Sunday night under the lights at World Wide Technology Raceway delivered one of the most thrilling finishes of the 2025 INDYCAR season as Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood surged to his first career oval victory in the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. In a race that featured 254 on-track passes, strategy twists, and high-stakes drama, Kirkwood timed his charge perfectly, snatching the lead in the closing laps and crossing the finish line just 0.5398 seconds ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward.
Race Weekend at a Glance
- Date & Time: Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
- Track: 1.25-mile oval known for its unique egg shape and challenging Turns 1 and 2
- Race Distance: 260 laps (325 miles)
- Weather: Warm evening with clear skies and track temps around 105°F, making tire management critical
- Laps Led: Kirkwood led 8 laps, including the decisive final five to clinch victory
Qualifying Highlights
The weekend started with a statement from Team Penske as Will Power secured pole with a blistering two-lap average, claiming his record-extending 71st career pole. Scott McLaughlin locked out the front row, giving Penske the early advantage. Championship contender Álex Palou qualified fourth, while Kirkwood started deeper in the field in ninth, setting the stage for his late-race heroics.
Key Moments of the Race
- Lap 1 Shock: The drama began immediately when Devlin DeFrancesco lost control and hit the wall in Turn 2, bringing out an early caution. Teams scrambled to adjust pit strategies that would shape the rest of the night.
- Mid‑Race Trouble for Newgarden: Fan favorite Josef Newgarden, a five-time winner at Gateway, collided with rookie Louis Foster on Lap 134 while attempting an inside move in Turn 3. The incident damaged Newgarden’s front wing and ruined his chances for another victory on his best track.
- Pit Strategy Shuffle: Multiple cautions forced teams to stretch fuel windows and gamble on tire life. Andretti Global’s strategy to run long on the penultimate stint paid off, giving Kirkwood fresher tires for his final charge.
- Final Duel: With under ten laps remaining, Kirkwood chased down Pato O’Ward, making a daring move around the outside in Turn 1 on Lap 256. Despite pressure from O’Ward and traffic in the final laps, Kirkwood held his nerve and powered to the checkered flag.
Podium Finishers
| Position | Driver | Team | Margin Behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global (No. 27) | – |
| 2 | Pato O’Ward | Arrow McLaren (No. 5) | +0.5398 sec |
| 3 | Christian Rasmussen | Ed Carpenter Racing (No. 21) | +0.8890 sec |
Rasmussen’s podium was also a career-best finish on an oval, highlighting Ed Carpenter Racing’s steady improvement this season.
Impact & Implications
- Championship Picture: Kirkwood’s third win of the season closes the gap to points leader Álex Palou, setting up a tense championship battle as the series heads to Road America.
- Andretti Momentum: The win is a huge boost for Andretti Global, whose oval program has struggled in recent years. Kirkwood’s composure and race craft signal a turning point for the team’s competitiveness on short ovals.
- Oval Consistency: O’Ward’s runner-up marks his fourth career second-place finish at Gateway, underscoring both his consistency and lingering frustration at narrowly missing victory at the track.
- Fan Engagement: Sunday night’s primetime broadcast saw a significant spike in viewership, thanks to the close racing and late drama that has defined INDYCAR’s 2025 season.
Looking Ahead
The series now shifts to the fast, rolling hills of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, where high downforce setups and precise tire management will once again challenge the field. Kirkwood, riding a wave of momentum, hopes to keep the pressure on Palou and push his title bid deeper into the summer stretch.
