IndyCar 2025: Full Starting Lineup at Indianapolis Road Course
The excitement is building as the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series prepares for its fifth race of the season, the Sonsio Grand Prix, at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This event is important because it is the last race before the 109th running of the Indy 500.
Unlike the traditional oval, this race takes place on a 13-turn, 2.439-mile (3.925-kilometer) road course. This layout adds extra challenge and excitement for both drivers and fans.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou has secured the pole position. Fans are looking forward to a high-speed battle among top drivers.
Here’s what you need to know about the race, its background, and the full starting lineup.
The Road Course: A Unique Challenge
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The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course has been part of the IndyCar schedule since 2014. After hosting multiple races each year from 2020 to 2023, it returned to its single May race, scheduled two weekends before the Indy 500.
This change has increased the excitement, making the race a key lead-up to the main event. The road course is known for its technical demands, with drivers needing to master all 13 turns.
This year’s race will cover 85 laps, testing both skill and endurance. Six of the previous 16 races on this course were won from the pole position, and three more from the front row, so qualifying is very important.
Qualifying Highlights: Alex Palou on Pole
Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing took the pole with a lap time of 1:09.3417 during Friday’s Firestone Fast Six qualifying session. He beat Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing by 0.4099 seconds.
Palou’s strong qualifying puts him in a good spot to aim for the win. Six previous pole sitters have won on this track.
Top Contenders and Their Teams
Here are the top contenders for the Sonsio Grand Prix:
- Alex Palou – No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
- Graham Rahal – No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
- Louis Foster – No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
- Scott McLaughlin – No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet
- Devlin DeFrancesco – No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
These drivers have shown strong performance this season. Their teams’ engineering and strategy will be key to their results.
Full Starting Lineup
The complete starting lineup for the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is as follows:
- 1st – Alex Palou – No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
- 2nd – Graham Rahal – No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
- 3rd – Louis Foster – No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
- 4th – Scott McLaughlin – No. 3 Team Penske Chevrolet
- 5th – Devlin DeFrancesco – No. 30 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
- 6th – Josef Newgarden – No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet
- 7th – Will Power – No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet
- 8th – Pato O’Ward – No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
- 9th – Alexander Rossi – No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
- 10th – Kyffin Simpson – No. 8 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
- 11th – Santino Ferrucci – No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
- 12th – Felix Rosenqvist – No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
- 13th – Colton Herta – No. 26 Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian Honda
- 14th – Christian Lundgaard – No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
- 15th – Marcus Armstrong – No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda
- 16th – Scott Dixon – No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda
- 17th – Sting Ray Robb – No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
- 18th – Nolan Siegel – No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet
- 19th – Christian Rasmussen – No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet
- 20th – Marcus Ericsson – No. 28 Andretti Global Honda
- 21st – Kyle Kirkwood – No. 27 Andretti Global Honda
- 22nd – Conor Daly – No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
- 23rd – Callum Ilott – No. 90 Prema Racing Chevrolet
- 24th – Rinus VeeKay – No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
- 25th – Jacob Abel – No. 51 Dale Coyne Racing Honda
- 26th – David Malukas – No. 4 A.J. Foyt Enterprises Chevrolet
- 27th – Robert Shwartzman – No. 83 Prema Racing Chevrolet
Teams to Watch
Several teams have stood out this season:
- Chip Ganassi Racing: With Alex Palou on pole and Kyffin Simpson in the top 10, Chip Ganassi Racing looks strong.
- Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing: Graham Rahal and Louis Foster are both in the top three.
- Team Penske: Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power are all starting in the top seven.
Race Day: What to Expect
The Sonsio Grand Prix will feature top drivers and teams battling on a challenging road course. Expect close racing, strategic pit stops, and key moments that could change the outcome.
The early laps are especially important, as starting position often plays a big role in this race.
How to Watch
Watch the Sonsio Grand Prix live on Fox at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can also start a free trial of FuboTV to stream the race live.
Conclusion
The 2025 Sonsio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is set to be an unmissable event.
With a star-studded lineup and a challenging track, this race will be a thrilling precursor to the 109th Indy 500.
For more details and the full starting lineup, you can check out the comprehensive coverage on Beyond the Flag.
