Will Power acknowledged Honda’s overwhelming advantage at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course after just the initial practice session on Friday, July 5, as the IndyCar race weekend kicked off. Honda has maintained an unbroken winning streak across all nine races so far this season, while Chevrolet continues to struggle to keep pace.
The current reigning series champion, Alex Palou, has claimed victory in six of those contests, with Kyle Kirkwood adding three wins for Honda. Power, driving the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet, found himself 21st fastest out of 27 drivers in the first practice, behind seven Honda-powered competitors. Kirkwood, behind the wheel of the No. 27 Honda, topped the timesheets in practice.
During the post-practice IndyCar press conference, Power was asked if Chevrolet had any realistic chance to score a breakthrough win at the Honda Indy 200 on Sunday. The two-time IndyCar champion gave a candid answer, stating:
“No, this is a Honda track, so I have zero… I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe we… I don’t know. I would have said like four races ago, we were going to win one. It’s a bit shocking that we haven’t. It’s very difficult to say. We’ll do our best.”
—Will Power, IndyCar Driver
Chevrolet’s best opportunity this season appeared at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 held on the World Wide Technology Raceway short oval. Team Penske’s trio, all running Chevys, qualified in the Top 5, with Power grabbing pole position. However, each driver retired due to separate incidents during the race. Kyle Kirkwood, starting from tenth position in his Honda, ultimately took the win, while Chevrolet’s Pato O’Ward finished second.
Challenges Behind Multiple Spins in Mid-Ohio’s Opening Practice Session
The first practice session for the 2025 Honda Indy 200 featured several drivers losing control of their cars, particularly spinning out when the rear tires lost grip. Power narrowly avoided a significant incident in Group 2 near the end of the session, nearly sliding off track at Turn 4.
Power went slightly off the racing line onto the grass but managed to regain control without crashing. He later explained that handling the new heavier hybrid-powered cars poses a considerable challenge for drivers trying to maintain grip and control.
“It’s really hard to catch the car once it gets to a certain point,” he said. “With that weight, it just, phew! Just keeps going. You keep sliding, and then you get to the edge of the dirtiest part of the line. Had it happen at Elkhart Lake (Road America), just so much weight to control and catch.”
—Will Power, IndyCar Driver
Among the drivers affected early on was rookie Jacob Abel, who was the first to lose the rear and spin. Others included David Malukas, who suffered a heavy impact with the barriers and ended up beached in the gravel, and Colton Herta, who experienced two separate slides, the second resulting in a crash into the barriers. Pato O’Ward and Scott McLaughlin also spun but managed to avoid damage.
Looking Ahead to Qualifying and Race Day at Mid-Ohio
Qualifying for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is set to take place at 2:30 PM Eastern Time on Saturday, with live race coverage scheduled for 1 PM Eastern Time on Sunday. The continuing success of Honda and the difficulties Chevrolet are facing will be central storylines as teams seek a breakthrough in this important mid-season event.
The ongoing dominance by Honda at this venue underscores the competitive gap between the two engine suppliers, raising questions about Chevrolet’s potential adjustments. Power’s frank assessment and the visible practice struggles emphasize the uphill battle Chevrolet faces to mount a challenge on a track that currently favors Honda power.
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