Team Penske topped the time sheets as the NTT IndyCar Series wrapped up its final preseason test at Sebring, with Will Power setting the fastest lap. Teams and drivers fine-tuned their setups ahead of the 2025 season opener in St. Petersburg.
The NTT IndyCar Series completed its second and final preseason open test on Tuesday, with drivers putting in valuable laps around Sebring Raceway ahead of the 2025 season. Once again, the field was split into morning and afternoon sessions, giving all teams the chance to fine-tune their setups before the season opener in St. Petersburg.
Tight margins across the field
The final timesheets from both test days revealed a narrow 0.72-second gap separating the 27 drivers. While not all teams prioritised outright speed, the minimal difference suggests the competition will be fierce in 2025.
In total, drivers completed 3,242 laps over the two-day test, averaging 120 laps per driver. Scott McLaughlin logged the most mileage, completing 149 laps. However, his fastest lap, set on the first day, only placed him 24th overall.
After sitting out most of Monday’s session due to a mechanical issue, six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon made up for lost time on Tuesday morning. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver completed 58 laps despite a minor off-track excursion that required quick repairs.
Among the series newcomers, Jacob Abel impressed by setting the 18th fastest time in his Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Robert Shwartzman and Louis Foster were close behind, with their best laps just 0.12 and 0.20 seconds off Abel’s pace, respectively.
Power leads Penske 1-2 at the top
The cooler morning conditions on Tuesday saw Penske secure a 1-2 finish, with Power and Newgarden leading the session. The two-time IndyCar champion completed a lap in 52.2549 seconds, narrowly edging out his teammate Josef Newgarden, who was only 0.06 seconds slower.
“It’s funny, after a couple days back in the car, you feel right at home, back to the same old stuff, and going through the same old changes and just confirming stuff,” Power said. “I know it so well now, but it always changes. It’s never the same. So, you’ve got to be on your toes. It’s a super-tight field.”
Colton Herta followed in third, while Nolan Siegel recovered well from a Monday crash to claim fourth. Callum Ilott continued to shine for PREMA, finishing in the top five once again.
Felix Rosenqvist, who sat out Monday due to illness, returned to action and placed sixth for Meyer Shank Racing. Conor Daly, Devlin DeFrancesco, and Dixon completed the top nine, with Santino Ferrucci rounding out the 13-driver morning session.
In the afternoon, Marcus Armstrong once again showed strong form for Meyer Shank Racing, leading the session ahead of Florida native Kyle Kirkwood. Pato O’Ward was third, with Christian Lundgaard and Rinus VeeKay completing the top five. PREMA continued to impress, with Shwartzman placing sixth in the No. 83 Chevrolet.
Scott McLaughlin struggled to match his Penske teammates’ pace and finished 10th in the afternoon session, placing 24th overall.
Drivers look ahead to St. Petersburg
As the preseason comes to a close, drivers are now turning their attention to the first race of the year in St. Petersburg, just 10 days away.
“It’s been a long off-season,” Marcus Ericsson said. “I’ve worked really hard. The team has worked really hard. It’s nice to be back out on the racetrack, back out driving and just enjoying Indy cars.”
“This year is about putting that potential together and actually getting the results with it.”
For rookies like Foster, Abel, and Shwartzman, the Sebring test provided a crucial opportunity to adjust to IndyCar machinery.
“Happy with the test,” Foster said. “The team has gone through quite a large restructuring over the winter, so there’s been quite a lot of personnel changes. This test was a lot about getting everything working correctly and smoothly—and it went really well. We’ve got a good idea of where we want to be for St. Pete.”
With the teams wrapping up testing, all eyes now shift to the streets of St. Petersburg, where the campaign for the 2025 IndyCar championship will officially begin.
Feature Image Credit: Penske Entertainment | Joe Skibinski
