IndyCar heads into 2025 with a compelling mix of proven champions, emerging stars, and the constant shadow of Indianapolis looming over everything. The NTT IndyCar Series remains one of the most technically demanding and strategically rich categories in world motorsport, and the 2025 edition looks like a vintage year.
Palou’s Title Defence
Alex Palou has established himself as the dominant force in American open-wheel racing over the past few seasons. The Spaniard, who races for Chip Ganassi Racing, has a smooth, clinical style that extracts the maximum from whatever machinery he is given. Defending a title in IndyCar is notoriously difficult - the open formula and variable tracks mean no team maintains a consistent advantage - but Palou has the talent and team infrastructure to manage it.
Newgarden’s Quest for Redemption
Josef Newgarden has won the Indianapolis 500 back-to-back and is the most naturally gifted driver on the grid on his day. The Team Penske driver has shown he can perform under the most intense pressure in American motorsport. Getting all the variables to align over a full season has proved the challenge, but in 2025 Newgarden arrives with something to prove.
Pato O’Ward: Still Waiting
Pato O’Ward may be the most talented driver in IndyCar never to have won the championship. The Mexican’s speed is unquestioned - he is one of the fastest qualifiers on the grid and his overtaking ability is exceptional. Arrow McLaren give him the tools to compete at the front. Converting potential into a championship is the challenge for 2025.
The Ovals vs Road Courses Battle
IndyCar’s calendar is unique in world motorsport - it switches between street circuits, road courses, short ovals, and the superspeedways, culminating in the Indianapolis 500 in May. Different teams and drivers excel on different surfaces, making it almost impossible to maintain consistent pace through an entire season. This variety is exactly what makes IndyCar so compelling.
The Indianapolis 500
The 500 is the centrepiece of the season and one of the most important events in global motorsport. 33 cars, 200 laps, 500 miles at speeds approaching 240mph. It is simultaneously the most prestigious victory in American racing and, historically, one of the most unpredictable races in the world. Watch parties, radio commentaries, and multiple camera angles make it a genuine event rather than just a race.
How to Watch IndyCar
Peacock and USA Network carry IndyCar in the United States. Fox Sports Australia shows selected rounds. The Racing Line app provides a complete broadcast guide for every round in your region, with all session times converted to local time.
Our Championship Prediction
Palou to defend, with Newgarden pushing him all the way. If either driver has a run of poor results early in the season, expect O’Ward to seize his moment. The Indianapolis 500 winner will be someone entirely different from the eventual champion - that is just how IndyCar works.
