Race Preview: 2025 Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at WWT Raceway
After a very well deserved week off following a tumultuous Month of May, the NTT Indycar series is back in action this weekend (June 13-15) for the 16th edition of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, held at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 1.25 mile oval, located just outside St. Louis in Madison, Illinois, finds itself earlier on the schedule than in recent years, now being the first short oval race of the season.
Track and Race Details
The race will be a total of 260 laps, for a distance of 325 miles and over 500 kilometers. Strategy is simpler than at road or street circuits, given that there is a singular tire compound, and an absence of push-to-pass. This will also be the first track to host multiple weekends during the hybrid system era, giving teams more of an idea of what to expect than in other races this season.
Dixon vs Newgarden
Each of the last five Indycar series races at WWT Raceway has been won by either the six time champion, or the two time Indy 500 winner. Scott Dixon took victory in 2020 and 2023, with Josef Newgarden visiting victory lane in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Though neither driver has had the opening months to their season that one might expect, this is a top opportunity for them to turn their 2025 campaigns around, but it very likely will require one to directly beat the other in battle.
David’s Day?
Young David Malukas has shown immense speed during recent races, taking home a second place result at the Indianapolis 500, and qualifying on the front row in Detroit. Momentum is turning Malukas’ way, heading into his statistically best track. In two seasons with Dale Coyne Racing, Malukas achieved his only two podiums with the team at WWT Raceway. Last season, with Meyer Shank Racing, Malukas was in a position to battle for the victory before contact with Will Power sent him into the wall and out of the race.
Now, with a strong AJ Foyt Racing team that shares setups and information with Team Penske, the team that has won 12 of the 18 oval races since the beginning of the 2022 season, Malukas may be in prime position to claim his first Indycar series victory. Expect to see the #4 Chevrolet near the front of the field all night.
McLaren’s Mounting Pressure
For Arrow McLaren, there is no shortage of pressure within an organization known for having little patience with a lack of results. Though Pato O’Ward and Christian Lundgaard sit second and fourth in the standings after the Detroit race weekend, both remain winless on the season. To have any shot at taking the fight to Alex Palou for the championship, the duo will have to reach victory lane, and soon. Additionally, the fight between the two to be McLaren’s top driver only intensifies as they remain tight in points into the middle portion of the season.
Nolan Siegel is also on the hot seat after finding himself over 15 spots below his teammates in the standings. However, Siegel, though not officially classified as a rookie (and therefore not given the extra practice time allowed to rookie drivers), was making his first start in an Indycar at every track so far this season (with the exception of Long Beach, where a good weekend was thrown off track due to food poisoning).
Now, the Californian returns to the track where he achieved his best finish of the 2024 season, and from here on will be returning to tracks as opposed to seeing them for the first time in Indycar. Up to this point, Siegel’s form can largely be excused, but if he wants to prove that he belongs at a top organization such as McLaren, the results must trend upwards. WWT Raceway could be where Siegel starts that trend.
Return to the Night Life
Fans have expressed their appreciation towards this event returning to a night race, which was not the case in the previous two seasons. Starting at 7:00pm local time, the field will race under the lights for nearly the full duration of the contest.
Qualifying Storylines
Team Penske is the favorite to take pole position, having done so in 8 of the last 11 race weekends at WWT Raceway. Additionally, they have the most recent four, with Will Power in 2021 and 2022, and Scott McLaughlin in 2023 and 2024. The odds heavily favor one of their Chevrolets starting at the head of the field, however last season they were joined in the top 5 of qualifying by the Meyer Shank Racing duo of Malukas and Felix Rosenqvist. The Swede in the #60 Honda could very well earn himself a solid starting position, as he looks to add to a list of several career pole positions.
Rookies and Milestones
Graham Rahal is making his 300th Indycar series start this weekend in St. Louis, becoming just the 11th Indycar driver to reach this milestone. The six time winner and five pole sitter has finished in the top ten of nearly half of his career starts, including one race in 2025. His rookie teammate, Louis Foster, comes in as the defending Indy NXT winner at WWT Raceway, winning over fellow rookie Jacob Abel. Robert Shwartzman has never raced at WWT Raceway, though after his shocking pole run at the Indianapolis 500, many will be interested to see if he can do anything to repeat that performance at the second oval of the season.
Broadcast Information
Fans can watch this race at 8:00 pm ET/7:00 pm CT on Sunday, on FOX. Practice 1 and qualifying will take place on FS1, with final practice on FS2 later in the day on Saturday. The INDYCAR Radio Network will also provide live coverage throughout all sessions.
written by Owen White / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment