Palou strikes first in St Pete with commanding triumph

©IndyCar

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©IndyCar

The NTT IndyCar Series kicked off its 2025 season on the streets of St. Petersburg on Sunday, where Alex Palou turned the Firestone Grand Prix into a showcase of brilliance to claim victory in the season opener.

Blending razor-sharp strategy, blistering speed, and unyielding patience, the Chip Ganassi Racing charger surged from eighth on the grid to a commanding 2.8669-second triumph, leaving no doubt that his championship hunger burns as fiercely as ever.

Behind the three-time series champ, CGR teammate Scott Dixon fought valiantly to snag second place despite a radio blackout for the final 90 laps of the 100-lap duel.

A mid-race yellow has flipped their strategy, but Palou adapted flawlessly, guiding his car to Victory Lane and sealing his 12th career win in IndyCar and Ganassi’s first 1-2 finish since July 2023.

Josef Newgarden, the two-time champ, settled for third in his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet.

“What an amazing job by everybody,” Palou beamed post-race. “They gave me everything we needed to win. I told you yesterday we had a really fast car.”

For Palou, the 138-day wait since Nashville melted away. “I’ve been dreaming about this every night,” he said.

The dream, it seems, is just beginning.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.