The 21st annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg roared to life on March 2, marking the start of the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series with an exhilarating 100-lap showdown on the sun-drenched streets of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. With downtown streets transformed into a 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary circuit—snaking past landmarks like the Dali Museum, Bayshore Drive, and the Albert Whitted Airport runway—this season opener lived up to its reputation for dramatic racing.
Grid & Early Chaos
Scott McLaughlin clinched pole in his #3 Team Penske Chevrolet with a blistering lap of 59.4624 seconds. But high drama unfolded almost immediately: on lap 1, a collision took out Nolan Siegel, Will Power, and Louis Foster, triggering a caution that bunched the field and upended early strategies.
Strategic Shift Fuels Palou’s Rise
Reigning IndyCar champ Álex Palou (No. 10 Chip Ganassi Honda) started eighth but showcased tactical brilliance and patient driving. With a perfectly timed undercut pit stop on lap 73, Palou leapfrogged competitors and seized clean air. He defended relentlessly through lapped traffic and held firm to secure his first-ever win in St. Pete.
Podium Finishers & Championship Impact
Palou crossed the line 2.87 seconds ahead of teammate Scott Dixon, who overcame significant adversity—driving the final 90 laps without radio communication. Dixon’s grit secured a remarkable second place for Chip Ganassi Racing. Josef Newgarden, aboard the #2 Team Penske Chevrolet, rounded out the podium, also recording the fastest lap of the race on lap 89 (1:01.6900).
Top five finishers included McLaughlin in fourth and Andretti rookie Kyle Kirkwood claiming fifth.
Winners & Losers of the Weekend
The race shifted fortunes for several front-runners. Pato O’Ward, afflicted by a puncture from lap 1 contact, climbed only to 11th, while Colton Herta was hampered by pit stop delays and finished 16th. In sharp contrast, Oliver Lundgaard—though not contending for victory—applied pressure with tire strategy, forcing Dixon and Palou to adapt.
Fertilizing the Championship Battle
Palou’s triumph puts him atop the championship standings with seven bonus points, ten ahead of Dixon and fifteen clear of Newgarden. It’s a strong statement from the reigning two-time Astor Cup champion as he begins his campaign for a third consecutive IndyCar title.
Community & Broadcast Highlights
The race weekend kicked off with fan events including the INDYCAR Party in the Park and a fun 5K around North Straub Park on Feb. 27. Street parades, driver meet‑and‑greets, food trucks, and music helped turn downtown into a festive racing carniva.
Broadcast-wise, FOX Sports premiered its new lineup, delivering live coverage of all sessions—including qualifying and practice—on FS1/FS2 and the main race on FOX at 12 p.m. ET, boosting IndyCar’s media reach for 2025.
Looking Ahead
St. Petersburg set the tone for an intense 2025 season. With power players like Palou, Dixon, and Newgarden exhibiting top form and promising rookies already making impact, IndyCar’s journey continues next at Road America before circling back to the iconic Indianapolis 500. For now, downtown St. Pete basks in the afterglow of a thrilling opener—and the quest for that coveted third crown lies ahead.