With the NTT IndyCar Series roaring back to life on Feb. 28 in St. Petersburg, all eyes are on Andretti Global, one of the sport’s most dynamic teams, as they aim to turn last season’s progress into championship glory.
Now under new leadership and fully owned by The Walter Group (TWG), the team enters 2025 with momentum, but also with sky-high expectations.
2024 Recap: A Strong Second Half Sets the Stage
🔥 Key Takeaways from Last Season:
✔ Colton Herta finished 2nd in the championship—his best career finish.
✔ Kyle Kirkwood took 7th place, showing consistency but lacking wins.
✔ Marcus Ericsson had a disappointing 15th-place finish, plagued by mechanical failures and crashes.
While Herta nearly stole the title from Alex Palou, Andretti’s biggest challenge was turning a one-driver title push into a full-team championship effort.
What’s Changed for 2025?
🚨 The most significant shift? Michael Andretti is completely out.
Andretti Global is now fully owned by TWG, making it the first major IndyCar team run entirely by an investment firm.
Other Key Changes:
🔹 J-F Thormann (longtime Andretti president) steps back to focus on junior driver development.
🔹 Craig Hampson now has a full offseason to implement his engineering leadership.
🔹 Unclear sponsorship landscape—Kirkwood’s AutoNation sponsor is gone, leaving questions about funding.
But one crucial aspect remains unchanged: The core racing team, engineering staff, and driver lineup are intact, setting up a rare level of consistency in a sport where change is constant.
The Drivers: Can They Deliver a Title?
Colton Herta (No. 26 Honda) – The Championship Threat
🚀 Mission: Finish what he started.
✅ 2 wins, 3 poles, 6 podiums in 2024
✅ Led 296 laps—the most among Andretti drivers
✅ Elite qualifying pace (Avg: 5.6 starting position)
👉 Herta was the best driver in the second half of 2024. If he picks up where he left off, he could be the biggest threat to Palou and Penske.
Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Honda) – The Underrated Contender
🚀 Mission: Win races & improve qualifying.
✅ 5 top-5 finishes, 13 top-10s in 2024
✅ Improved consistency but lacked the punch of a race-winner
❌ Needs to qualify better (Avg: 10.1 starting position)
👉 If Kirkwood can merge his 2023 winning ability with his 2024 consistency, he’ll be in the top-5 conversation all year.
Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Honda) – The Bounce-Back Candidate
🚀 Mission: Stay out of trouble & finish races.
❌ 6 DNFs in 2024 (more than 2019-2023 combined)
✅ Showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t capitalize
👉 If Ericsson can avoid early-season bad luck, he’s capable of a top-10 finish—but he must start strong at St. Pete to build momentum.
2025 Outlook: Championship or Bust?
Strengths:
✔ Unmatched driver chemistry—Herta, Kirkwood, and Ericsson work exceptionally well together.
✔ Continuity in engineering—stability should maximize team performance.
✔ Funding from TWG—investment in tech & development could be a game-changer.
Challenges:
❌ The weight of expectations—after last season’s improvement, anything less than a title challenge is a failure.
❌ No major upgrades—while the team kept its personnel, others have made big moves (Penske, McLaren).
❌ Sponsorship uncertainty—is Kirkwood’s Chili’s sponsorship just for St. Pete or for the full season?
Final Verdict: Can Andretti End Their Championship Drought?
🔹 Since Ryan Hunter-Reay’s 2012 title, Andretti has been a step behind Penske and Ganassi.
🔹 Herta is ready to challenge for the title, Kirkwood is on the verge of a breakthrough, and Ericsson needs a redemption season.
🔹 With a stable team, strong funding, and an aggressive mindset, 2025 is Andretti’s best chance in years.
💭 Prediction: Herta will be a title contender, Kirkwood will make a leap, and Ericsson will rebound—but can they match Palou and Newgarden?
