Scott Dixon becomes just the third winner in the 2025 IndyCar season, capitalising on a rare mistake from Alex Palou, for an epic win at Mid-Ohio. Alex Palou and Christian Lundgaard round out the Top three.
Alex Palou started from Pole Position for the third time this season at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio, 93 points clear of Kyle Kirkwood. Arrow Mclaren’s Christian Lundgaard lined up second, and Palou’s teammate Kyffin Simpson round out the Top three.
Will we see another Palou or Kirkwood masterclass, or will there finally be a 3rd winner in the 2025 NTT IndyCar season?
Persistent problems for Team Penske
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio started with a bang. Josef Newgarden had a massive rear wheel lock up at Turn 4 and ran off track, causing Graham Rahal to run off as well. The problems persisted for Team Penske with yet another race retirement. Rahal returned to the track having lost more than a handful of positions.
Callum Ilott and Will Power took the caution as an opportunity to make an early pit stop. With five laps done, Palou, Simpson, and Lundgaard still made up the Top three.
Green flag running resumed after 4 laps under caution.
Christian Lundgaard made an aggressive lunge on Kyffin Simpson, and made his way into P2. Lundgaard has had a great season so far, with strong showings in both qualifying and the race. He’s looking to become the 3rd race winner of the 2025 season, and was holding steady in his gap to race leader Palou.
Problems for Team Penske hit once again, as Will Power pulled into pit lane on Lap 11. He reported a loss of power, and smoke poured from his car as he rolled to a stop in pit lane. He quickly vacated the car, and it’s another Penske retirement.
Lap 18 saw Palou putting his foot down and pulling a gap over Lundgaard. The Dane sat 2.558 seconds behind Palou as Lap 19 ticked away.
Pit window is wide open
Louis Foster was the first of the top six drivers to make a stop, as he pitted for the softer tyre compound. Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Lundgaard also peeled into the pits for pair of black primary tyres and race leader Palou stayed out on a longer stint.
Palou pitted on Lap 28 for pair of scuffed black-walled primary tyres. He exited onto the track behind the ECR car of Christian Rasmussen in P7. Kyffin Simpson was the last of the starting Top three to pit on Lap 29.
Lap 31 saw the Top 3 once again comprised of Palou, Lundgaard, and Simpson as Christian Rasmussen sitting roadside with no fuel brought out the second caution of the race.
Once again, green flag racing resumed after 4 laps of caution.
Half-way mark
While 45 laps ticked away, the Top 3 stood at Palou, Lundgaard and Herta leading the race. Scott Dixon and Nolan Siegel made up the rest of the top 5 drivers at Mid Ohio.
Penalties came quick and harsh for Santino Ferrucci. The driver of the No.14 car saw a harsh penalty of a loss of three positions after avoidable contact with Conor Daly.
Lundgaard pulled into the pits for another stop, and went onto a pair of scuffed red-walled alternate tires. The Dane pulled back on to track in the midst of traffic, as he went for a shorter stint on used Firestone tires.
Alex Palou dipped his tyres onto the grass at Turn 4, costing him 1.5 seconds in his gap back to Colton Herta in P2. He quickly built the gap back up to 13 seconds. The Top five on Lap 56: Palou, Herta, Dixon, Armstrong, and Simpson.
Although Palou pulled the gap to Herta back to 13 seconds, he peeled into the pits for a change of tyres. Returning to the track on black-walled alternates and in P4, but quickly moved up to P3.
There was a brief CGR 1-2-3, as Dixon and Simpson pit for a tyre change. However, bad luck struck for Simpson as he stalled in the pit lane, dropping down the order. He made contact with a pit crew member on his way out of the pits, earning himself a drive-through penalty.
Late race gamble
Alex Palou and the Chip Ganassi Racing team left the pit call for late in the race, with 19 laps to go. A caution during the later laps of Palou’s stint could have ruined his race.
The No. 10 pit team pulled off a stunning stop, sending Palou back onto the track on another pair of primary tires. He maintained track position over teammate Dixon, and held onto his race advantage.
Last laps
As the last laps of the Honda Indy 200 came to a close, Palou, Dixon, and Lundgaard lead the Top three. However, an unforced error by Palou sees Scott Dixon fly by Alex Palou. He sat less then a second behind Dixon, as 4 laps remained in the race. This set the stage for a last lap showdown between the teammate’s, as they sat almost even on push to pass usage.
Scott Dixon left it until the last minute, capitalizes on a rare mistake by the defending IndyCar champion, and wins the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
Final race classification
- Dixon
- Palou
- Lundgaard
- Herta
- O’Ward
- Rosenqvist
- Armstrong
- Kirkwood
- VeeKay
- Simpson
- Siegel
- Ericsson
- Ilott
- Foster
- Rossi
- Ferrucci
- Malkus
- Robb
- Daly
- Defrancesco
- Shwartzman
- Abel
- McLaughlin
- Rahal
- Rasmussen
- Power
- Newgarden
