The 2025 IndyCar season is still weeks away, but Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson is already setting the pace. The 2022 Indy 500 champion posted the fastest lap in Tuesday’s six-car private test at The Thermal Club, clocking a 1m40.136s in his No. 28 Honda.
Ericsson narrowly edged out Andretti teammate Kyle Kirkwood (+0.080s), but the biggest surprise of the day came from PREMA Racing’s Robert Shwartzman, who stole the spotlight during the team’s debut IndyCar test. The Russian driver topped the timing sheets twice throughout the session before ultimately finishing third (+0.175s) behind the two Andretti drivers.
Ericsson Bounces Back at Thermal
Thermal wasn’t kind to Ericsson last time around, but the Swede showed major improvements in this outing.
“Last time we were out here in Thermal, we felt like it wasn’t maybe our strongest track or weekend,” Ericsson admitted.
This time, however, the No. 28 Honda looked dialed in, setting the benchmark lap of the day and proving Andretti’s off-season progress.
PREMA Racing’s Debut: Shwartzman Makes a Statement
PREMA Racing, making its first-ever appearance in IndyCar, showed immediate pace, with Shwartzman proving why he’s an early Rookie of the Year favorite.
The No. 83 Chevrolet was at the top of the order on two occasions, showcasing not only Shwartzman’s raw speed but also the team’s ability to adapt quickly to IndyCar machinery.
Meanwhile, his teammate Callum Ilott had a frustrating start to the day, spending most of the morning in the garage due to mechanical issues. However, once Ilott got rolling, he delivered a strong fourth-place performance (+0.247s).
“We had a lot to work for in the morning, which was kind of expected,” Ilott said. “You never know what you’re going to get with a new car to shake down. But honestly, we did a good job. Got one lap in just before lunch break and played a bit of catch-up towards the end.”
Rookie Jacob Abel Gains Valuable Seat Time
Dale Coyne Racing’s Jacob Abel, making his first official appearance as an IndyCar driver, finished sixth (+1.451s) but logged the most laps of any driver (69), focusing on fundamentals rather than raw speed.
“It was my first day as an IndyCar driver, officially, doing pit stops, hitting the marks, in laps, out laps, all that,” Abel explained. “I think there was a lot more to our day today to accomplish than just making the car go fast for one lap.”
Thermal Test Results (Top 6)
Position | Driver | Team | Time Gap | Laps Completed |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marcus Ericsson | Andretti Global | – | 60 |
2 | Kyle Kirkwood | Andretti Global | +0.080s | 52 |
3 | Robert Shwartzman | PREMA Racing | +0.175s | 54 |
4 | Callum Ilott | PREMA Racing | +0.247s | 50 |
5 | Colton Herta | Andretti Global | +0.269s | 53 |
6 | Jacob Abel | Dale Coyne Racing | +1.451s | 69 |
Rinus VeeKay Spotted at Thermal—Final Seat Still Open
The last remaining open seat in the 2025 IndyCar grid—Dale Coyne Racing’s No. 18 Honda—may soon have a driver. Former Ed Carpenter Racing standout Rinus VeeKay was spotted at Thermal, fueling speculation that he could be on the verge of signing with Coyne.
With pre-season testing set to continue at Sebring in February, the IndyCar grid is nearly set, and the battle lines for 2025’s championship fight are starting to form.