PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN-The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES passed its halfway mark on Sunday, as 27 drivers embarked upon a strategic race around the brutal breaking zones and bends of Road America, nestled in the rolling hills of Wisconsin.
Alex Palou executed a genius fuel-saving strategy throughout the 55-laps to claim victory in the XPEL Grand Prix, securing a sixth win in 9 races this season. The opening half of the race was marked by frequent disruptions, with five caution periods in the first 30 laps bringing early retirements for Robert Shwartzman, Sting Ray Robb, and Josef Newgarden.
However, the repeated yellow flags added a layer of strategic complexity, particularly in fuel management, which proved decisive in the closing stages of the race. As the race progressed into its final third, pit strategy took on heightened importance, with drivers making their final stops approximately 15 laps from the finish. Scott Dixon was the f irst to attempt his final refuel, leveraging his renowned skill in fuel conservation.
However, with 17 laps remaining, Dixon’s bold strategy hinged on the timely intervention of a late-race caution to enable him to complete the race on this final tank of fuel. When Palou made his final pit stop on lap 40, Dixon emerged ahead, taking control of the race for the remaining 15 laps. Palou, however, strategically conserved fuel by closely following Dixon’s aerodynamic draft, biding his time until lap 53 of 55. At that point, Dixon’s ambitious fuel strategy unravelled, forcing him to pit for additional fuel and hand the lead back to Palou.
Meanwhile, Alexander Rossi, also struggling with fuel consumption while running third behind Palou, made his final pit stop on lap 51. This allowed Felix Rosenqvist to advance into a podium position. Rosenqvist then set the fastest lap of the race on his final trip around the 14-turn Road America circuit, but it was insufficient to pose a serious challenge to Palou’s lead. The final podium position was taken by Santino Ferrucci, who managed to conserve his fuel effectively to secure yet another top 5 finish.
Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood remain the only two drivers to see victory in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR series, with Kirkwood now sitting 93 points behind Palou in the Championship standings.
The 2025 season resumes after a week-long break, with the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on the 6 July.
.jpg){kind=link}