Kyle Kirkwood claimed his third win of the 2025 IndyCar season at the World Wide Technology Raceway by narrowly defeating Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward in a close finish, with only half a second separating the two. The race, highlighted by intense competition and multiple lead changes, also saw Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen complete the podium.
Although Team Penske’s Will Power began the event on the pole position, he quickly lost the lead to David Malukas. Throughout the 260-lap contest, 14 of the 27 drivers led at least one lap, underscoring the race’s dynamic and competitive nature. Ultimately, Kirkwood’s endurance and skill allowed him to cross the finish line first, maintaining a slim margin over O’Ward.
Kyle Kirkwood Reflects on His Breakthrough Oval Victory
Prior to the 2025 season, Kyle Kirkwood had only two career wins in IndyCar. However, his recent performances have marked a turning point, including snapping Alex Palou’s winning streak at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Following that success, Kirkwood has now secured two victories in a row after the Indianapolis 500.
The 26-year-old Andretti Global driver expressed his excitement over securing his first oval win, a milestone that had eluded him for years. He said:
“My first oval win; I’m over the moon right now. Ovals have eluded me for a very long time, so it’s nice to get that first one and break that ice. An oval win and a road course win is what I wanted. I didn’t want people just to think of me as a street course guy or else they’ll just have me going to street courses. A little bit of job security there. This is a big one, a big one for the guys. This is huge, massive.” —Kyle Kirkwood, Driver
This victory has allowed Kirkwood to trim his points deficit to championship leader Alex Palou to 75 points, setting up an intriguing battle for the remainder of the season.
Complete Results from the 2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at WWTR
The top 27 finishers of the race are as follows, highlighting a diverse field of teams and manufacturers:
- Kyle Kirkwood (#27, Andretti Global Honda)
- Pato O’Ward (#5, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
- Christian Rasmussen (#21, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet)
- Scott Dixon (#9, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
- Santino Ferrucci (#14, AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet)
- Conor Daly (#76, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet)
- Rinus VeeKay (#18, Dale Coyne Racing Honda)
- Alex Palou (#10, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
- Marcus Armstrong (#66, Meyer Shank Racing Honda)
- Robert Shwartzman (#83, PREMA Racing Chevrolet)
- Alexander Rossi (#20, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet)
- David Malukas (#4, AJ Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet)
- Marcus Ericsson (#29, Andretti Global Honda)
- Christian Lundgaard (#7, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
- Kyffin Simpson (#8, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)
- Felix Rosenqvist (#60, Meyer Shank Racing Honda)
- Colton Herta (#26, Andretti Global Honda)
- Callum Illott (#90, PREMA Racing Chevrolet)
- Nolan Siegel (#6, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet)
- Sting Ray Robb (#77, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet)
- Jacob Abel (#51, Dale Coyne Racing Honda)
- Graham Rahal (#15, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda)
- Devlin DeFrancesco (#30, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda)
- Scott McLaughlin (#3, Team Penske Chevrolet)
- Josef Newgarden (#25, Team Penske Chevrolet)
- Louis Foster (#45, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Chevrolet)
- Will Power (#12, Team Penske Chevrolet)
What This Victory Means for the Championship and Season Outlook
Kyle Kirkwood’s win at WWTR represents a key moment in the 2025 IndyCar campaign, as he has demonstrated consistency and competitiveness across different types of circuits. His performance not only limits Alex Palou’s points lead but also solidifies his status as a serious championship contender. The narrow margin over Pato O’Ward highlights the growing intensity among the top drivers, ensuring more thrilling races ahead.
As the season progresses, Kirkwood’s breakthrough oval success suggests he is adapting well to various racing challenges, balancing his ability on both ovals and road courses. Meanwhile, Pato O’Ward remains a formidable rival, maintaining pressure for victories and crucial championship points.
The close finish at WWTR will likely escalate efforts from teams and drivers to refine strategies and car performance, making upcoming races an exciting prospect for fans and participants alike.