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For the second time in sequence historical past (and first as a factors race), the Thermal Membership welcomed the NTT IndyCar Sequence for an early season showdown. Free from the gimmicks of the $1 Million Problem and blessed with lovely climate, the ability was given its finest probability at a powerful race weekend.
Ultimately, the race itself was fantastic, if uneventful. The largest second got here from a broadcast outage, however there have been nonetheless drivers and groups that helped or damage their seasons over 65 sunny laps in southern California.
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Listed here are the winners and losers from The Thermal Membership IndyCar Grand Prix.
Winner: Alex Palou stays perfectAlex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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It’s a great time to be the champ. Palou was picture-perfect within the closing stint, storming previous Arrow McLaren teammates and within the last 15 laps to safe his second win in as many tries to open the 2025 season. Which suggests…
Loser: Each different IndyCar driverColton Herta, Andretti World
Colton Herta, Andretti GlobalPenske Leisure
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The IndyCar area has a steep problem this 12 months. Palou has gained three of the previous 4 IndyCar titles and makes few errors. The very last thing everybody else wants is to fall far behind him and should hope for the Spaniard to make errors when it counts down the stretch.
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In his one defeat over the previous 4 years, Palou had just one win and some early struggles. The Chip Ganassi Racing ace has already topped that win mark to open 2025 and appears untouchable in the important thing moments of races. If anybody hopes to beat him this 12 months, they’d finest discover a strategy to kill his No. 10 crew’s momentum – and quick.
Christian Lundhgaard stated it finest: “It’s powerful seeing this man beat us each single occasion. We’ve gotta discover a strategy to cease him.”
Winner: FOX Sports activities removes the cartoon headshots
There have been just a few delicate efforts to enhance from the crew at FOX heading into its second IndyCar race weekend. However none had been extra apparent upon first sight than the elimination of the cartoon-style headshots of every driver.
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Thanks, FOX. Severely. A lot improved.
Loser: TV viewers, briefly
The Thermal Membership’s first IndyCar factors race wasn’t essentially the most thrilling affair, positive. However I’m optimistic followers would nonetheless wish to have watched the entire thing. So it’s a bummer that .
FOX Sports activities did what it may and briefly shifted to the competing NASCAR Cup Sequence race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However that’s suboptimal for IndyCar and its smaller, however devoted fanbase. To not point out the Thermal Membership itself, which hopes to showcase the ability with the occasion.
Winner: Will Energy salvages one thing for Group PenskeWill Energy, Group Penske
Will Energy, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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On a weekend the place passing was troublesome, Group Penske’s trio of stars all qualifying deep within the area left the group combating to salvage something from the Thermal Membership. There wasn’t a lot to have a good time for 2 of the crew’s drivers, however made one thing out of the weekend for his No. 12 crew.
The 2-time champion put ahead a gentle march to take a sixth-place end in Sunday’s race. It was simply the perfect end result for anybody beginning outdoors of the highest 10, by no means thoughts the highest 20. His 15 positions superior had been greater than double the following finest managed by some other driver (seven – and ).
That’s the form of restoration run that would make a distinction when a title is set in August.
Loser: Issues go from dangerous to worse for Marcus EricssonMarcus Ericsson, Andretti World
Marcus Ericsson, Andretti GlobalPenske Leisure
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The 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner set himself up for a profitable afternoon in IndyCar’s first factors race on the Thermal Membership, making his fourth Quick 6 look in 19 races with Andretti World. However that was the place the nice occasions ended for the Swedish star.
Ericsson rapidly misplaced floor when the inexperienced flag flew after operating huge on the opening lap. He had a quiet stint afterward, however went for a spin in flip 9 after his opening pit cease. That dropped Ericsson to twenty first within the opening half of the race.
That’s primarily the place the Andretti World ace stayed caught from there, ending twenty first on the checkered flag. Contemplating his fellow top-five starters all completed within the top-five, that must be a disappointment.
Winner: Arrow McLaren’s Cali double-podiumChristian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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The frustration was palpable from Pato O’Ward and Lundgaard within the moments after Palou’s late surge to victory within the Thermal Membership. However the reality stays that the crew’s finest two vehicles managed to complete on the rostrum in race weekend with many unknowns.
“We gave it a shot and got here up brief, however having two vehicles on the rostrum is as effectively of a day as we may have wished for coming into Thermal,” Lundgaard stated of the day.
Whereas not a victory, Sunday’s end result ought to put each drivers within the top-four of the early championship standings. In the event you’d have advised them that after finishes of eighth and eleventh – the latter coming from twenty third after a qualifying catastrophe from O’Ward – in St. Pete, I’m positive they’d have taken it.
Loser: Prema Racing’s weekend at ThermalCallum Ilott, Prema Racing
Callum Ilott, Prema RacingPenske Leisure
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It was a protracted weekend for Prema Racing in California. After a quiet Twentieth-place debut in St. Pete, weekend began going south within the opening follow at Thermal. A fireplace within the automobile triggered vital harm, forcing his No. 83 crew to skip second follow and spend the majority of the following 24 hours grinding to organize him to qualify.
Shwartzman was in a position to set a time in group qualifying, however was final amongst his group. That left him sitting shotgun on the sphere heading into Sunday’s race. And whereas he was in a position to make some early time on pink tires, Shwartzman was hit from behind early by teammate and kicked off a day that proved troublesome for each drivers.
Ilott needed to make an additional pit cease for a problem throughout refueling and pale to twenty sixth. Shwartzman did what he may to salvage the run, however may solely handle twenty second because the checkered flag flew.
Loser: Pre-green contact hampers McLaughlin, DeFrancescoScott McLaughlin, Group Penske
Scott McLaughlin, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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A pair of drivers noticed their days undone simply because the race was getting underway. and collided whereas coming to the inexperienced, sending each drivers round after they rolled off the racing floor.
The pair had been in a position to get rolling, however struggled from there. McLaughlin was hampered by an overheating hybrid unit and wound up six laps down in twenty seventh at race’s finish. DeFrancesco continued on, however was issued a penalty for avoidable contact and needed to rally to salvage a Twentieth-place end.
Sunday’s end result hurts for each drivers. Nevertheless it’s significantly damaging for McLaughlin, who figures to be a championship contender after his fierce rally to contend for the 2024 title. The Kiwi felt a gradual begin impacted his skill to chase that trophy. Now he’s off to a nasty begin once more.
Photographs from Thermal Membership – RaceAlex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Scott McLaughlin, Group Penske
Scott McLaughlin, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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Will Energy, Group Penske
Will Energy, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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Josef Newgarden, Group Penske
Josef Newgarden, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPenske Leisure
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Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing
Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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David Malukas, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
David Malukas, A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPenske Leisure
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Will Energy, Group Penske
Will Energy, Group PenskePenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt Enterprises
Santino Ferrucci, A. J. Foyt EnterprisesPenske Leisure
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Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing
Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Pit space motion
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Colton Herta, Andretti World
Colton Herta, Andretti GlobalPenske Leisure
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Common view
Common viewPenske Leisure
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Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi Racing
Kyffin Simpson, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing tire element
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing tire detailPenske Leisure
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Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Chip Ganassi, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Chip Ganassi, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren, Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing, Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren, Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing
Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi RacingPenske Leisure
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