After First Oval Win, Is Kyle Kirkwood a Serious Title Contender?

Kyle Kirkwood broke new ground in the 2025 IndyCar season with his first oval victory at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500, boosting his profile as a competitive force in the championship. Prior to this milestone, Kirkwood’s wins were on street circuits, including Long Beach and Detroit, sparking skepticism about his versatility.

Image credit: www.indycar.com

His performance in St. Louis not only added a fresh achievement to his record but also silenced doubts that he could win on varying types of tracks. The Andretti Global driver reflected on the significance of his St. Louis result compared to his Detroit win.

He mentioned that while Detroit was satisfying due to the overtaking challenge, the oval win was “by far bigger” because it displayed a new dimension to his skill set. Kirkwood noted that diversity is critical in IndyCar, stating that winning at multiple types of venues is vital for any driver aiming for the championship.

Earlier in the season, Alex Palou dominated by winning multiple events at circuits where he has historically excelled. After the Indy 500, Kirkwood faced a major setback when he and teammate Marcus Ericsson were disqualified, leaving Kirkwood 150 points behind in the standings.

Since then, he has closed the gap to 75 points, now occupying third place, just two points behind Pato O’Ward. The point swing has changed Kirkwood’s perspective on the championship race, making the title look far more attainable.

Kirkwood acknowledged Palou’s strong form in the early part of the year but sees the current stretch of the schedule as an opportunity. He feels confident in matching Palou’s pace on upcoming tracks and believes that maintaining strong results is the key.

Image credit: www.indystar.com

With only seven rounds remaining in the 17-race season, collecting maximum points is more important than ever for Kirkwood’s title ambitions. Looking ahead, the series heads to Road America—a track where Kirkwood performed strongly last year—before moving to Mid-Ohio.

He admits that Mid-Ohio has been a challenge in his IndyCar career, despite past successes there in junior formulas. He sees it as an area for improvement and is determined for both himself and the Andretti Global team to rise to the occasion.

Kirkwood is committed to pushing for more wins and points, keeping the pressure on Palou as the title fight tightens. He recognizes the work ahead but remains focused on proving he is a genuine championship contender throughout the rest of the IndyCar season.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.