After first oval win, does Kyle Kirkwood see himself as a title risk?

In a season dominated by Alex Palou, Kirkwood was the one different driver to win races, due to his victories in Lengthy Seaside and Detroit. Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient for some. He needed to do extra. In spite of everything, there are solely 4 road course occasions within the 17-race IndyCar calendar.

Now, Kirkwood stays the one different driver to have received races, though he added an oval victory to his résumé by successful final Sunday’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Extensive Expertise Raceway.

“I imply, it is sort of humorous, proper? You get on this streak the place it is like, ‘Oh, he is doing so properly, he is successful races, road programs’. However then you definitely get your fourth and persons are like, ‘one other road course for Kirkwood. It isn’t as massive of a deal now. When is he going to win one thing else?” Kirkwood stated following his second triumph in as many races and his third win of 2025.

“It takes away from the road programs, so this was big for me. This was by far larger than final weekend due to that,” he added, reflecting on his success in St. Louis.

A real contender

Kirkwood defined how the win at WWTR differed from the one on the Streets of Detroit by way of his championship run.

“I believe Detroit was one of the vital passable wins that I’ve ever had as a result of I really needed to cross some folks for some issues. However in the present day (Sunday) similar to sort of places a stamp down slightly bit extra, like hey, this child would possibly really have the ability to contend for a championship and do issues.”

“Everyone is aware of you have to be numerous on this collection. You have to win at a number of circuits. You have to win at a number of venues. Whether or not it is a quick oval, lengthy oval, road course, street course, no matter it is perhaps, you have to win in any respect of them. A step in the correct route for certain”.

Two races in the past, following Palou’s win within the Indy 500 and Kirkwood’s disqualification from the occasion — alongside teammate Marcus Ericsson — the motive force of the Andretti International No. 27 automotive trailed the Spaniard by 150 factors within the championship standings. Now, that distinction has been minimize in half, right down to 75 factors, placing him in third place, simply two factors behind Pato O’Ward.

“It does (really feel extra affordable). It is double digits once more. Triple digits are by no means a great sign up a championship. Transferring nearer. It is nonetheless an extended methods to go.”

“I am not shocked of what has transpired with him as a result of — I am not taking something away from him, however lots of the start races of the season are races that he was actually, actually good at in previous years, and it is no shock that he simply pieced all of them collectively and acquired wins in any respect the locations that he did”, Kirkwood stated about Palou’s kind at first of the season.

“However I believe now we’re getting to a degree within the season the place these are races that we’re very near them on, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how they shake out. In the end we’re simply going to need to preserve doing what we’re doing, making an attempt to win as many races as potential and get as many factors as potential, and hopefully that can pan us out into a great place.”

“I can inform you that we will do every little thing in our effort to claw again at him. It is nonetheless an extended methods away. 75 factors is deep. That is virtually two races. He may nonetheless take slightly break if he wished to.”

Waiting for Highway America

Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti International

Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photos by way of Getty Photos

Subsequent weekend, the IndyCar season continues at Highway America, adopted by Mid-Ohio, two weeks later. Palou has excelled at these two tracks lately, with wins and podiums. Kirkwood, alternatively, is feeling assured in regards to the Wisconsin occasion, however he acknowledges the necessity to step up his sport in Ohio.

“Highway America has been a great one for us. We had an ideal race there final 12 months. But when I am being sincere, Mid-Ohio has sort of eluded me in IndyCar. Hopefully we are able to come again there and that can change.”

“It is sort of bizarre, as a result of I felt like I received every little thing there in all of the junior classes and then you definitely get to IndyCar and it is a completely different world. The issues that you simply do properly there are simply common in IndyCar.”

“That is a spot I am engaged on. It is a spot that we’re engaged on as a crew, and hopefully we are able to come again there and do one thing like we did right here.”