Heatwave Threatens Intensity at Road America

The XPEL Grand Prix at Road America is set to be a scorcher, with both the weather and the competition expected to be intense. Air temperatures are predicted to climb into the mid-90s, possibly creating one of the hottest races ever on the Wisconsin track.

Foster’s Front-Row Start

Louis Foster, fresh off his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole, will lead the pack. The manufacturer, Honda, has dominated this season, securing victories in all eight races. Their streak extends to nine wins, dating back to the 2024 season finale.

Starting behind Foster are Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood, second and third respectively. The conditions could give an advantage to those skilled at managing tire wear, a strategy favored by Palou and his team.

“It’s going to be a very, very tricky race tomorrow for the cars, the drivers, the pit crews, everyone around,”

—Louis Foster

Challenges and Opportunities

The scorching heat poses significant challenges to the drivers. It will test the durability of car components and the endurance of the drivers, who race in fireproof suits without power steering. Colton Herta believes that the heat may highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each car.

Marcus Armstrong agrees the heat will significantly separate the competitive cars from the rest. Alex Palou welcomes the challenge, adding to the anticipation. The National Weather Service is predicting extreme heat conditions.

Dramatic Pole Position

Foster’s resilience and his team’s work paid off Saturday, when he secured the pole position. This was a remarkable feat, especially since his car was rebuilt twice in the last two weeks due to crashes.

Graham Rahal qualified sixth. His strategy involved not using the softer alternate tires. He believes this decision could end his 134-race winless streak.

Kirkwood’s Pursuit of History

Kyle Kirkwood is looking to complete the NTT INDYCAR SERIES “cycle,” needing one win on a natural road course to achieve this. If he wins, he could become the first Andretti Global driver since 2012 to win three races in a row.

Kirkwood has shown consistent improvement on natural road courses, improving his results from 20th to fifth. He’s entering the weekend with momentum, after topping Friday’s practice chart, and finishing fourth in Saturday’s practice.

Road America is a 4.014-mile, 14-turn track with high-speed corners, and long straights. It is considered one of the best road courses in North America. Alex Palou, who has won twice on the track, considers it among his favorites.

Josef Newgarden considers Road America the road course version of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Other Notables

• Road America is the third track this season with 14 turns.
• Callum Ilott qualified a season-best ninth.

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