2025 INDYCAR Season Opener: St. Petersburg Race Preview
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to the Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, marking the start of what promises to be a compelling 2025 season. The series brings together an elite international field of versatile drivers ready to compete on one of America's most challenging street circuits.
Key Championship Contenders
Alex Palou enters as the defending champion, having secured his third series title. The competition includes several decorated veterans:
- Josef Newgarden - Two-time series champion and current Indianapolis 500 winner
- Will Power - Two-time series champion
- Scott Dixon - Six-time series champion
Track and Broadcasting Details
The Streets of St. Petersburg circuit has become a traditional season opener, featuring:
- Street circuit configuration
- Technical corners
- Challenging surface changes
- Waterfront sections
FOX Sports takes over as the exclusive U.S. television partner for INDYCAR in 2025, bringing all races to a national audience.
Series Overview
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES stands as North America's premier open-wheel racing championship, with races across:
- Superspeedways
- Short ovals
- Street circuits
- Permanent road courses
Championship Format
| Race Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Regular Season | Multiple race formats across varied tracks |
| Season Highlight | 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 |
| Television Coverage | All races live on FOX |
Season Highlights
The 2025 season represents a new era for INDYCAR with expanded television coverage and growing international interest in the series.
The championship continues to attract top driving talent from around the world, combining:
- Veteran champions
- Rising stars
- International competitors
- American talent
The diverse track lineup and competitive field ensure that success requires exceptional versatility and consistency across different racing disciplines. Each driver must demonstrate mastery of various racing conditions to contend for the championship.
This format has helped establish INDYCAR as a premier racing series that tests drivers' complete racing abilities rather than specialization in a single type of circuit or condition.
