On Sunday, July 27, Alex Palou showcased a dominant performance at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, securing maximum points once again in the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series. This win marked his third perfect points weekend of the season, widening his championship advantage to a formidable 121 points over Pato O’Ward. With only three races remaining, Palou’s momentum at Laguna Seca further cements his position as the overwhelming favorite to claim the title this year.
Winning Streak Puts Palou on the Verge of Historic Season
Palou has amassed eight victories so far in 2025, a level of success rarely matched in IndyCar history. Over his six-year career, he has consistently avoided costly mistakes unless challenged by veteran Scott Dixon, who remains his main rival. If Palou manages to win the final three races, he will set a new benchmark for most wins in a single season, surpassing legends like A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti, who have each claimed nine wins in a year. Achieving this feat would firmly establish Palou as one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history.
O’Ward and Dixon Continue Intense Fight for Second Place
Pato O’Ward continues to impress with a streak of top-five finishes, including his fourth-place result at Laguna Seca. This consistent performance boosts his lead over Scott Dixon, who finished fifth at the same event. Dixon briefly lost the third spot in the standings to Kyle Kirkwood after Toronto but reclaimed it at Laguna Seca. Now, Dixon holds a narrow 15-point edge over Kirkwood, adding more tension to the fight for the final podium positions in the championship.
Kyle Kirkwood faced challenges at Laguna Seca, receiving two penalties, including one for unavoidable contact with Rinus VeeKay, hindering his ability to defend his standing against Dixon and O’Ward. Meanwhile, Christian Lundgaard, O’Ward’s teammate, has regained his form on preferred road courses, sitting 20 points behind Kirkwood in fifth place. With one more permanent road course remaining this season, Lundgaard aims to maximize his results before transitioning to two oval races to close out the year.
Top Contenders jostle Amid Close Point Margins Behind Palou
The gap between third and fifth in the standings is a tight 35 points, making the final races crucial for positioning beyond the championship leader. Felix Rosenqvist’s early crash at Laguna Seca severely hurt his chances; finishing 24th earned him only five points, dropping him further down the order. Colton Herta’s podium finish elevated him to seventh, just two points shy of Rosenqvist in sixth. Marcus Armstrong, despite dropping a spot due to Herta’s result, maintains a strong run this season after steadily improving his championship ranking since Detroit.
Callum Ilott Achieves PREMA Racing’s Best Finish at Laguna Seca
At Laguna Seca, Callum Ilott delivered PREMA Racing’s best ever IndyCar result by finishing sixth, close behind teammate Robert Shwartzman in the points standings. Although Ilott closed in slightly on Shwartzman, he remains outside the top 20 overall but is steadily improving his position within the highly competitive field. This strong showing represents a significant milestone for PREMA and their efforts in the premier series.
Mixed Fortunes for Team Penske at Laguna Seca
Team Penske experienced an average day during the race weekend, but given their recent bad luck, even this was a relief. Will Power led the group with a seventh-place finish, maintaining his ninth place in the championship and slightly closing the gap to Armstrong. Scott McLaughlin broke his streak of DNFs with an eleventh-place finish, gaining a position in the standings, along with Josef Newgarden, who remains 44 points behind the top 10 cutoff.
Newgarden’s chances to avoid a winless season, his first since 2014, depend on strong performances in the final two oval races. McLaughlin, meanwhile, is better positioned to finish inside the top 10 for the year and is just 17 points behind tenth-placed David Malukas. With consistent top-10 finishes and a strong defense of his win at Milwaukee, McLaughlin has a credible path to climb the standings.
VeeKay’s Struggles Continue After Setback at Laguna Seca
Rinus VeeKay had a difficult race at Laguna Seca, finishing 23rd after contact with Kirkwood. This result caused his points gap to tenth place to increase to 14, further complicating his quest for a better championship finish. VeeKay had previously shown promise with a podium in Toronto, but recent setbacks have taken their toll on his overall ranking.
Championship Outlook as Season Nears Final Races
With only three races left in 2025, the championship battle largely feels settled at the top due to Palou’s near insurmountable lead. The most intriguing storylines revolve around who will secure second place, as well as the fight for positions three through ten, with several drivers still mathematically capable of advancing or slipping. The upcoming races at Portland and Milwaukee will be key in defining the final standings and could shape legacies, particularly as Palou chases a historic season finish.
Alex Palou’s dominance at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and throughout the season has highlighted his status as a generational talent in IndyCar. His ability to consistently deliver near flawless results has put immense pressure on his competitors, forcing them into a tense and urgent chase. Fans and teams alike are now focused on whether Palou will rewrite the record books with a historic number of victories and how the closely packed midfield battles will unfold in the season’s concluding events.
