The NTT IndyCar Series rolls into the heart of Wisconsin for Round 9 of the 2025 season: the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America, held on Sunday, June 22 at 1:30 PM ET. Set against the lush backdrop of Elkhart Lake, this 4.014-mile, 14-turn permanent road course is a fan and driver favorite—known for its high-speed straights, technical corners, and elevation changes.
Race Details
Event: XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
Location: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Distance: 55 laps / 220.77 miles
Broadcast: FOX (TV), SiriusXM 218, IndyCar Radio, Fox Sports App (streaming)
Weather: Partly cloudy, high near 90°F
Starting Grid – Top 10 Qualifiers
Louis Foster (RLL Racing) – Pole position, 1:44.5141
Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Kyle Kirkwood (Andretti Global)
Scott McLaughlin (Team Penske)
Christian Lundgaard (Arrow McLaren)
Graham Rahal (RLL Racing)
David Malukas
Will Power (Team Penske)
Callum Ilott
Josef Newgarden (Team Penske)
Storylines to Watch
Alex Palou’s Rebound Mission
The championship leader and 2025 Indy 500 winner has cooled off with finishes of 25th and 8th in his last two races. But Road America is his playground—he’s won here twice (2021, 2023) and finished 4th last year. Expect a bounce-back performance.
Louis Foster’s Breakout Opportunity
The rookie from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing stunned the paddock by grabbing his first career pole. After a string of tough races, this could be his breakthrough moment.
Kyle Kirkwood’s Hot Streak
With back-to-back wins at Detroit and Gateway, Kirkwood is tied with Palou for most wins this season (3). He’s never won on a permanent road course but finished 5th here in 2024.
Team Penske’s Redemption Arc
After a disastrous outing in St. Louis, Penske returns to the site of its 2024 1-2-3 sweep. Will Power, Josef Newgarden, and Scott McLaughlin all need a strong showing to revive their seasons.
Technical Notes
Push-to-Pass: 200 seconds total, max 20 seconds per use
Tire Allotment: 6 primary (black), 5 alternate (red); rookies get 1 extra primary
Hybrid System: This is the first Road America race with IndyCar’s new hybrid unit—expect strategic variability
Championship Standings (Top 5)
| Position | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Alex Palou | 5 wins |
| 2 | Pato O’Ward | — |
| 3 | Kyle Kirkwood | 3 wins |
| 4 | Will Power | — |
| 5 | Scott McLaughlin | — |
Note: Palou and Kirkwood have dominated the win column, but O’Ward leads Kirkwood in points due to consistency.
Prediction
Winner: Alex Palou – He’s due for a rebound and has the track record to back it up.
Podium: Palou, Kirkwood, Lundgaard
Dark Horse: Louis Foster – If he holds his nerve, a podium isn’t out of reach.
DRIVER ODDS
Alex Palou – 110
Louis Foster + 500
Kyle Kirkwood + 550
Scott McLaughlin + 650
Josef Newgarden + 900
Christian Lundgaard + 1100
Will Power + 1200
Pato O’Ward + 1200
David Malukas + 1800
Graham Rahal + 2500
Colton Herta + 2500
Scott Dixon + 4000
Felix Rosenqvist + 4000
Santino Ferrucci + 6000
Marcus Ericsson + 6000
Marcus Armstrong + 6000
Callum Ilott + 6000
Rinus Veekay + 10000
Nolan Siegel + 10000
Devlin DeFrancesco + 10000
Christian Rasmussen + 10000
Alexander Rossi + 10000
Robert Shwartzman + 15000
Kyffin Simpson + 20000
Conor Daly + 20000
Sting Ray Robb + 30000
Jacob Abel + 30000
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, June 21, 2025
