IndyCar Gradebook: Gateway 500
- Dan Jones
- 6 hours ago
- 9 min read
Written by Dan Jones
Kyle Kirkwood claimed his first IndyCar oval victory, in addition to continuing IndyCar's bizarre record of just two winners in eight races at World Wide Technology Raceway and closed the gap to Álex Palou in the championship standings. DIVEBOMB IndyCar Correspondent, Dan Jones, graded all 27 drivers' performances during the Gateway weekend.
Chip Ganassi Racing
No.8 - Kyffin Simpson - C
It's been a welcome surprise to see Simpson's development in his sophomore year, which has led to a first career top 10 and a first career top 5 this season. However, as shown at Gateway, there is still plenty of work for Simpson to do on ovals. He qualified poorly in 26th and was a non-factor for the majority of the race. Simpson stated he missed out on a top ten with unfortunate timing of the last yellow, but the same could be said for many, ultimately finishing 15th.
No.9 - Scott Dixon - B+
This is a very difficult one to grade. As has been a strange theme throughout 2025, Dixon has been fairly anonymous despite picking up good results and Gateway was no different. Dixon qualified 11th and wasn't doing anything of note at Gateway until he did what he does best by extending his fuel longer than anybody. When the caution came out for David Malukas' brush with the wall, Dixon suddenly was catapulted into the lead and back into contention. However, slow stop on his final stop cost him victory. However, Dixon was extending his fuel for hope of a caution and that race craft is why he's a six-time champion.
No.10 - Álex Palou - B
It's no secret that short ovals is where Palou still relatively struggles against his competition, but with his domination on road and street courses, maybe that doesn't hugely matter. To win a fourth title, Palou simply needs to pick up a decent finish every week, which is exactly what he did at Gateway. He qualified decently in ninth but dropped to 20th after being boxed in by Christian Lundgaard in the first round of stops. He recovered quietly to eighth in his most subdued performance of the year so far.
Team Penske
No.2 - Josef Newgarden - A
2025 doesn't seem to get any less difficult for Newgarden and Team Penske, with another chance to finally get a good result on the board becomes undone through no fault of Newgarden's. Gateway always represented a bounce-back chance for Newgarden, and he qualified competitively in fifth. It left little surprise that he would soon cycle his way to the front, but had nowhere to go when Louis Foster spun in front of him on Lap 130. The most important thing was Newgarden walked away from a terrifying accident, but yet another weekend of 'what could have been?'
No.3 - Scott McLaughlin - A-
After both his teammates fell out of contention, Penske's hopes rested on McLaughlin in the second half of the race before he became the third Penske to run into trouble. McLaughlin didn't have the edge on his teammates at Gateway as it had felt in previous years, but still qualified well in second. McLaughlin ran in the podium places all day, until Lap 148 where improper lane usage meant the Kiwi had to yield three positions. McLaughlin was unable to recover to where he once was and later retired with a mechanical issue.
No.12 - Will Power - A
This weekend really felt like a showdown between Power and Malukas for the No.12 seat in 2026. What makes it more frustrating for Power is he has nothing to show from a good weekend. The best qualifier in IndyCar history claimed his first pole since Iowa in 2023, and although he dropped behind Malukas at the start, Power ran comfortably in second before a front-right tyre failure eliminated him from contention.
Andretti Global
No.26 - Colton Herta - C
Just as is the case with Team Penske, Herta's 2025 does not get any easier either. Despite qualifying as the top Andretti car in eighth and by his own words, having a fast car throughout the race, Herta's recurring theme of being unable converting his good pace continued once again. The American finished 17th, one lap down.
No.27 - Kyle Kirkwood - A
This feels like the true break-out year we've been waiting for from Kirkwood and an oval victory adds the cherry on the cake, even just eight races in. Kirkwood qualified 10th, but had an excellent start and ran around the top five positions for the entire race. Strangely, Kirkwood never felt like a contender though, until excellent work on his final two stops elevated him several positions up the order, which would ultimately send him to victory lane for a third time in 2025. It never felt like a day where Kirkwood or Andretti had the raw pace, but they converted excellently.
No.28 - Marcus Ericsson - C
A 13th place finish at Gateway leaves Ericsson top ten-less since the opening round in St. Petersburg, as the Swede's disastrous year continues to show no mercy. Ericsson was only slightly behind his teammate's pace in qualifying, lining up 13th but was a complete non-factor on race day. With the driver market set to come under the spotlight soon, Ericsson needs results - and needs them fast.
Arrow McLaren
No.5 - Pato O'Ward - A
O'Ward remains Palou's closest title challenger based on points, and the Mexican had yet another good weekend in a quietly strong season. O'Ward split the Penske stronghold in qualifying in third and would run in a similar position throughout the evening. Things did not quite pan out his way after Penske's issues though with O'Ward frustrated at his teammate, Nolan Siegel, on the final restart after allowing Kirkwood through and delaying O'Ward. It's still a weekend to be pleased with though, with O'Ward just about remaining in the title conversation.
No.6 - Nolan Siegel - C-
Siegel's last visit to Gateway yielded a career-best result to date, but his year was a much more difficult affair. Whilst his teammates qualified third and 14th, Siegel was some way off in 20th. He became embroiled with the leaders for the second consecutive race after IndyCar deemed Siegel to have blocked McLaughlin when the Kiwi was attempting to lap the American - many seeing it as payback after the two collided in Detroit. Siegel saw the chequered flag in 19th.
No.7 - Christian Lundgaard - C
We all knew that Lundgaard's challenges at Arrow McLaren would come on the ovals meaning there was little surprise the Dane had a lacklustre weekend at Gateway. His race was highlighted by a bizarre error on his opening stop where he seemed distracted by Palou and went past his pitbox before reversing in pitlane and earning himself a drive-through. He finished where he started in 14th, some way off the pace of O'Ward. Lundgaard's time will come on ovals though.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No.15 - Graham Rahal - D-
Something I never thought I'd say in this series is that a D- feels generous - but in this case, it does. For the second consecutive oval race in 2025, Rahal's race trim was pitiful - and it felt he was on the borderline of being black flagged for failing to maintain competitive speed. Rahal was a moving chicane for the leaders throughout, proved by the fact he finished seven laps down. Some serious inquests need to be held at RLL, because this cannot afford to keep happening.
No.30 - Devlin DeFrancesco - D-
It's pretty unacceptable to end your race in the barrier after four laps in an accident that happened all by yourself. Very underwhelming after DeFrancesco was the top RLL car in qualifying, lining up 17th. And, he brake checked the cameraman - the worst crime of them all.
No.45 - Louis Foster - C-
It was a terrible weekend for RLL on an oval once again, and Foster was the best of a bad bunch. His pace was far superior to Rahal's but made an error on Lap 128 exiting Turn 4, with his spin causing the terrifying accident involving Newgarden. It was always going to be difficult for Foster to excel on ovals in his rookie season, especially with RLL, but he can take pride he was the best RLL driver over the course of the weekend.
Meyer Shank Racing
No.60 - Felix Rosenqvist - C+
It went under the radar, but it was an incredibly bizarre weekend for Rosenqvist. The Swede qualified marginally behind his teammate in seventh but was penalised on Lap 62 for an unsafe release. Failure to serve that penalty meant it was upgraded to a stop-go. He was penalised again on Lap 207 after emergency service in a closed pit before trying the ultimate fuel save to try and win the race late-on. It didn't work and Rosenqvist's chaotic day saw him finish 16th.
No.66 - Marcus Armstrong - B
It felt like we didn't see any of Armstrong at Gateway, despite qualifying as the best Honda in sixth and finishing inside the top ten once again. Armstrong seemed to have the upper edge on his teammate, which hasn't been too common of an occurrence in 2025 as the Kiwi continues to show good adaptation to ovals.
Ed Carpenter Racing
No.20 - Alexander Rossi - B-
It was a quiet weekend for Rossi - with his most notable moment being him playing solitaire in the cockpit prior to practice! But it wasn't a great weekend - he seemed in the shadow of his teammate which has been a very rare occurrence in 2025. Rossi finished 11th after qualifying in 12th.
No.21 - Christian Rasmussen - A
It was a diabolical qualifying for Rasmussen in 25th but his drive to a maiden IndyCar podium is one of the best you'll ever see. Rasmussen describes his style on ovals as "calculated aggression," and that was fully on display. The Dane made crucial moves at crucial times, even after his literal fire - which seemingly put him on metaphorical fire! Despite emergency service relegating him to the back on Lap 149, an inspired Rasmussen wouldn't give up, making manoeuvre after manoeuvre to take a richly deserved podium. He may have only had a handful of oval races, but Rasmussen is quickly establishing himself as one of the finest on them in the series.
A.J. Foyt Racing
No.4 - David Malukas - A
We expected Malukas to be strong at Gateway based on his superb record at the venue in his three previous visits and he once again showed superbly. Qualifying fourth was hardly a surprise, with Malukas taking no time to get out to the front, finding himself in the lead after the opening lap and it seemed destiny from that point forward for Malukas to claim a first career victory. However, improper lane usage on Lap 148 forced him to yield three positions, and with Malukas trying to make amends, he clumsily hit the barrier on Lap 195. Although there was no visible damage, he'd end up a disappointing 12th. However, with crunch time approaching for the No.12 seat, Malukas showed his worth again.
No.14 - Santino Ferrucci - A-
After a horrific start to 2025, A.J. Foyt Racing and Ferrucci have looked a completely different outfit since the Indianapolis 500, with Ferrucci claiming a third consecutive top-five finish. Although he wouldn't quite grab the headlines like his teammate did, especially after qualifying an underwhelming 19th, Ferrucci's drive through the field was methodical - even if he made some contact along the way. It wasn't quite the fireworks we've seen on ovals from Ferrucci before but another excellent finish to continue his great run of form.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
No.76 - Conor Daly - A
Although he fails to steal any headlines on road and street courses, ovals is where Daly is at his very, very best and that remained true at Gateway. His start was one for the ages, utilising the high line to move himself from 15th to fourth in just a few laps. Daly wouldn't be done there for the day and would stay in the realms of the top five, highlighted by a superb battle with O'Ward for the lead on the Lap 148 restart. Things wouldn't quite fall Daly's way though, but still had his best result of the season in sixth.
No.77 - Sting Ray Robb - D+
Whilst his teammate mightily impressed, Robb had little impact on proceedings at Gateway. He qualified 23rd and finished 20th, one lap down.
Dale Coyne Racing
No.18 - Rinus VeeKay - B+
VeeKay continues to go about his business quietly, but also continues to put himself in the shop window for bigger seats in 2025 with another strong performance at Gateway. He qualified fairly average in 18th, but executed his strategy well to bring home another top ten finish, this time in seventh - incredibly, his fourth top ten of the season.
No.51 - Jacob Abel - D+
Abel's tough rookie season does not seem to get any easier. He was unhappy with his qualifying performance, where he was several miles-an-hour off the pace of anybody, and almost 10mph off the leaders. A communication error during the race lost him a lap, before finishing 21st, two laps down.
PREMA Racing
No.83 - Robert Shwartzman - B
We all expected PREMA's downfall to be on ovals in their debut season, but it's proved quite the opposite based on the small sample we have so far. After qualifying poorly in 24th, Shwartzman brought home PREMA's best result to date in 10th with another mature drive beyond his experience. His poor qualifying holds back his rating a little here, but another weekend to be please with.
No.90 - Callum Ilott - B-
Ilott hasn't quite had the results his teammate has had, but I think he has shown better than what meets the eye so far with PREMA. He qualified decently in 16th and ran a strong race before trying an audacious fuel save during his final stint which put him in the lead with five to go. It wouldn't work out though and an additional pitstop was always going to lead to an unrepresentative finish, 18th on this occasion.
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