LWOS continues IndyCar 101 this time by familiarizing fans and newcomers with the various tracks that will be part of the 2025 IndyCar schedule.
IndyCar 101: The Tracks
What makes IndyCar different from other leading racing series is the range of tracks it uses. Throughout the season, drivers take on three kinds of tracks: street circuits, road courses, and ovals.
in this IndyCar 101, you’ll learn about the track, its history, and the most successful drivers at each.
Race 1: St. Pete
Since its launch in 2005, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has been an important part of the IndyCar Series and since 2009, it has been a tradition to open the season here.
The circuit is 1.8 miles long with 14 turns, running through downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, and part of the Albert Whitted Airport runway.
The first race in 2005 was won by the legendary Dan Wheldon. Helio Castroneves currently has the most wins at St. Pete has three wins while Team Penske is the most successful team, racking up 11 victories
Race 2: The Thermal Club
The Thermal Club is a permanent road course located in a gated community within a 300-plus-acre private country club in Coachella Valley. The track is also used for off-season testing.
In 2024, the $1 Million Challenge was an exhibition meaning no championships were handed out, but in 2025 it becomes a full championship points race. Last year, the 20-lap race was won by the 2024 IndyCar Champion, Alex Palou.
Race 3: Long Beach
The third track on the 2025 IndyCar schedule is another street circuit this time in downtown Long Beach, California. The race circuit is a temporary road course laid out in the city streets surrounding Long Beach and its waterfront
There is a three-way tie between the drivers part of the IndyCar Series with the most wins at Long Beach. Scott Dixon, Will Power, and Mike Conway each have two wins on the street circuit.
Race 4: Barber
The Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix is a road course held at Barber Motorsports Park. The inaugural event was held in April 2010 and has become a staple of the schedule since then.
Two-time IndyCar Champion Josef Newgarden holds the record for most victories at Barber with 3. Team Penske has the most wins of any team with seven.
READ MORE: Scott McLaughlin Wins a Chaotic Barber Classic
Race 5: Grand Prix of Indianapolis
The race is held on a combined road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It incorporates portions of Turns 1 and 2 and the front straight of the iconic oval then differs off to the infield. The race was first held in 2014 and is typically held on a Saturday in mid-May, two weekends before the Indianapolis 500 as it serves as a lead-in.
Power and former IndyCar driver Simon Pagenaud share the most driver wins with three wins each while Team Penske has the most team wins with five.
Race 6: Indianapolis 500
‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ also known as the Indy 500 is held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The speedway measures at 2.500 mi (4.023 km) in a rectangular oval shape. Drivers compete for 500 miles or 200 laps around the speedway. This year is the 108th running of the iconic event.
The most successful drivers are A. J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr., Rick Mears, and Hélio Castroneves, each who won the race four times.
Race 7: Streets of Detroit
The Detroit Grand Prix had been at the Belle Isle Circuit for years but in 2023 IndyCar moved back to a downtown circuit. This track only features ten corners compared to the eighteen corners the original circuit had.
Since the return to the streets of Detroit two Chip Ganassi drivers Alex Palou and Dixon, each have a victory.
Race 8: World Wide Technology Raceway
This oval track near St Louis is 1.25 miles (2.01 km) long and egg-shaped. Each corner has different banking, with Turns 1 and 2 tighter than Turns 3 and 4. Newgarden excels here, winning 5 times since 2017, including three consecutive victories from 2020-2022.
Race 9: Road America
Road America has been a fan favorite since its appearance in 1982 part of the CART/Champ Car World Series. Due to its 4.048 mi (6.515 km) length, fuel mileage has been a deciding factor in many races. In addition, the track features many elevation changes, along with a long front stretch.
There’s a three-way tie for most wins; Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Michael Andretti each with three.
Race 10: Mid-Ohio
Mid-Ohio is a 13-turn road course that has everything for an exciting race that offers a little of everything — elevation changes, high-speed corners, flowing corners, tight corners, and a unique pit lane.
Chip Ganassi Racing leads with 11 total victories, with driver Scott Dixon scoring six of those wins.
Race 11 & 12: Iowa
Iowa Speedway is a short oval track measuring 0.875 mi (1.408 km). Although lap times reach just 18 seconds, the track is physically and mentally demanding due to its various banking.
The Hy-Vee IndyCar race weekend is the only doubleheader on the 2025 calendar with one race on Saturday and one on Sunday. Once again Newgarden has the most wins with six.
Race 13: Toronto
Toronto is the only track on the 2025 IndyCar schedule held outside of the States. It has been part of the NTT IndyCar Series since 2009, held on an 11-turn street circuit through Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard. The narrow streets keep you on edge as cars squeeze past each other in the turns.
Michael Andretti part of Newman/Haas Racing of the Champ Car World Series has the most wins on the Street of Toronto with seven.
Race 14: Laguna Seca
The Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey is an IndyCar Series race held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The racetrack is 2.238 mi (3.602 km) long. Its eleven turns include the famous “Corkscrew,“ with its six-story drop in a mere 450 feet
Former CART driver Bobby Rahal has the most wins with four while the current IndyCar Series driver most wins is Colton Herta with two.
Race 15: Portland
Portland International Raceway is a road course that is almost perfectly flat and runs clockwise. IndyCar races on the track that includes 12 turns at a length of 1.967 mi (3.166 km). The has had some iconic races including the closest two-car and closest three-car finish on a road course.
Michael Andretti and Unser Jr. tie for the most wins with three IndyCar history while Power has the most of the IndyCar Series with two.
Race 16: Milwaukee Mile
This track is a one-mile oval that almost feels like a road course because of the 9-degree banking in the turns, which keeps things exciting. The NTT IndyCar Series has hosted events from 2004 to 2015 and again from 2011 to 2015. In 2024 the track was featured as a double-header.
The IndyCar Series drivers with the most wins are Tony Kanaan and Ryan Hunter-Reay each with two.
Race 17: Nashville
The grand finale; the last track of the 2025 IndyCar schedule is in Nashville at the Nashville Speedway. After being on the backburner since 2009 the IndyCar Series returned to the city for the Music City Grand Prix, which was held on a downtown street circuit. However, due to ongoing construction, the 2024 event relocated to the Nashville Superspeedway,
Last year’s race saw Colton Herta take the top spot, achieving his first-ever victory on an oval.
READ NEXT: IndyCar 101: The Points System
Stay tuned for more IndyCar 101 in the next few weeks as the season approaches.
Featured Image Credit: Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens. 3/11/2024
