Alex Palou kicked off the 2025 IndyCar season in spectacular fashion, claiming victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg.
The reigning champion, driving the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, delivered a masterful performance on the challenging street circuit to secure his first win of the year.
Despite starting the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg from eighth on the grid after missing out on the Fast Six in qualifying, Alex Palou’s strategic brilliance and consistent pace propelled him to the top step of the podium.
The victory marked his first season-opening win since 2021 and 12th career win in IndyCar, setting a strong tone for his pursuit of a fourth championship title.
The race began under sunny skies in St Petersburg, Florida, with Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin leading the field from pole position. He was joined on the front row by Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, both eager to capitalize on their strong starting positions.
However, chaos unfolded almost immediately as a multi-car collision on the opening lap brought out an early caution. Nolan Siegel’s No. 6 Arrow McLaren car was bumped from behind by Will Power’s No. 12 Penske machine, sending Siegel into the wall and collecting rookie Louis Foster in the process.
The incident forced several drivers into early pit stops to switch tire compounds, setting up divergent strategies for the remainder of the thrilling Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg race.
Once racing resumed on Lap 7, McLaughlin retained his lead while Meyer Shank’s Felix Rosenqvist attempted an ambitious move but fell short. The field settled into a rhythm as drivers managed their tires and fuel loads.
Notably, Pato O’Ward faced early setbacks after sustaining a puncture on Lap 1, forcing an unscheduled pit stop that placed him at a disadvantage for much of the 2025 IndyCar season opener.
The first major round of pit stops began around Lap 31, with Rosenqvist and McLaughlin among the early movers to switch to alternate tires.
This allowed Marcus Armstrong in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda to briefly inherit the lead as he pushed hard on a light fuel load. However, Armstrong’s stint was cut short by mechanical issues that forced him to retire from the race.
As pit strategies unfolded, McLaughlin re-emerged as the leader with a comfortable gap over his rivals.
Yet, Alex Palou and Scott Dixon were quietly climbing through the field with calculated precision. Palou’s decision to pit earlier than his teammate Dixon proved pivotal; by undercutting Dixon during their second round of stops, Palou gained crucial track position.
Meanwhile, Colton Herta’s race took a turn for the worse due to a tire issue during his pit stop that caused a huge delay. Although he battled valiantly to recover lost ground, Herta’s hopes for a podium finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg faded as he struggled with additional fueling complications later in the race.
By Lap 74, Alex Palou had assumed control of the race after McLaughlin pitted for fresh tires and with clean air ahead and a five-second lead over Josef Newgarden in second place, the reigning champ appeared untouchable.
However, Newgarden mounted a determined charge in the closing stages, reducing Palou’s advantage to less than a second with just a handful of laps remaining.
As tensions rose in the final laps, traffic from backmarkers added another layer of complexity to the battle at the front. Palou expertly navigated through slower cars while maintaining his composure under pressure from Newgarden and Dixon.
With five laps to go, Palou made a decisive move past Sting Ray Robb’s Juncos Hollinger Racing car, creating just enough breathing room to fend off his challengers.
On the penultimate lap, Newgarden’s pace began to falter, allowing Dixon to seize an opportunity and overtake him for second place. This move secured Chip Ganassi Racing’s first 1-2 finish since Mid-Ohio in 2023 and underscored their dominance at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg.
Palou crossed the finish line with a commanding lead, cementing his status as one of IndyCar’s finest talents. Dixon followed closely in second place, while Newgarden rounded out the podium in third after an intense battle throughout the race.
Elsewhere in the field, Christian Lundgaard delivered an impressive performance for Arrow McLaren by leading several laps before ultimately finishing just outside the top five.
Alexander Rossi was also set to deliver a promising result by saving his alternate tires for a late push but could only manage a tenth-place finish after struggling with traffic during his final stint.
Felix Rosenqvist and Scott McLaughlin both demonstrated strong pace early on but were unable to convert their efforts into podium finishes due to strategic missteps and tire degradation issues. Meanwhile, veterans like Will Power and Graham Rahal endured difficult afternoons marred by incidents and mechanical woes.
The 2025 IndyCar series will continue with the Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix later this month, where Palou will look to build on his early momentum
2025 IndyCar Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg Race Results
