Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood has reflected on his fierce competition with Alex Palou in the 2025 IndyCar championship. Both drivers are leading the field, with Palou and Kirkwood capturing wins in the first nine races of this season, turning their rivalry into a gripping contest.
As the reigning IndyCar champion, Palou has claimed six victories this season, including wins at St. Petersburg, Thermal Club, Alabama, the Indianapolis road course, the Indy 500, and the recent XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. Meanwhile, Kyle Kirkwood has secured three Grand Prix wins at Long Beach, Detroit, and St. Louis. Discussing their close championship battle in an interview with Always Race Day, Kirkwood described the ongoing contest:
“We are having a good championship run here. It’s just unfortunate that Palou is doing just such a great job. End of the day, they are Honda wins, which is good for us, but we wanna take it to him in the championship, and it’s been really hard to claw back at him, which we did for a couple of races, but he once again pulled away a little bit. So it’s a little bit of cat and mouse with him.” —Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global driver
Currently, Palou leads the championship standings with 386 points, while Kirkwood holds second place at 293 points. In third is Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward, who has accumulated 275 points so far.
Kyle Kirkwood’s Perspective on His Fourth-Place Finish at Road America
Kirkwood’s 2025 season has demonstrated remarkable consistency, as he frequently finishes near the top even when not winning. This steady performance has allowed him to remain a serious contender as the season progresses. At the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, starting from third on the grid, Kirkwood battled through a challenging 55-lap race and finished in fourth place behind winner Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist, and Santino Ferrucci.
Reflecting on his performance after the race, Kirkwood said on Andretti Global’s official website:
“That was a good result. I will definitely take fourth with the kind of performance that we had there. I mean, man, that was a crazy race. Especially since the first half of it was a split strategy.” —Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global driver
What’s Next: The Upcoming Challenge at Mid-Ohio
Looking ahead, the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 6 will be critical for Kirkwood. With a 93-point deficit behind Palou, Kirkwood needs an exceptional showing to close the gap in the championship race. Given the intense rivalry so far this season, this upcoming race promises to add another chapter to the tightly contested battle between these two leading drivers.
The ongoing competition remains a focal point of the IndyCar series, with both Kirkwood and Palou pushing their limits, supported by Honda-powered teams. Fans and experts alike anticipate that the next races will be decisive in determining who ultimately claims the 2025 IndyCar title.