked his best speed midway through the hour-long session and held the top spot through the checkered flag.

Teammate Scott McLaughlin followed closely in second at 178.149 mph, just 0.094 mph behind. Together, the Team Penske duo once again demonstrated the organization's trademark strength on short ovals.

David Malukas continued a quietly solid season for AJ Foyt Racing by ending the session third fastest at 177.856 mph, the top-ranked driver outside the Penske-Ganassi camps.

Competitive Field Behind the Leaders

Championship leader Alex Palou was fourth on the charts with a lap at 177.516 mph, once again showing speed on an oval layout. Pato O'Ward (177.492 mph) and Colton Herta (177.413 mph) completed a tight top six, which featured four Chevrolet and two Honda-powered cars.

Marcus Ericsson, Conor Daly, Kyle Kirkwood, and Alexander Rossi rounded out the top 10. All 10 drivers posted laps north of 176.7 mph, indicating a competitive baseline ahead of qualifying.

Scott Dixon, a two-time WWTR winner, ranked 12th at 175.820 mph, just behind Marcus Armstrong. Will Power — who holds the track's one-lap qualifying record — was 13th at 175.798 mph.

Rookies and Returning Drivers

Jacob Abel, making his first career IndyCar start at World Wide Technology Raceway with Dale Coyne Racing, placed 27th in the session at 169.910 mph after logging 48 laps.

Among other drivers making their WWTR debuts, Louis Foster (19th, 174.159 mph) and Robert Shwartzman (24th, 172.362 mph) focused on long runs and track acclimatization. Meanwhile, full-time drivers Nolan Siegel (16th), Christian Rasmussen (25th), and Kyffin Simpson (26th) — all of whom have prior IndyCar oval experience — logged extensive mileage to prepare for the race.

Session Stats and Schedule Updates

• Most Laps Completed: Nolan Siegel (51)
• Total Combined Laps: 955
• High-Line Session: Canceled due to time constraints

The updated Saturday schedule features qualifying at 4:30 p.m. CT and final practice from 7:15–8:15 p.m., both airing live on FS2. With the high-line session canceled, teams will need to rely on final practice to evaluate their cars in multi-groove conditions under race-like lighting.

With Newgarden leading the way and a closely packed group behind, the foundation is laid for an intense qualifying battle. Track position at WWTR often proves decisive, especially under the lights — making the afternoon session all the more critical.