Kyle Kirkwood Establishes Dominance in 2025 IndyCar Season
Detroit, MI – Kyle Kirkwood, racing for Andretti Global, demonstrated his prowess this season, currently sitting third in the IndyCar standings after a standout performance that included victories at the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.
In his first two seasons, Kirkwood competed alongside Colton Herta, finishing 11th in his rookie year before improving to seventh in 2024. Herta consistently outperformed him, clinching second in the drivers’ championship last year. However, the dynamic has shifted in 2025 as Kirkwood’s driving skills have flourished, taking him as high as second in the championship.
This season has been challenging for Herta, who now ranks ninth despite a solid performance in Detroit, where he secured a pole position and finished third. The other member of the Andretti team, Marcus Ericsson, is currently 19th after struggling in the last six races.
Since Kirkwood’s arrival at Andretti in 2023, the team has celebrated six IndyCar wins—four attributed to the 26-year-old driver. His increasing competitiveness has shifted the internal competition dynamics within the team. Bryan Herta, team strategist and Colton’s father, praised Kirkwood’s remarkable consistency and growth: “He’s showing excellence in areas that we hadn’t seen from him yet… he’s obviously becoming formidable on all types of tracks.”
Kirkwood’s dedication extends beyond the race track; his disciplined approach to preparation has impressed his team. Herta noted, “When the engineers arrive, he’s standing outside the trailer waiting… He doesn’t need a lot of adulation because he knows that hard work yields results. That motivates everyone around him.”
As of now, Kirkwood’s team is focused on maximizing race performance without getting distracted by championship standings. Herta stated, “It sounds cliche, but it’s really just one race at a time. We’re talking about the next race and what we can do to improve.”
With 13 points needed to surpass Pato O’Ward for second place and a considerable 103-point gap to championship leader Alex Palou, the path ahead remains challenging but promising for Kirkwood and Andretti Global. The next race at World Wide Technology Raceway will prove crucial as they aim to maintain momentum in the championship battle.
