Image courtesy of Motorsport
Josef Newgarden triumphed at his home track, the Nashville Superspeedway, claiming victory in the 17th and final round of the 2025 IndyCar season. Starting from sixth, Newgarden worked his way forward methodically before taking control in the last ten laps. A late restart reshuffled the order, but he held firm at the front, keeping a steady gap to four-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou until the chequered flag. Newgarden’s win ended his year-long winless streak stretching back to August 2024, boasting his 32nd career IndyCar victory.
Alex Palou, who had already secured the drivers’ championship two races previously, placed second despite suffering a puncture mid-race which forced him to pit earlier than his competitors. A bold undercut during the final round of pit stops bumped him into the lead, and he controlled the pace until Newgarden closed in. Scott McLaughlin came home third, delivering a rare double-podium for Team Penske amidst their turbulent season.
The race itself was full of drama and multiple race incidents. Pole-sitter Pato O’Ward looked to have the race in hand until Lap 127, when his right-front tire failed at speed, sending him hard into the wall from the lead. Palou also suffered a tire issue but successfully managed to bring the car back to pit lane without further damage. Earlier in the race, David Malukas was involved in a frightening accident after tangling with new ‘Rookie of the Year’ winner, Louis Foster. Malukas slammed into the wall and was later airlifted to a nearby hospital for precautionary checks. Foster was penalised for avoidable contact yet finished in 20th, while Malukas was reported to be conscious and in stable condition.
Concluding the NTT IndyCar Series 2025 Championship, Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou won the Drivers’ Championship with 711 points, ahead of Arrow Mclaren driver Pato O’Ward who finished with 515 points. Third place was in close contention until the final race, where Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon claimed the position by a mere 19-point margin from Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood.
