2025 XPEL Grand Prix

Race Recap: Palou Masters Chaos for Third XPEL Grand Prix Victory

Alex Palou navigated a chaotic, caution-filled XPEL Grand Prix at Road America to claim his sixth NTT IndyCar Series win of 2025, piloting the No. 10 Solo Cup Honda to his third triumph at the 4.014-mile circuit on Sunday, June 22, 2025. The 55-lap, 220.77-mile race, marked by 11 lead changes among nine drivers and five cautions for 12 laps, saw Palou outlast Felix Rosenqvist and Santino Ferrucci, who finished second and third, respectively, in a race defined by aggressive racing, strategic gambles, and swelteringly unbearable heat.

The race began under brutal conditions — 94 degrees ambient and 128 degrees track temperatures — at 12:47 p.m. CT. Pole-sitter Louis Foster led the field off Turn 14 in the No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda, but chaos erupted immediately. David Malukas (No. 4 Chevrolet) and Jacob Abel (No. 51 Honda) went off in Turns 1 and 3, triggering a full-course yellow on Lap 1. Foster held the lead on the Lap 3 restart, only for Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 XPEL Chevrolet) to seize it moments later. A second caution on Lap 4 followed Robert Shwartzman's spin in Turn 12, with penalties piling up, including Rinus VeeKay's back-of-field penalty for jumping a restart.

The race's frenetic pace continued with cautions on Laps 10 (Sting Ray Robb in Turn 5), 22 (Conor Daly in Turn 5) and 30 (Josef Newgarden hitting the Turn 14 tire barrier). Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Honda) emerged as a frontrunner, leading by Lap 13, but strategy and yellows shuffled the order. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet), Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda), Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Siemens Honda), Malukas and Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Honda) all took turns at the front. Palou grabbed the lead on Lap 38, briefly ceded it to Rosenqvist and Malukas, then reclaimed it on Lap 52 when Dixon pitted, holding on through a fuel-saving masterclass to win by a narrow margin.

Palou, who led six laps, credited Chip Ganassi Racing's strategy, particularly a pivotal Lap 38 pit stop under yellow. "We pitted from first … that was the moment that gave us the win," he said, though he admitted grumbling over a second-stint red tire call. Team manager Barry Wanser acknowledged the gamble: "We didn't know we were on the right strategy until 10 to go."

Rosenqvist, starting 12th, capitalized on two late red tire stints and restarts to secure second, his best finish of 2025 season. "We were doing qually laps every lap," Rosenqvist said, praising the No. 60 Honda's pace.

Ferrucci (No. 14 Sexton Properties Chevrolet) took third, climbing from 18th despite a pit stall that cost positions. "I'm stressed out there … massive fuel target," Ferrucci said, dedicating the podium to Marlene Sexton, a key AJ Foyt Racing supporter who passed away the prior week. The race saw 348 passes, including 345 for position, with Simpson gaining 17 spots to finish sixth, the most of any driver.

The heat tested drivers and hybrids, but no failures were reported. Firestone's tires, praised by Palou and Rosenqvist for minimal marbles, enabled multi-line racing, with 96 top-10 passes. Palou noted, "I overtook twice in Turn 1 on the outside, which normally you can't." Aggression led to penalties, including avoidable contact fines for VeeKay, Lundgaard, Malukas, and DeFrancesco, and blocking penalties for Daly and DeFrancesco.

Palou's 17th career win, his third at Road America (2021, 2023), marked Honda's 10th straight victory since Nashville 2024. The race, completed in 1:53:31 at an average 116.696 mph, was the second-most passing-heavy at Road America after 2023. Foster, the rookie pole-sitter, faded to 18th, unable to convert his NTT P1 Award.

Warm-Up Recap: Rosenqvist Leads as Heat Intensifies at XPEL Grand Prix

Felix Rosenqvist topped the warm-up session for the XPEL Grand Prix Sunday morning at Road America, posting a best lap of 1:45.0725 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda. The 25-minute session, concluding at 9:27 a.m. CT, saw the 27-car NTT IndyCar Series field navigate the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course under mounting heat, with ambient temperatures at 85 degrees and track temperatures cresting triple digits, setting the stage for a grueling race ahead.

Rosenqvist edged out Scott Dixon by 0.0792 seconds, with Dixon recording 1:45.1517 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. Santino Ferrucci placed third at 1:45.2402 in the No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet, followed by Colton Herta (1:45.2807) in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda, Josef Newgarden (1:45.3602) in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet, and Graham Rahal (1:45.3900) in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Honda, rounding out the top six.

Pole-sitter Louis Foster struggled, finishing 27th at 1:47.6275 in the No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda. Alex Palou, starting second, turned the fastest lap of the session on his final lap but it was invalidated by INDYCAR, so the three-time champion ended warm-up in 24th at 1:47.0512 in the No. 10 SOLO Cup Honda.

The session featured a brief interruption at 9:10 a.m. when Jacob Abel's No. 51 Abel Construction Honda hit the barrier in Turn 14. Abel continued to the pits under his own power, and the red flag lasted two minutes before the green flag resumed at 9:12 a.m. The field completed 301 laps, with combined practice laps across the weekend totaling 1,114. The heat, a recurring theme, tested tire and hybrid performance, with track temperatures exceeding 100 degrees by the end.

Rosenqvist's pace suggests a strong recovery for Meyer Shank Racing, while Dixon's second place hints at a potential challenge from Chip Ganassi Racing. Foster, still adapting after his historic pole, acknowledged the heat's toll: "It's going to be very, very tricky … just have to make the most of it."

Palou had earlier noted the long straights as a relief, saying, "You can rest quite a lot on the straight."

With the starting lineup now official following warm-up, the race's green flag is set for 12:47 p.m. CT on FOX. The intense conditions and hybrid concerns will be key factors as teams aim to capitalize on their qualifying positions.

Qualifying Recap: Rookie Foster Claims First NTT P1 Award at XPEL Grand Prix

Louis Foster secured his first NTT P1 Award with a stunning lap of 1:44.5141 in the No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda, earning pole position for the XPEL Grand Prix Saturday afternoon at Road America. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie outpaced Alex Palou by 0.1159 seconds, with Palou recording 1:44.6300 in the No. 10 SOLO Cup Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing, setting up a rookie-versus-veteran front row for Sunday's race.

The three-segment qualifying, held under brutal conditions with an ambient temperature of 90°F and a track temperature reaching 121°F, showcased Foster's breakthrough. In the Firestone Fast Six, Foster's used alternate tires proved decisive, beating Palou, who ran new alternates. Kyle Kirkwood took third at 1:44.8523 in the No. 27 Siemens Honda, followed by Scott McLaughlin (1:45.0137) in the No. 3 XPEL Chevrolet, Christian Lundgaard (1:45.0828) in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and Graham Rahal (1:45.4877) in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Honda completing the top six.

The first round saw Group 1 led by Palou at 1:44.4775, advancing with Rahal, Callum Ilott, Pato O'Ward, Kirkwood, and Josef Newgarden, though Scott Dixon's No. 9 PNC Bank Honda was penalized for qualifying interference, dropping him to 25th with 1:46.6468. Group 2 was topped by Lundgaard at 1:44.7401 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, with McLaughlin, David Malukas, Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist, and Foster moving on. Round 2 whittled the field to the Fast Six, where Foster's strategic tire call shone.

Foster, still in shock, credited his team: "The boys have been working their asses off … rebuilt the car twice." He aims to convert the pole into a strong race, saying, "Full focus on the race … we have to bring in some solid points."

Palou, matching his weekend-best lap, noted the heat's challenge: "It's going to be tough for everybody with tire deg … could be an alternate race tomorrow." Both drivers highlighted the long straights as a relief from the heat's intensity.

The session featured no red flags but saw intense competition, with 27 cars logging laps across the segments. Dixon's penalty underscored the tight margins, while Foster's pole marks the second straight rookie NTT P1 Award at Road America, following Linus Lundqvist in 2024. The starting lineup remains unofficial until after warm-up Sunday at 9:02 a.m. CT, with the race set for 12:47 p.m. CT on FOX.

Practice 2 Recap: Lundgaard Tops Clean Session at XPEL Grand Prix

Christian Lundgaard led the way in Practice 2 for the XPEL Grand Prix, posting a best lap of 1:45.3412 in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet during a clean, green-flag session Saturday morning at Road America. The 45-minute practice, which concluded at 10:51 a.m. CT, saw the 27-car NTT IndyCar Series field tackle the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course under increasingly oppressive heat, with temperatures climbing from 84 to 89 degrees ambient and 99 to 109 degrees on the track.

Lundgaard edged out Alex Palou by 0.2504 seconds, with Palou recording 1:45.5916 in the No. 10 SOLO Cup Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. Will Power followed in third at 1:45.6809 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for Team Penske, while Kyle Kirkwood, Friday's pacesetter, slipped to fourth at 1:45.7126 in the No. 27 Siemens Honda. Colton Herta rounded out the top five at 1:45.7160 in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Global. Rookie Louis Foster held 17th at 1:46.1079 in the No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda, showing steady progress.

The session, limited to 45 minutes of green-flag time per its format, ran without red flags or major incidents, allowing all 361 laps to be completed smoothly. Combined with Friday's Practice 1, the field logged 813 laps across both sessions, with Kirkwood's 1:44.9881 from Friday holding the overall top time. The rising heat, however, emerged as a focal point, with track temperatures in the triple digits by the checkered flag, testing tire management and hybrid systems.

Palou, the championship leader, climbed from ninth to second, signaling a strong rebound for the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Scott Dixon, 18th on Friday, improved to sixth at 1:45.7386 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda, hinting at setup tweaks. Felix Rosenqvist, 13th at 1:45.7707 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda, noted the heat's potential impact: "Tomorrow's going to be way hotter … it might be a challenge with brakes and hybrids." Josef Newgarden, fourth on Friday but eighth at 1:45.8011 in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet, had earlier warned of the heat's effect, saying, "The temperature is going to be a big deal."

With qualifying set for 1:35 p.m. CT today on FS1, the focus shifts to securing strong grid positions. The escalating heat and hybrid performance will remain critical as teams prepare for Sunday's race.

Practice 1 Recap: Kirkwood Leads Opening Session at Road America

Andretti Global's Kyle Kirkwood set the pace in Practice 1 for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America posting a fast lap of 1:44.9881 in sweltering conditions Friday afternoon at the 4.014-mile, 14-turn road course.

Kirkwood edged out Devlin DeFrancesco by 0.1533 seconds, with DeFrancesco logging 1:45.1414 in the No. 30 Manitou Group Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Will Power placed third at 1:45.1795 in the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for Team Penske, followed by Josef Newgarden (1:45.2228) in the No. 2 PPG Chevrolet and Christian Lundgaard (1:45.2246) in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, rounding out the top five. Rookie Louis Foster impressed in eighth at 1:45.3233 in the No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda, while championship leader Alex Palou managed ninth at 1:45.3664 in the No. 10 SOLO Cup Honda.

The session, which ran from 3:38 to 4:55 p.m. CDT, saw ambient temperatures of 83 degrees and track temperatures reaching 90 degrees, amplifying the heat's impact. A red flag halted action at 4:38 p.m. when Santino Ferrucci's No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet spun into the grass near Turns 13 and 14. Ferrucci restarted but received a five-minute time penalty for causing the stoppage. Another red flag flew at 4:50 p.m. when Alexander Rossi's No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet slid into the gravel in Turn 1. Earlier, both Rossi and Sting Ray Robb (No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet) were hit with drive-thru penalties for pit lane speed violations.

Newgarden, a two-time Road America winner, noted the heat's toll.

"It's going to be hot, for sure," he said. "The temperature is going to be a big deal … trying to understand not just from a personal standpoint but how the car reacts."

He estimated a lap time loss of about one and a half seconds compared to last year due to the hybrid system's added weight, a concern echoed by Felix Rosenqvist, 13th at 1:45.7859 in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda.

"The hybrid unit was clean today, but tomorrow's going to be way hotter," Rosenqvist said. "It might be a challenge with brakes and hybrids."

Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon (18th, 1:46.1033 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda) and Palou struggled, hinting at setup adjustments needed. The heat also raised hybrid overheating fears, as Newgarden added, "There's unknowns with how high the temperature is going to get … a question mark we're trying to cover."

With 452 total laps completed, Practice 2 is set for Saturday at 10:05 a.m. CDT, followed by qualifying at 1:35 p.m. CDT, both live on FS1. The anticipated intense conditions and hybrid challenges will test teams as they prepare for Sunday's race.