Race Preview: 2025 XPEL Grand Prix at Road America
One of North America’s longest circuits will once again be the host for the NTT Indycar Series this weekend (June 20-22) for the 2025 XPEL Grand Prix at Road America. The 4.048 mile course is home to 14 of the most action packed corners in American open wheel racing, from the high speed carousel and kink section, down to the treacherous Canada corner near the end of the lap.
Track & Race Details
This race will be a total of 55 laps, and around 220 miles long. Drivers will have 5 sets of primary tires (hard) and 5 sets of alternate tires (soft) throughout the course of the weekend. As with all street and road circuit races, both compounds must be used during the race.
Now or Never for Penske
Team Penske and Chevrolet have gone through one of their toughest stretches in recent memory, from the fallout from the Indy 500 attenuator scandal, to the triple retirement last weekend at Gateway, to having yet to reach victory lane in 2025. Now, the powerhouse organization returns to the track where they swept the podium places a season ago, with Will Power taking the victory. If Team Penske is going to win anywhere, it’s here. This may be their last chance to form any type of late championship run before the season becomes a write off altogether.
Herta’s Year in Elkhart Lake?
Colton Herta’s poor fortune at Road America is well documented. It can be argued he should have had wins, or at least podiums, in each of the last two races at Indycar’s longest circuit. Suboptimal strategy doomed his chances after a strong weekend in 2023, and early incidents not of his own doing relegated Herta to 6th place in 2024.
Now, the driver who came into March rumored to be considered for Formula 1 enters the ninth race of the season at the back of the top ten in the standings, and without a win to his credit in 2025. This could be the perfect place to kickstart a resurgence for the driver of the Gainbridge Honda, as he continues to try to match the strong pace of teammate Kyle Kirkwood, who has won the last two races.
MSR on the Rise
Meyer Shank Racing has seen another year of growth in 2025, with drivers Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong both in the top ten of the standings. Now, they enter a race weekend that could very possibly provide a big result for the Ohio based team. Rosenqvist’s lone Indycar win came at the Wisconsin venue five seasons ago, and Armstrong qualified a strong third place a year ago, before making contact on the opening lap with former teammate and pole sitter Linus Lundqvist. For both drivers, the eyes will be on some of the top prizes up for offer, and perhaps MSR will take home its first series win since the 2021 Indianapolis 500.
Qualifying Storylines
Road America has built a reputation of having a diverse list of pole sitters over the years. Since the circuit’s return to the calendar in 2016, only Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden have claimed multiple pole positions. Five other drivers on the 2025 grid have claimed a pole position at Road America, being Herta, Rosenqvist, Power, Alex Palou, and Alexander Rossi. With names like Kirkwood, Scott McLaughlin, and Pato O’Ward not included on that list, it is very possible to see yet another first time pole sitter at Road America this weekend.
Rookies & Milestones
The trio of rookies will be the only drivers making their debut at Road America this weekend. Of the three, only Louis Foster has a notable win at the circuit, taking victory in the first of two races for the USF Pro 2000 series in 2022. No driver will reach a milestone number of career starts this weekend.
Broadcast Info
This race will be held on FOX, live at 1:30 pm ET/12:30 pm CT on Sunday, June 22nd. Practice 1 will be held Friday on FS2, with other practice and qualification sessions all taking place on FS1 leading up to Sunday’s Grand Prix. As always, INDYCAR Radio Network will also have live coverage for all sessions throughout the weekend.
written by Owen White / Media Credit: Penske Entertainment