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Fox News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
As Kyle Kirkwood cuts into Alex Palou's INDYCAR lead, is there time to catch him?
Kyle Kirkwood cut 27 points from the margin between him and INDYCAR points leader Alex Palou when Kirkwood won Sunday night. That sounds big, but consider this: Kirkwood would just have to do that three more times to potentially catch Palou as he's still 75 points out. "Moving closer," Kirkwood said. "It's still a long ways to go." But Kirkwood's victory at World Wide Technology Raceway (commonly known as Gateway) under the lights Sunday night was about more than just math. It was about winning at a track other than a street course. Kirkwood's two previous wins this year came on street circuits at Long Beach and Detroit, with Detroit his fourth career win and them all on temporary circuits on city streets. "You get your fourth and people are like, 'Another street course for Kirkwood' — it's not as big of a deal now, when is he going to win something else?'" Kirkwood said. "It takes [the focus] away from the street courses, so this was huge for me. This was by far bigger than [Detroit] because of that." That's not to say Detroit wasn't satisfying for Kirkwood. He made moves for passes that he was proud of making and left with the feeling of earning the win. But to win on the 1.25-mile oval at Gateway was a statement win, one that other people will notice and one that signaled he needs to be taken seriously as a title contender. "[It] just like kind of puts a stamp down a little bit, more like, 'Hey, this kid might actually be able to contend for a championship and do things,'" Kirkwood said. Could he win a championship? Kirkwood knows how to race for a title. He won titles in USF2000 in 2018, USF Pro 2000 in 2019 and Indy NXT in 2021. If he's going to compete for the 2025 championship, he will need to perform on the three types of circuits remaining in the final nine races — ovals (Iowa doubleheader, Milwaukee and Nashville), permanent road courses (Road America, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca and Portland) and one street circuit (Toronto). "Everybody knows you've got to be diverse in this series," Kirkwood said. "You've got to win at multiple circuits. You've got to win at multiple venues. "Whether it's a short oval, long oval, street course, road course, whatever it might be, you've got to win at all of them. [This is a] step in the right direction for sure." Racing on ovals is an acquired skill and often requires a driver to pounce when the opportunity presents itself. "Last year, to be honest, I was too timid on the restarts and starts and kept getting passed," Kirkwood said about returning to Gateway. "I had to be pretty aggressive and take more risks than I would have liked to, but it worked out." Coming up for Kirkwood and the INDYCAR drivers is Road America (Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX), where Palou has won in 2021 and 2023. Penske drivers Josef Newgarden (2022) and Will Power (2024) won the other most recent races. The last time an Andretti car won at Road America was with Alexander Rossi in 2019. Only Palou (five wins) and Kirkwood (three) have won races this year. Palou's wins have come at a variety of tracks with one on a street course (St. Petersburg), three on permanent road courses (Thermal, Barber, Indianapolis) and one on an oval with the Indy 500. "Everybody knows we're going to go to Road America next week and [Palou] is going to put on a show there and we'll have to do everything in our power to keep him from looking shiny once again on road courses," Kirkwood said. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
INDYCAR Power Rankings: There's a new No. 1 and his name is Kyle
Alex Palou still has a dominating lead in the INDYCAR point standings, but with Kyle Kirkwood capturing the last two races, there's a new driver on top of this power rankings list. Kirkwood earned his first career oval victory Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway (commonly known as Gateway). That followed his win on the streets of Detroit. With three wins this year, Kirkwood has shown the growth needed to be a major factor in the series. If not for a penalty at Indianapolis, he'd be just 51 points (instead of 75) behind Palou. Here are this week's power rankings heading into back-to-back races on permanent road courses at Road America and Mid-Ohio. Dropped out: Josef Newgarden (Last Week: 9) On the verge: David Malukas, Josef Newgarden, Felix Rosenqvist 10. Scott McLaughlin (LW: 7) McLaughlin's day ended 44 laps before the finish when he broke something in the left rear. The Team Penske driver had started second on the grid. He continues to have speed. He led 51 laps Sunday night. But he's not having the finishes he would like. 9. Marcus Armstrong (LW: Not Ranked) Armstrong finished ninth at Gateway, his third top 10 in the last four races. For the young Meyer Shank Racing driver, that type of consistency is key. 8. Colton Herta (LW: 6) Herta couldn't follow up his third-place run at Detroit with a solid finish. He placed 17th at Gateway, while Kirkwood — an Andretti teammate — won the race. 7. Santino Ferrucci (LW: 10) Ferrucci placed fifth at Gateway for his third consecutive top-five finish. The AJ Foyt Racing driver has moved up to 11th in the standings and would be eighth without the penalty for a driver's compartment weight violation in Detroit. 6. Will Power (LW: 5) Power blew a tire and hit the wall early in the race at Gateway, ending a promising event where he had won the pole — the 71st of his career and the series record. The Penske driver fell to seventh in the standings. 5. Christian Lundgaard (LW: 4) Lundgaard finished 14th, the last driver on the lead lap at Gateway. The Arrow McLaren driver started 14th, too. 4. Scott Dixon (LW: 8) Dixon finished fourth at Gateway, as he led 43 laps with a fast car and solid fuel strategy. The Ganassi driver is fifth in the series standings. 3. Pato O'Ward (LW: 3) O'Ward ran among the leaders the entire race and finished second. The Arrow McLaren driver might have been a tick off the fastest cars but made the right moves to secure the runner-up finish. 2. Alex Palou (LW: 1) Palou started ninth and finished eighth on what is arguably his worst track on the circuit. Plus, considering the points position he is in, he just needed a respectable finish. The Ganassi driver did just that. 1. Kyle Kirkwood (LW: 2) Who says Kirkwood can't win on ovals? Kirkwood won for the first time on an oval, showing his versatility. The Andretti driver continues to be the biggest threat to Palou for the championship. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lottery.com and Sports.com Showcase Multi-Series Talent in INDYCAR and INDY NXT at Gateway
Callum Ilott Helmet Louis Foster Posed Gateway Seb Murrary Car BAckground MADISON, Ill., June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It was a weekend of high drama, fast pace, and standout performances across both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone, as and drivers Callum Ilott, Louis Foster and Sebastian Murray took to the high-speed oval at World Wide Technology Raceway under the lights. With brand presence across all three cars, the weekend marked another milestone for Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRY, LTRYW) and further reinforcing their commitment to elite and emerging talent across the motorsport ladder. Callum Ilott: Commanding Drive Ends in Fuel-HeartbreakPREMA Racing's Callum Ilott produced a sensational performance in Gateway's 260-lap race. Starting from P16, the British driver carved his way through the field and was leading the race in the closing laps. Unfortunately, a fuel strategy gamble came up short, and Ilott was forced to pit with just four laps remaining, finishing P18. 'Today's result is hard to take in, especially when we were leading with just a handful of laps to go,' . 'The car felt really good all race, our pace was strong, and we made our pit stops at the right time. We'll come back stronger at Road America.' Ilott continues to fly the flag with high-visibility helmet branding, reaffirming his status as one of the most talented and composed drivers on the INDYCAR grid. Louis Foster: Blistering Pace and Unlucky End to a Promising RunLouis Foster, racing for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, once again showed front-running speed before a late-race incident ended his charge. The 21-year-old Brit had been running competitively inside the top 10 before catching the marbles and spinning into a high-speed crash, marking his second consecutive DNF despite showing strong form. 'I had wiggles all race, and just got too high onto the dark stuff where there's less grip. At that point, I was a complete passenger,. 'We were really fast—it's frustrating to end the weekend like that, but there's a lot to take forward.' Now fully backed through the end of the season with on his helmet and on the front wing endplates, Foster remains central to both brands' INDYCAR activation strategy. 'Louis continues to flash brilliance every time he's on track,' 'We're proud to support him and are confident he'll turn the corner and deliver the results his talent deserves.' Sebastian Murray: Strong INDY NXT Oval Debut Shows PotentialIn just his first-ever oval race, INDY NXT newcomer Sebastian Murray delivered a disciplined and mature drive. Starting mid-pack, Murray kept his nose clean and ultimately finished ahead of his starting position—an encouraging result as he builds experience in one of motorsport's toughest disciplines. 'It was a really good weekend. The team did a great job and it feels good to get the first oval out of the way,' . 'We made up some positions and fought our way through. If I'd gotten past a certain car earlier, I think we could've had a very different result.' With full branding support from and across his helmet, suit, rear wing, and endplates, Murray continues to exceed expectations. 'Sebastian kept it shiny-side-up and delivered a performance well beyond his experience level,' . 'He's taken to oval racing naturally—like a duck to water—and we're excited to watch his progression.' Next Up: Road AmericaThe and drivers now head to Road America in Wisconsin. The course is a known favorite for Foster who previously won there in Indy Pro 2000 and finished second in INDY NXT. 'To have three drivers across both series carrying our brands is a special moment,' . 'This weekend showed grit, speed, and the kind of excitement that we're proud to align with. Road America is next—and we're ready.' About Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRY, LTRYW) family of brands — including Tinbu and WinTogether, comprise a unified ecosystem that integrates gaming, entertainment, and sports. Follow the Company on X, Instagram and Facebook For more information, please visit or contact our media relations team at press@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Al Arabiya
Two-time Indy 500 winner Newgarden flips car, walks away from wreck in IndyCar race at Gateway
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden flipped his car upside down during Sunday night's race at Gateway outside St. Louis. Newgarden crashed midway through the race after contact with Louis Foster, who spun into the wall and shot across the track, stopping directly in Newgarden's path. Newgarden was unable to avoid the direct collision, and his car launched into the air, damaged the SAFER barrier, landed on its roof, and then skidded for a considerable distance. The IndyCar safety crew immediately helped Newgarden from his car, and he radioed his Team Penske crew he was fine. IndyCar's safety team had to turn the No. 2 Chevrolet back on its wheels after Newgarden was out of the car, and the race was under yellow for the cleanup. 'I got a bit of a wiggle … got a bit too high and went into the marbles,' Foster said. 'I just couldn't stop the car from spinning and obviously a pretty scary impact with myself and Josef. I'm glad he is OK.' Newgarden declined to comment after he was released from the medical center. Earlier in the race, Newgarden's teammate Will Power crashed when a cut tire caused him to hit the wall. Power had started on the pole. Team Penske is winless this season headed into Sunday night's race.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Two-time Indy 500 winner Newgarden flips car, walks away from wreck in IndyCar race at Gateway
MADISON, Ill. (AP) — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden flipped his car upside down during Sunday night's race at Gateway outside St. Louis. Newgarden crashed midway through the race after contact with Louis Foster. Newgarden skidded on his roof for a considerable distance after the collision with Foster. The IndyCar safety crew immediately helped Newgarden from his car and he radioed his Team Penske crew he was fine. IndyCar's safety team had to turn the No. 2 Chevrolet back on its wheels after Newgarden was out of the car and the race was under yellow for the clean up. Earlier in the race, Newgarden teammate Will Power crashed when a cut tire caused him to hit the wall. Power had started on the pole. Team Penske is winless this season headed into Sunday night's race ___ AP auto racing:
