Welcome to the 2025 IndyCar season! Inside simply the primary few laps put down in St. Petersburg, Florida this weekend… Chip Ganassi’s Alex Palou shall be preventing for a fourth IndyCar title whereas his veteran teammate Scott Dixon continues to chase a record-tying seventh crown for himself. And so they aren’t the one ones chasing historical past as Group Penske (and IndyCar darling) Josef Newgarden is eyeing an unprecedented three-peat within the Indy 500. Elsewhere within the discipline, a stacked rookie class contains each the reigning Indy NXT champion and the 2024 runner-up whereas a crew already well-known in Europe joins the IndyCar grid for the very first time.
However earlier than the inexperienced flag flies for the primary spherical of the 2025 season on the streets of St. Pete, we’ll get you fully caught up on all of the low season happenings. And let me inform you, there’s a variety of floor to cowl.
Collection’ information of word
Penske Leisure appointed Doug Boles as the brand new president of IndyCar, changing long-time collection’ president Jay Frye. Boles provides this new position to his present position of president at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The transfer got here as a shock to many, taking place just some weeks earlier than the beginning of the brand new season.
Within the paddock, Arrow McLaren is formally owned by McLaren and with out Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. The crew additionally named 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan to the position of crew principal after Gavin Ward departed the group following the 2024 season. Kevin Thimjon joins as crew president.
Winner Patricio O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Tony Kanaan
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures
At Meyer Shank Racing, the crew ended its technical alliance with Andretti World, as an alternative forming a brand new alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing. CGR can even solely run three full-time automobiles this yr, downsizing from 5 full-time entries as a result of cap imposed by the newly launched constitution settlement. The settlement, which seems closely impressed by NASCAR’s established constitution system with comparable incentives, permits for 25 complete charters and lasts by means of 2031. Prema Racing, a brand new entrant on the grid, is the one full-time crew not in possession of any charters.
And that is simply a number of the adjustments coming into 2025 with the largest one involving the place you could find every of the 17 races to be televised this yr…
The brand new residence for IndyCar protection
In case you missed the multitude of commercials — a really enthusiastic FOX Sports activities will broadcast your complete IndyCar schedule in 2025. It is an unique media rights deal which is able to put all races on the first FOX community. The season can even be out there on the FOX Sports activities app and on FOX Deportes for Spanish-speaking followers.
FOX’s protection of IndyCar will function some pleasant faces and names within the broadcast sales space: Will Buxton, who involves IndyCar from F1, filling the position of play-by-play announcer, James Hinchcliffe, and Townsend Bell.
Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Photograph by: Brett Farmer / Motorsport Pictures
Schedule adjustments
The exhibition race at Thermal Membership is again, however this time as a points-paying occasion. Milwaukee has misplaced its double-header weekend and can as an alternative host a single race. Moreover, the collection has chosen to extend the race lengths for Lengthy Seaside (+5 laps), Toronto (+5 laps), Mid-Ohio (+10 laps), Nashville (+19 laps), and Iowa (+25 laps). Whereas a lot of the schedule stays unchanged, Gateway has additionally shifted barely, shifting from August to June on the calendar.
Races and begin occasions
Race
Date
Protection begins (EST)
Community
St. Petersburg
March 2
12pm ET
FOX
Thermal Membership
March 23
3pm ET
FOX
Lengthy Seaside
April 13
4:30pm ET
FOX
Barber
Could 4
1:30pm ET
FOX
Indianapolis Highway Course
Could 10
4:30pm ET
FOX
109th Indianapolis 500
Could 25
10am ET
FOX
Detroit
June 1
12:30pm ET
FOX
Gateway
June 15
3pm ET
FOX
Highway America
June 22
3:30pm ET
FOX
Mid-Ohio
July 6
2pm ET
FOX
Iowa #1
July 12
5pm ET
FOX
Iowa #2
July 13
2pm ET
FOX
Toronto
July 20
2pm ET
FOX
Laguna Seca
July 27
3pm ET
FOX
Portland
August 10
3pm ET
FOX
Milwaukee
August 24
2pm ET
FOX
Nashville Superspeedway
August 31
2:30pm ET
FOX
Foolish season strikes
The grid can even look a bit completely different this yr. Probably the most notable change entails the introduction of an all-new crew, however it might sound acquainted to European open-wheel followers. Prema Racing debuts in IndyCar for its first season with two full-time entries for 2025. Sporting Chevrolet engines, their automobiles shall be piloted by Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott.
And that is simply the tip of the iceberg when it comest to the sport of musical chairs within the paddock. At McLaren, Christian Lundgaard replaces Alexander Rossi, who strikes over to ECR. The Ed Carpenter-owned crew additionally parted methods with Rinus VeeKay after 5 seasons collectively. VeeKay later landed the final full-time seat left on the grid in mid-February, signing with Dale Coyne Racing.
Alexander Rossi, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
Photograph by: Brett Farmer / Motorsport Pictures
Lundgaard’s McLaren transfer opened the door for reigning Indy NXT champion Louis Foster who will step as much as the principle collection for 2025, driving for RLL Racing. RLL has additionally signed Devlin DeFrancesco to take over the seat beforehand occupied by Pietro Fittipaldi. Foster will not be the one Indy NXT star taking the subsequent step of their profession as Jacob Abel joins DCR alongside VeeKay.
A.J. Foyt Racing has added David Malukas, who returns to full-time competitors this yr after a pre-season damage derailed his 2024 season and in the end value him his seat at McLaren. Malukas leaves a gap at Meyer Shank, Marcus Armstrong.
Juncos Hollinger Racing could have a wholly new lineup for this yr, bringing in Conor Daly and Sting Ray Robb as their full-time drivers.
If you’re now horribly confused, don’t fret, as we have a helpful desk displaying all the brand new lineups for full-time drivers and groups.
2025 IndyCar grid
Group
Drivers
Producer
Group Penske
Josef Newgarden
Will Energy
Scott McLaughlin
Chevrolet
Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou
Scott Dixon
Kyffin Simpson
Honda
Arrow McLaren
Pato O’Ward
Nolan Siegel
Christian Lundgaard
Chevrolet
Andretti World
Colton Herta
Marcus Ericsson
Kyle Kirkwood
Honda
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Graham Rahal
Devlin DeFrancesco
Louis Foster
Honda
Prema Racing
Robert Shwartzman
Callum Ilott
Chevrolet
Dale Coyne Racing
Rinus VeeKay
Jacob Abel
Honda
A.J. Foyt Racing
Santino Ferrucci
David Malukas
Chevrolet
Juncos Hollinger Racing
Conor Daly
Sing Ray Robb
Chevrolet
Ed Carpenter Racing
Alexander Rossi
Christian Rasmussen
Chevrolet
Meyer Shank Racing
Felix Rosenqvist
Marcus Armstrong
Honda
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