Alex Palou's victory March 2 in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding certainly made a strong statement to open the defense of his 2023 and 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships.

Given his impressive consistency with 33 top-10 finishes in the last 37 races for Chip Ganassi Racing, including winning the Astor Challenge Cup championship trophy three times in four years and The Thermal Club $1 Million exhibition race last year, it's clear that Palou has been the dominant driver this decade. His impact is felt by most of his rivals in the paddock.

The Spaniard’s ability to charge through the field, like at St. Petersburg when he climbed from eighth at the start to score his 10th win in the last 37 races, likely puts added pressure on his competitors entering The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix airing at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, Fox Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network.

In INDYCAR, mental toughness is as crucial as raw speed, and Palou’s consistent success – especially in high-pressure moments – is giving Palou a psychological edge.

“(He is) A little in my head, but I kind of like that,” Josef Newgarden said of Palou.

Team Penske’s Newgarden finished third in St. Petersburg and believed championship conversations for Palou are premature. He admitted Friday at The Thermal Club that Palou is a friendly rival and is using that competitive spirit to fuel his championship ambitions.

That’s saying something for a two-time series champion and the two-time defending Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner. Newgarden’s 31 career wins are tied for 10th most all-time.

Palou admitted he understands his peers’ respect but insists he makes mistakes like everyone else. He just doesn’t make them frequently, and when he does, his ability to recover often overshadows the error.

Kyle Kirkwood secured a fifth-place finish in his No. 27 Chili’s Honda for Andretti Global at St. Petersburg, but three weeks later was still frustrated looking back on the best season-opening finish of his four-year NTT INDYCAR SERIES career.

“This guy (Palou) keeps winning stuff that we need to be winning,” Kirkwood said. “It starts to get frustrating. Even when you feel like you're doing enough, it's still not enough.

“That dynamic keeps changing. I think years ago, getting top fives throughout a season would win you the championship. That's not really the case anymore. You need to get a bunch of wins, you need to get a bunch of podiums, and you need to just stack those points. So, getting a top five is good but still not enough, right? We're still searching for more.”

Rasmussen Buoyed by Strong Barber Test

Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen was among 19 NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers who tested Tuesday, March 11 at Barber Motorsports Park. The Danish driver was fast in the No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet, chiming in third on the speed charts, less than two-tenths of a second behind leader Will Power.

“I wouldn’t say surprised,” Rasmussen said. “I know kind of what we’re doing within the team, and it’s all coming together.”

The test boosted his confidence heading to The Thermal Club after recording just one top-10 finish in 15 starts during his rookie season last year.

Rasmussen is used to performing on an elite level. He is the second driver in history to earn a season championship in each division that feeds the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – USF2000 (2020), USF Pro 2000 (2021) and INDY NXT by Firestone (2023). The other is Kirkwood.

“It does feel really good because you have to rewire your brain a little bit from before you step into INDYCAR,” he said. “I've been used to winning my whole career, and then all of a sudden that's not happening. So, you definitely have to get used to that a little bit.

“But myself, the team, Alexander (Rossi) are all looking to get back into winning ways, and I think we're definitely taking steps in that direction. Rome wasn't built in a day, but it's definitely showing up and going in the right direction.”

JHR Adds Season-Long Sponsor for Robb

Juncos Hollinger Racing will feature Freedom Service Dogs of America on the No. 77 Chevrolet driven by Sting Ray Robb for the remainder of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The sponsor is featured on the rear wing, the tire ramps and near the aeroscreen.

In addition, on one side of the team’s transporter will be labeled “Class of 2025: Now in Training,” which symbolizes their early steps toward becoming life-changing service dogs. The opposite side, titled “Heroes Helping Heroes,” will highlight the graduated service dogs and the difference they make for their partners, including veterans, first responders, and individuals with disabilities.

This partnership was made possible with the support of Goodheart Animal Health Centers, whose dedication to animal welfare and veterinary excellence aligns with Freedom Service Dogs’ mission, which is to provide purpose-bred, custom-trained service dogs to veterans, young adults with autism and individuals with mobility challenges, enabling them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

Fans can support the cause by attending Freedom Service Dogs’ upcoming gala, Diamonds in the Rough: Fast & Furriest, on April 24 or by learning more at https://freedomservicedogs.org/

Vote On DeFrancesco’s Indy 500 Livery

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is teaming with Dogecoin Racing to feature the Dogecoin Shiba Inu on the No. 30 Honda driven by Devlin DeFrancesco for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Launched by the House of Doge and the Dogecoin Foundation, fans can vote on DeFrancesco’s car design.

Voting began March 19 and lasts until March 25 at dogecoin.com/indycar.

In addition to the livery, the Dogecoin-powered fundraising campaign will directly benefit Indianapolis-based Riley Children’s Foundation. The funds raised will help provide life-saving medical care to newborns, including those born prematurely or with critical conditions requiring immediate specialized treatment.

DeFrancesco was born 15 weeks premature and weighed just 1 pound at birth. He was given his last rites on two occasions and spent four months in the Neonatal ICU at a Toronto hospital before making a miraculous recovery. He uses his platform to give back and will donate $25,000 in Dogecoin to Riley Children’s Foundation in Indianapolis.

Odds and Ends

  • Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing announced this week that Florida-based Shoes For Crews, the leading global provider of slip-resistant safety footwear technology, will be an associate sponsor of the team’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES program in 2025. The company will be featured on the No. 15 Honda entry for Graham Rahal.
  • Meyer Shank Racing is partnering with Folds of Honor to host 500 veterans and first responders this weekend at The Thermal Club. Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have died or been disabled while serving the country and communities. Through this collaboration, MSR is providing behind-the-scenes access and up-close views of how the team operates during a race.
  • Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing, received the 2025 Daniel M. Rooney Ambassador’s Award during the Ireland Funds Pittsburgh Dinner Gala on Monday, March 17. The gala honors individuals who represent the Pittsburgh region in both the business world and community engagement. Ganassi, a Duquesne University graduate, has remained close to the city.
  • Dreyer & Reinbold Racing with Cusick Motorsports announced the addition of SalesAi to the No. 24 INVST DRR/Cusick Motorsports Chevrolet entry driven by veteran Jack Harvey in the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. SalesAi is an Indianapolis-based Software as a Service (SaaS) company and works closely with team sponsor INVST in various business elements.
  • Arrow McLaren driver Christian Lundgaard played golf with Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin on Wednesday. This was the first time the avid golfers played together. Lundgaard said he started the front nine with a lead, but McLaughlin won by two strokes.
  • Saturday’s practice session begins at 1 p.m. ET with NTT P1 Award qualifying to set the 27-car lineup at 5 p.m. ET. Both air on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.