INDYCAR: KIRKWOOD CLAIMS FIRST OVAL WIN AT GATEWAY

Twists, turns, and a fiery finish — the Bommarito 500, round eight of the 2025 IndyCar Series, lived up to its reputation for drama. On the oval at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, it was Kyle Kirkwood who stole the spotlight, earning his first-ever victory on an oval — his third win of the season and second in a row after triumphing in Detroit — marking another milestone in his rapid rise.

For the Florida native and the Andretti team, it was a vital confirmation of their title credentials, establishing them as the only real challengers to Alex Palou in the championship hunt. The win came after a race defined by speed, composure, and razor-sharp strategy. Having run steadily within the top five, Kirkwood capitalized perfectly on a caution triggered by David Malukas, who hit the wall after drifting off-line, to vault into third place.

He wasted no time after the restart, making a bold move to pass Pato O’Ward, then pulling off a perfectly timed splash-and-go to snatch the lead from Scott Dixon, who had controlled the race up to that point. It was a win built on brains as much as bravery.

Behind him, Pato O’Ward once again saw victory slip away in the closing laps. The Arrow McLaren driver, strong all day, had to settle for second — a frustratingly familiar position in what’s become a bittersweet season. Rounding out the podium was a fresh face: Christian Rasmussen secured his first-ever IndyCar podium despite a fire scare during his first pit stop — a gutsy performance from the young Dane.

Scott Dixon, a major force during the race’s middle stages, dropped to fourth at the checkered flag. Right behind him, Santino Ferrucci continued his strong run of form with a fifth-place finish, building on his Detroit podium. Conor Daly took sixth, followed by Rinus VeeKay, while a quiet Alex Palou — the series points leader — salvaged an eighth-place finish in a race where he never truly threatened the front-runners.

Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman completed the top ten, with Shwartzman delivering a standout performance for Team Prema. It was a banner day for the Italian squad, as both drivers ran close to the points all race. The Russian steadily climbed through the field after a strong start, while Callum Ilott — who had even led the race just a few laps from the end — was forced to make an extra pit stop that dropped him to 18th. Still, the overall outlook for Prema was positive: this was their best weekend yet in their young IndyCar journey.

One of the race’s most dramatic moments came with the crash involving Josef Newgarden. While leading the field, the Penske driver suddenly encountered a spinning Louis Foster directly in his path. The impact was unavoidable, sending Newgarden’s car into a spectacular flip. Thankfully, both drivers walked away uninjured, but for Team Penske, it was a Sunday to forget.

None of their three cars made it to the finish: Will Power, who started from pole, hit the wall after a tire puncture while running in second, severely damaging his suspension. Scott McLaughlin also retired with a rear suspension failure after featuring prominently early on.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.