IndyCar Gradebook: Grand Prix of Road America
- Dan Jones
- Jun 25, 2025
- 9 min read
Written by Dan Jones
Álex Palou's 2025 domination continued in Road America as he was victorious in Elkhart Lake to claim his sixth victory of 2025 and continue IndyCar's streak of two winners in nine races. DIVEBOMB IndyCar Correspondent, Dan Jones, graded all 27 drivers' performances during the Gateway weekend.
Chip Ganassi Racing
No.8 - Kyffin Simpson - B+
Road America was not the first instance in 2025 where Simpson and the No.8 played their strategy cards correctly which ended up in an excellent result. Although Simpson qualified poorly in 23rd, he was the race's biggest mover, climbing up to sixth for his second-best result of the season. It wasn't a standout weekend by any means, but Simpson continues to quietly pick up strong results in his sophomore season.
No.9 - Scott Dixon - B-
Dixon's weekend is a very tough one to grade. He provisionally made it into the Fast 12, which hasn't been too common of an occurrence in 2025 until he was penalised for blocking Devlin DeFrancesco. Starting 25th, Dixon tried the most Dixon-style of fuel saves but he was unable to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Being on such a vastly different strategy, Dixon led a lot of laps but finished in a mediocre ninth. 2025 still has not represented the Dixon we are used to.
No.10 - Álex Palou - A
Whatever his opposition may throw at him, Palou seems to always find a way to win in 2025, Road America being no different. Although he didn't claim the pole he was so desperately gunning for and fell down the order in the opening stint, the calm, composed head of Palou was always going to find a way back into victory contention. Even when he was frustrated at strategist, Barry Wanser, for incorrect tyre selections at times, Palou's mastery came to the forefront again on strategy which resulted in a mammoth 15 lap fuel save which secured his ticket back into Victory Lane. It looked for the briefest moment that a title fight could have been back on - Palou certainly made sure that conversation would be ended abruptly.
Team Penske
No.2 - Josef Newgarden - D+
What else is there to say about Newgarden's 2025? It's been a horrid season and Road America may just have been the lowest point yet. He qualified respectably in 10th, although was the benefactor of Dixon's penalty. Come race day, Newgarden ran well on the opening stints and was in podium contention for the first time since St. Petersburg. However, he ran wide in Turn 5 overtaking his teammate and ended his day in the barriers on the exit of Turn 14 completely by himself. It's been a miserable year for the two-time champion even when things had started to look up.
No.3 - Scott McLaughlin - B+
A 12th place finish in Road America was not the result McLaughlin deserved. The Kiwi qualified well in fourth and was making moves in the opening phases, eventually finding himself in the lead after the restart. However, he quickly fell behind Lundgaard and lost time when Newgarden tried to overtake him in Turn 5. The No.3 stand eventually lost the strategy lottery and McLaughlin finished 12th.
No.12 - Will Power - C-
It was a chaotic weekend for Power who finished with a chaotic result in 14th. He'll forever have the infamous moment of the race though when he inadvertently overtook Kyle Kirkwood whilst attempting a move on Palou. Kirkwood wasn't happy and got his own back at Power later before the Australian spun all by himself on Lap 27. Considering the wars Power had been through, 14th wasn't horrendous but it was not his finest weekend by any stretch of the imagination.
Andretti Global
No.26 - Colton Herta - C
Results haven't fallen Herta's way in 2025 and a 16th place in Road America adds to the list of disappointing weekends. Once again, Herta did not seem to have the pace of Kirkwood, qualifying 16th at one of his best venues. Race day would not be any better for Herta as he finished where he started.
No.27 - Kyle Kirkwood - A
Although Kirkwood claimed a result which he likely would have been happy with pre-weekend, it rather feels it might be the result which stops any championship push from the American. It's still a result for Kirkwood to be pleased with though, qualifying third and finishing fourth, despite it feeling like the Floridian was in the thick of it throughout the race. He did a miraculous job to avoid both Power's divebomb at Canada Corner and avoid the spinning Lundgaard late on in the race and continues to bring home strong results on Sundays.
No.28 - Marcus Ericsson - D
2024 felt like a horror show in Ericsson's maiden year at Andretti, but 2025 continues to be even worse. He qualified 14th - ahead of Herta (which stops his grade from being even lower) before being a complete non-factor on race day. Ericsson finished 21st - the last of the cars running without any major issue. You rather feel that with the way things are going, Ericsson may have to look around for seats for 2026.
Arrow McLaren
No.5 - Pato O'Ward - C
In what has generally been a good year for O'Ward, Road America was a weekend to forget. He qualified respectably in 11th - despite a power issue which cost him half-a-second. That power issue would also plague him throughout the race and O'Ward fell like a stone, despite being on a different strategy to most. The Mexican would finish in 17th - a result which drops him behind Kirkwood in the standings.
No.6 - Nolan Siegel - B
After a week where Siegel was in the headlines for mostly the wrong reasons, the young American brought home his best career finish on a road course in eighth. Siegel marginally missed transferring to the Fast 12 and executed his strategy well - despite making an additional stop for a mixed tyre set. He still remains some way off his teammates pace-wise, but Siegel will take confidence in this result going forward.
No.7 - Christian Lundgaard - B-
It was once again another good weekend on a road course for Lundgaard, but he would be let down by a completely unforced error. Qualifying fifth, Lundgaard made excellent progress early and found himself at the front of the conventional strategy making decisive moves for position. However, he spun late on when battling with Herta which ended any chances of a good result and Lundgaard finished 24th.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
No.15 - Graham Rahal - B-
Although it was not the result Rahal was looking for, after a particularly difficult round at Gateway, there are further positives for Rahal and the team to takeaway from Road America. For the third successive road/street course race, Rahal qualified in the Fast Six. He started the race well too, but fell into peril midway through, particularly after colliding with Rinus VeeKay. The mid-pack melee meant Rahal finished in an unrepresentative 20th.
No.30 - Devlin DeFrancesco - C
Not loads to note from DeFrancesco's weekend. He qualified 19th, some way off his teammates, but was held up by Dixon on his final flying lap. He finished where he started in 19th which not much to note bar picking up a blocking penalty on lap 40.
No.45 - Louis Foster - B+
There must be something about Road America and rookies taking pole position. This year it was Foster who claimed a stunning pole on a set of used reds against the dominant Palou on a new set with one of the shock IndyCar pole positions. Although the Briton led the opening exchanges, he was never a realistic contender and progressively dropped down the order throughout the race. He finished a frustrating 11th, still on the cusp of a maiden top 10 finish. It wasn't to be for Foster, but it was a weekend that will deservingly live long in the memory.
Meyer Shank Racing
No.60 - Felix Rosenqvist - A
It feels incredibly strange that this is Rosenqvist's first podium with Meyer Shank - but that's testament to how far the Swede has led this team forward in recent seasons. He did not qualify as well as we almost expect him to now in 12th and was fairly anonymous in the opening sequences. However, a vital strategy call brought Rosenqvist back into contention and although he did not have the pace to catch Palou, he claimed an excellently-deserved second-place finish, particularly reminiscent of his 2020 victory as he hunted down O'Ward. It wasn't a weekend where Rosenqvist seemed particularly quick, but Meyer Shank continue to execute at a level they never have before.
No.66 - Marcus Armstrong - B+
It was a relatively quiet weekend for Armstrong, but that speaks volumes to both his and Meyer Shank's ability to pick up excellent results seemingly from nowhere. Armstrong didn't qualify excellently in 15th but quietly made his way through the order in race day to claim a first top five finish of the season. He continues to have a season which is underrated by many.
Ed Carpenter Racing
No.20 - Alexander Rossi - C+
It may have only been a 13th place finish, but Rossi and Ed Carpenter Racing may find satisfaction in that after what could have been a disastrous weekend based on practice. Rossi qualified poorly in 24th and would follow Dixon's efforts in trying to pull off an audacious strategy. It wouldn't work and Rossi had to bail late, coming home in the mid-pack.
No.21 - Christian Rasmussen - C
After starring at Gateway, Rasmussen was unable to replicate his efforts in an anonymous weekend at Road America. The Dane qualified 20th and ultimately finished 18th after having a few off-track excursions. A disappointing end to what has been a superb run of form.
A.J. Foyt Racing
No.4 - David Malukas - B
It was a whirlwind of a race for Malukas, who qualified well once again in seventh but clumsily ran into the back of Lundgaard on the opening lap in another unforced error. Malukas was stuck in the gravel and was relegated to the back of the field. He later picked up a penalty for avoidable contact. Despite all of this, Malukas recovered to an excellent seventh to continue Foyt's excellent run of form. However, he was once again let down by his own errors.
No.14 - Santino Ferrucci - A
Ferrucci's superb run of form shows no signs of slowing as he picked up a fourth consecutive top-five finish. Qualifying continues to be his Achilles heel though, this time qualifying in 18th, some way off his teammate. However, Ferrucci would cycle his way to the front with his final stint ending in a mammoth fuel save totalling 16 laps - which was more than anybody else can do. Ferrucci's incredible fuel save earned him a well-deserved podium, and consecutive podiums in road/street course races. After a disappointing start to the year, Ferrucci and Foyt are certainly making amends.
Juncos Hollinger Racing
No.76 - Conor Daly - D-
It was a miserable weekend for Daly who qualified in 21st and finished in 22nd. His race saw him cause the fourth caution after hitting the barriers during a far too optimistic overtake on Malukas. He hilariously pulled the tow rope around with him after crashing which earned the American a 10 second stop-and-go. Daly was also penalised for blocking during the race. A disaster weekend all-round.
No.77 - Sting Ray Robb - D-
After a difficult day for the No.76, Juncos' fortunes would not be better in the No.77 side of the garage. Robb qualified poorly again in 26th and crashed on lap 10 trying to overtake Armstrong. There's still no concrete evidence of year-on-year improvement for Robb in his third season in the series.
Dale Coyne Racing
No.18 - Rinus VeeKay - B
Another incredibly bizarre weekend for VeeKay, but he continues to impress at IndyCar's smallest team ahead of silly season hotting up for 2026. The Dutchman qualified poorly in 22nd and picked up a penalty for jumping the restart. He would also pick up another penalty for avoidable contact. Despite VeeKay's crimes, he recovered excellently to 10th - incredibly his fifth of the season for IndyCar's smallest team.
No.51 - Jacob Abel - D+
Abel's tough rookie season does not get any easier - with the Indy NXT vice-champion continuing to be plagued by various issues out of his control. Abel picked up damage after being collected on the opening lap before having a severe loss of power. From that point, Abel had to limp it to the flag for a 23rd place finish. It's about time he completed a race with no issues to give a representative grade!
PREMA Racing
No.83 - Robert Shwartzman - D
This was arguably the worst weekend of Shwartzman's rookie season thus far. He qualified respectably in 17th but spun at Canada Corner on lap 4 which took him out of the race. We have not seen many mistakes from Shwartzman in his rookie season but this was a major one.
No.90 - Callum Ilott - B-
Things still aren't easy for PREMA, however, Ilott managed to secure a first Fast 12 for the team on a road and street course. The race would not be as easy, with Ilott being stuck in the chaotic mid-pack which ultimately ended in a 15th place finish. Although, that result is still comfortably his best this season after his Indianapolis 500 penalty.
All photos in this article were taken by DIVEBOMB Photographer, Dominic Loyer. You can find Dominic's work on Instagram (@dominicloyer_photography)
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