The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is gearing up for another thrilling race week at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and the debut of hybrid technology in the upcoming event has become a highly discussed topic. However, despite the excitement about new technology, the focus remains on the outstanding performance of Alex Palou in the championship standings.
Palou, the two-time reigning series champion, is preparing to defend The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid. He aims not only to maintain his title but also to extend his lead in the standings. The driver of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda currently holds a 23-point advantage over his closest competitor, Team Penske’s Will Power.
Having achieved victory in last year’s event, Palou secured an impressive three wins in a row and left the race with a commanding 110-point lead. As he returns to Mid-Ohio, the 27-year-old Spaniard is determined to secure another race win, placing him in a strong position to become the first repeat champion since Dario Franchitti in 2011.
Palou has already established a significant lead in the title race by finishing in the top five of seven of the season’s first eight races, leaving all but two opponents more than a full race distance behind. Power trails by 23 points, while Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon is nine points behind. The rest of the field is 68 points or more out of the lead.
This Sunday’s race marks the halfway point of the season and will be one of two remaining natural terrain road courses, with six oval races and a street race in Toronto still to come. Palou also claimed victory in last year’s race at Portland International Raceway, which will host a race on August 25th.
However, the focus for now is on Mid-Ohio. Dixon has been the dominant driver at the 13-turn, 2.258-mile circuit, winning six races, with his most recent victory in 2019. His strong track record includes eight top-three finishes at the venue, and he finished second to Palou in last year’s race.
Power holds the record for most poles at Mid-Ohio, with five to his name. Colton Herta of Andretti Global w/Curb-Agajanian was the fastest qualifier in last year’s event. Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing lead in team wins at the track, with 12 each. Both teams have earned three top-three finishes in the past two years, with last year’s podium featuring Palou, Dixon, and Power, respectively.
Several other former series race winners, including Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden, Alexander Rossi, Colton Herta, and Scott McLaughlin, will also be vying for victory at Mid-Ohio. It is worth noting that the circuit has been repaved since last year’s race, adding a new element of challenge for the drivers.
The racing action kicks off on Friday with the first practice session at 3:20 p.m. ET, with live coverage on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Qualifying will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on the same outlets. Fans can look forward to an action-packed weekend as Palou and the rest of the field battle it out for victory at Mid-Ohio.