IndyCar
O’Ward Outduels Newgarden to Win Synk 275 powered by Sukup at Iowa Speedway
By INDYCAR Communications
NEWTON, IA (July 12, 2025) – Pato O’Ward again celebrated a victory in a monumental race at Iowa Speedway, this time at the expense of his NTT INDYCAR SERIES rival.
In the 100th series start of O’Ward’s career, the Arrow McLaren driver overcame Josef Newgarden’s dominating performance in the Synk 275 powered by Sukup with late-race execution featuring a pair of restarts in the final 14 laps.
This story is familiar. O’Ward and Newgarden continue to battle each other for race wins, with Newgarden’s signature win in the rivalry coming in the 2024 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. He passed O’Ward on the last lap.
This time, it was O’Ward making the winning moves. He had a quicker final pit stop to overtake the driver who led the race’s first 232 laps and seemed on his way to a record-extending seventh race win here. Then, following a red flag to repair the track’s Turn 4 wall, O’Ward kept the Team Penske driver behind him on restarts with 14 and nine laps remaining.
O’Ward’s margin of victory in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was .2352 of a second, the closest Iowa finish since 2007 when Dario Franchitti edged Marco Andretti by .0861 of a second.
In oval races where these two drivers finished first and second, O’Ward last got the better of Newgarden in 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway. He had finished second to Newgarden in four other oval races since that day in Fort Worth.
“Josef is the master at these races – he rules around here, so I knew that we had to be spot-on,” O’Ward said. “I was so precise on the in lap to beat him at his own game.
“We’ve had so many duels, Josef and I, but he has a percentage that comes out on top more. Today is the day that changes.”
Coincidentally, O’Ward scored his first victory at this short oval in 2022, and it was the 50th series start. Also that day, O’Ward had Team Penske drivers in his mirrors – it was Will Power followed by Scott McLaughlin. This time, O’Ward led a trio of Roger Penske’s men to the to the finish line: Newgarden, Power and McLaughlin, respectively.
While O’Ward won his first race of the season, he denied Team Penske its first win of the year. One of the three of them had won eight of the past nine series races at Iowa, including doubleheader sweeps each of the past two years. McLaughlin had charged from the last starting position – 27th – after crashing in qualifying earlier in the day.
Chevrolet had its best result of the season, finishing 1-2-3-4 and winning the first time this year.
Newgarden led more than 100 laps for the 14th time in his career and the 10th time at this track. He was disappointed to let this one get away.
“O’Ward got track position and that was game over,” he said. “It was as simple as that.”
The dash to the finish was set up by the Turn 4 accident of O’Ward’s teammate, Nolan Siegel. After running in the top 10 most of the race, Siegel spun into the wall, contact that damaged the energy-absorbing SAFER Barrier. INDYCAR issued a red-flag stoppage to preserve the remaining few laps as workers patched the wall.
O’Ward got a noticeable jump on Newgarden on the first restart, but PREMA Racing’s Callum Ilott drifted high on that lap and brushed the Turn 1 wall. As Ilott was able to get to the pits without much trouble, the race restarted with nine laps remaining.
Newgarden got a better run on O’Ward on that try, but on the second time around the No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet almost got away from him in Turn 1. O’Ward was able to slip away a bit, eating up laps that would have been valuable to Newgarden’s bid.
Trailing the Penske cars to the finish was Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, the series points leader who finished fifth. Palou lost seven points off his lead as O’Ward used the victory to jump to second in the standings, but the driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda still holds a 106-point cushion with six races to go.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood took a big hit in both the race and in points when his No. 27 Sukup Honda veered hard into the Turn 1 wall on Lap 153. An issue with the right-front corner of the car appeared to cause the excursion. That was the second accident of the day as he crashed at the other end of the track after appearing to get too low in Turn 3.
Kirkwood not only lost a standings position to O’Ward, Palou pulled away by another 27 points, putting the season’s three-time winner 140 points in arrears.
On the race’s 75th lap, series rookie Jacob Abel saw his No. 51 Abel Construction Honda drift high in Turn 2, where he, too, hit the wall. Neither he nor Kirkwood were injured.
The second half of the weekend doubleheader will be staged Sunday with the Farm to Finish 275 powered by Sukup with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 16, 2025) – The NTT IndyCar Series announced at 17-race schedule for the 2026 season, adding a race in Arlington, TX, (previously announced), returning to Phoenix, AZ as part of a NASCAR/IndyCar Weekend. Additional changes include Laguna Seca replacing Nashville as the season finale and Milwaukee goes back to being a double-header. Nashville moves to mid-season and will be a night race that Fox Sports will air following the soccer World Cup finale.
“Our growth is industry-leading and will only accelerate faster as we continue our powerful partnership with FOX Sports and increase investment in our events,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule provides a dynamic showcase for our sport and its stars, blending fan-favorite race weekends with incredible showcases at exciting new venues. We cannot wait for 2026.”
“We’re going to kickstart the season in fitting fashion, with four races in five weeks,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “Our joint weekend in partnership with NASCAR and FOX at Phoenix Raceway will be a can’t-miss for motorsport fans across the country and a truly special celebration of fast, fearless racing across the motorsport landscape.”
| Date | Venue | Television |
| Sunday, March 1 | Streets of St. Petersburg | FOX |
| Saturday, March 7 | Phoenix Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, March 15 | Streets of Arlington | FOX |
| Sunday, March 29 | Barber Motorsports Park | FOX |
| Sunday, April 19 | Streets of Long Beach | FOX |
| Saturday, May 9 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course | FOX |
| Sunday, May 24 | The 110th Indianapolis 500 | FOX |
| Sunday, May 31 | Streets of Detroit | FOX |
| Sunday, June 7 | World Wide Technology Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, June 21 | Road America | FOX |
| Sunday, July 5 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | FOX |
| Sunday, July 19 | Nashville Superspeedway | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 9 | Portland International Raceway | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 16 | Streets of Markham | FOX |
| Saturday, Aug. 29 | Milwaukee Mile Race 1 | FOX |
| Sunday, Aug. 30 | Milwaukee Mile Race 2 | FOX |
| Sunday, Sept. 6 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | FOX |
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is barely into the off-season and the dominos are starting to fall in regard to driver movement within the paddock. Check back between now and the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to keep track of all the changes.
David Malukas to drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for Team Penske beginning in 2026
(September 18, 2025 10:00 a.m.) – Team Penske announced today that it has signed David Malukas to a multiyear agreement to drive the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season and beyond. The 23-year-old becomes just the second driver to race the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet made famous by two-time Series Champion (2014, 2022) and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power.
“We are excited to add David Malukas as the next driver of the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet,” said team owner Roger Penske. “We feel that Team Penske will provide David everything needed to take the next step in his career, and we are confident that he will continue the great legacy of the Verizon Chevrolet.”
“Racing for Team Penske is the goal for every young racecar driver, and I am honored to be one that gets to live out that dream,” said Malukas. “Will Power is one of the legends of our sport and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet is one of the most-recognized cars on the grid. These are big shoes to fill, but I look at it as an opportunity because I know that it is one of the best teams in the paddock.”
Andretti Global signs Will Power to 2026 IndyCar Lineup
(September 3, 2025 12:30 p.m.) – Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power is joining Andretti Global for the 2026 INDYCAR Season. Power is moving into the No. 26 Honda seat that was vacated by Colton Herta (see below).
“We couldn’t think of a better driver than Will Power to fill Colton’s shoes here at Andretti and take the wheel of the No. 26 Honda,” said Jill Gregory, COO, TWG Motorsports and President, Andretti Global. “Will is a fierce competitor whose record speaks for itself. Additionally, he’s a great personality and we feel he’ll be a strong fit for the team culturally as well.”
“I just want to say how excited I am to be joining Andretti Global,” said Power in a statement. “I can’t thank Dan [Towriss], Jill [Gregory] and the team enough for this opportunity. Colton is someone that I’ve been massively impressed with for a while. He has a lot of natural ability, and I think he’s going to do a great job over in Europe. I’m excited to watch him and will work to step in and do everyone on the 26 team proud.”
Cadillac F1 Team names Colton Herta as Test Driver
(September 3, 2025 11:30 a.m.) – Colton Herta is joining the Cadillac F1 team as a test driver it was announced on Wednesday. Herta will serve as a test driver as the team prepares to join the F1 grid for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team as a Test Driver,” Herta said in a statement. “This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working towards for a long time. To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time is something I couldn’t pass up.”
“We are delighted to welcome Colton Herta as a Test Driver,” said Graeme London, Team Principal, Cadillac Formula 1 Team, in a statement. “Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years. His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.
“Having an American driver join an American Formula 1 team is a hugely significant moment, not only for our Team, but for American motorsport as a whole. Colton represents the passion, ambition, and competitive spirit that define the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, and we are proud to have him carry the American flag with us on the world stage.”
Penske Confirms Power Is Out
(September 2, 2025) – Will Power’s tenure at Team Penske is over after being speculated for most of the year and finally confirmed in a statement released by the team Tuesday morning.
“As we sat down to talk about our future together, Will felt that it was time for him to make a change beginning with next season,” Roger Penske said in the statement. “He has been an outstanding driver and teammate for our organization. His results speak for themselves, and we wish him the very best in the next phase of his career.”
Power, Team Penske’s winningest and most successful driver, scored 42 of his 45-IndyCar wins with Penske capturing two Championships and one Indianapolis 500 victory.
Power was not offered a contract extension entering this season despite three wins and fourth place in the 2024 Championship standings.
“It’s been the honor of my life to drive for Roger and the Penske organization,” said Power in a statement. “We have accomplished so much together, and I will always be grateful for my time with the team and my teammates who have supported me along the way. After much consideration, I felt like a change for me was the right move at this time.”
Power is reportedly joining Andretti Global to replace Colton Herta, who is reportedly going to race in F2 in an attempt to secure enough Super License points to qualify for an F1 seat in 2027.
VeeKay departs Dale Coyne Racing
(September 2, 2025) – One of the best pairings in 2025 is coming to an end as Rinus VeeKay announced that he is departing Dale Coyne Racing after one season.
VeeKay posted his thanks on his Social Media feeds on Tuesday.
“I want to thank Dale Coyne Racing and in particular Dale and Gail for the opportunity they gave me to re-establish myself in 2025. This year was genuinely the most enjoyable year in my career as an IndyCar driver. Especially big thanks to Renato, JC, Nico, Carlo, Brennan, John, Ryan, Matthew, Conner, Ed and Michael, Carrie and Michele for giving your best effort every single session as the 18 crew. This season and its lessons will stay with me forever.”
Coyne is expected to name VeeKay’s replacement and the rest of his lineup by the end of October.
By INDYCAR Communications
LEBANON, TN (August 31, 2025) – Sweet relief finally arrived at home, sweet home after the most frustrating of seasons for Josef Newgarden.
Nashville-area native Newgarden broke a 20-race drought dating back to August 2024 to earn his first victory of 2025 and 32nd of his illustrious NTT INDYCAR SERIES career at his home track Sunday, winning the season-ending Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by WillScot at Nashville Superspeedway.
SEE: Race Results
“Glad we got one without anything going wrong,” Newgarden said. “Happy to celebrate this team. They deserve it. It’s rewarding for our team. Tough, tough year, but good to get a win at the end.”
Two-time series champion Newgarden drove his No. 2 Astemo Team Penske Chevrolet to victory by .5021 of a second over the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of four-time and reigning series champion Alex Palou, who celebrated with the Astor Challenge Cup for the third straight year in post-race ceremonies.
“It’s been an amazing season for us,” Palou said. “I just had the pleasure to be the driver of that No. 10 DHL Honda car, to get so many wins and so many podiums this year.”
Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Team Penske Chevrolet after prevailing in a stirring duel down the stretch of the 225-lap race with Kyffin Simpson in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. It’s just the second time this season that Team Penske – the most winning team in INDYCAR SERIES history – put two drivers on the podium.
Simpson capped a strong second season in the series by holding on to fourth for his best career oval result. Conor Daly rounded out the top five in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Chevrolet after starting 24th, gaining more spots than any driver in the race.
Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing hung on to clinch the series Rookie of the Year honors by just two points over Robert Shwartzman of PREMA Racing. Foster finished 20th in the No. 45 Desnuda Tequila Honda, while Shwartzman was 14th in the No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet.
Newgarden took the lead for good on Lap 205 when he passed McLaughlin when McLaughlin’s car drifted off the racing line and brushed the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2, triggering the fourth and final caution period of the frenetic race.
On the restart on Lap 214, Newgarden rocketed away while Palou – who remarkably clawed back to the front despite a flat right front tire early in the race – dove under McLaughlin for second place in Turn 1.
But Palou never could catch Newgarden over the final 11 laps, as the reigning series champion admitted he lacked the confidence to put his car in the higher groove where Newgarden, McLaughlin, Daly and others did some of their best, most breathtaking passing of the race.
The joyous relief was palpable for Newgarden after the race when he stopped his car on the front straightaway and climbed into the grandstands to exult with fans, reminiscent of his celebrations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after winning the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in 2023 and 2024.
“I think we should be racing in Nashville to end the championship all the time,” Newgarden said. “We don’t need to need to go anywhere else. It’s great to be home. Pumped, just pumped.”
It was a fitting ending to a race that featured so many twists, turns and heartbreak that nearly everyone who watched it probably needed a moment to exhale after the checkered flag. There were 284 passes for position, including 130 in the top 10 and 74 in the top five – all series records for Nashville Superspeedway.
McLaughlin wasn’t the only driver to lose the lead due to hitting the SAFER Barrier. NTT P1 Award winner Pato O’Ward led a race-high 116 laps from the pole in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, but his race ended in heartbreak when a flat right front tire pushed him into the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 on Lap 127.
David Malukas was running in second on Lap 83 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises when he backed hard into the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2 after side-by-side contact from Foster, who was penalized for blocking. Malukas was awake and alert after the incident, according to INDYCAR Medical Director Dr. Julia Vaizer, and was released from a local hospital following precautionary evaluation and advanced imaging.
Christian Rasmussen, who earned his first career victory last Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, saw his chance for a repeat end on Lap 1 when his No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet wiggled in traffic and hit the SAFER Barrier in Turn 2.
The varying pit and tire strategies spawned by these accidents and caution periods resulted in 12 of the 27 drivers leading at least one lap and 20 lead changes, both series records at this track.
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