Kyle Kirkwood secured his third career victory and second at the streets of Long Beach after a dominant performance in the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series, taking the win in the third race of the season. The Andretti Autosport driver held off fierce competition from defending champion Alex Palou, who finished in second place after several attempts to wrestle the lead away from the #27 Chevrolet.
The race at Long Beach began with Kirkwood managing his pole position through the early laps, fending off challenges from both Colton Herta and Palou. A key moment came early as many drivers made the decision to pit early, opting for the harder tires to gain an advantage later in the race. Despite the pit strategy playing a significant role, Kirkwood maintained his lead and was able to fend off Palou’s relentless pressure throughout the event.
Palou, who had an excellent run of form following victories in St. Petersburg and Thermal Club, was never far behind Kirkwood. However, despite some strong pit strategy and tire management, Palou couldn’t break through, as the Andretti team showed impressive pace and consistency.
Kirkwood eventually took the checkered flag, leading the race with a sizable margin, while Palou, despite his best efforts, had to settle for second. The podium was completed by Christian Lundgaard, who secured a strong third place, followed by Felix Rosenqvist and Will Power rounding out the top five.
The race also saw key moments of strategy with drivers like Scott McLaughlin and Colton Herta performing well but ultimately unable to challenge for the top spots. As the race finished with an incredible pace, it solidified Kirkwood’s dominance on the tight Long Beach circuit.
The victory gives Kirkwood momentum heading into the next race at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama in early May, and with this result, the Andretti Autosport driver looks poised for a successful season in 2025.
