Pursuit of Alex Palou Resumes at Road America
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES resumes its season this weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, marking the start of the second half of the championship chase. Drivers will compete in the 55-lap XPEL Grand Prix of Road America on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, broadcast on FOX, with the prestigious Astor Challenge Cup standing as the ultimate prize for the series leader.
The 4.014-mile permanent road course at Road America is historically difficult for back-of-the-pack starters; in the last 11 races, no winner has started deeper than ninth, and the furthest any victor has traveled to win was 13th place in 2004.
The Championship Landscape
Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing enters the weekend as the prohibitive title favorite, holding a 49-point lead in the standings. Palou has demonstrated dominance at this venue, winning three of the past five races at Road America. Since the start of last season, he has secured 12 victories in 26 races, placing him in a strong position to become only the second driver in series history to claim four consecutive season championships.
Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global sits second in the points standings and is viewed as the primary challenger to Palou’s lead. David Malukas of Team Penske follows in third, trailing the leader by 68 points. While Palou remains the frontrunner, the season has seen five different winners, leaving 20 drivers in the field still searching for their first victory of the year.
Samantha Carter notes that the momentum shift following the mid-season break is critical for title hopefuls. Because Palou has historically performed well at the remaining venues—including a strong record at the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca—competitors must capitalize on the upcoming stretch of races to prevent the championship from becoming mathematically out of reach before the final round.
What Happens Next?
The series will maintain a high-intensity schedule, featuring three races over the next five weekends. Following this stretch, teams will move into an August sprint consisting of five races leading up to the Sept. 6 finale at Laguna Seca. For those chasing Palou, analysts expect this period to be the defining window for any potential comeback, as the points leader has secured victories in three of the past four races at the season-ending track.
Weekend Schedule
On-track activity begins Friday with the first practice session at 4 p.m. ET on FS2. Saturday’s schedule includes a second practice at 11 a.m. ET and qualifying for the NTT P1 Award at 2 p.m. ET, both on FS1. Sunday’s pre-race warmup is set for 11 a.m. ET on FS1, followed by the main event at 2 p.m. ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES points heading into Road America?
Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing holds the lead with a 49-point advantage over the rest of the field.
How many drivers have won a race this season?
Five drivers have secured victories so far: Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, and Felix Rosenqvist.
What is the average starting position for a winner at Road America?
The average starting position for a winner at this track is 3.8, based on the results of the past 11 races.
Which driver in the current field do you think has the best chance to disrupt Alex Palou’s momentum this weekend?