It is a busy weekend globally and, of course, domestically for Kiwis. Plenty is going on for any fan of the sport. From F1 to Supercars to INDYCAR, it is a paradise weekend for any race fan.
This includes North America and the NTT INDYCAR Series, with round 3 of the 2025 championship at Long Beach and USF Pro 2000 series rounds 3, 4, and 5 at New Orleans for our Kiwi drivers.
Plus, of course, SVG on the mighty Bristol Oval in NASCAR, and that Monster Mile is a whole other beast of a track.
So, looking firstly at the NTT INDYCAR series, there are three Kiwis, and really, they are all possible race winners or podium place-getters in my eye. We are due that Kiwi clean sweep of the podium and feel it is coming, that’s for sure, and what a day that will be. That’s a tariff like no other from our boys.
Scott Dixon has consistently been a strong contender at Long Beach, including many podium performances. He won in 2015, leading the race for 44 laps in a dominating run. In 2024, he started eighth, played the fuel save game, and took the win.
With 6 Championships, 57 wins, 140 podiums, 32 poles, and a win every season in the series to his name, this again is time for the ever-highly-rated Dixon to strike.
The competition for the Iceman—well, half the field, of course—is capable of winning, but this highlights these contenders as the biggest threats to all the Andretti Global drivers, at least two from McLaren, O’Ward and Lundgaard, and the entire Team Penske squad.
On current form, teammate Alex Palou could be the biggest threat to a Dixon win. Currently, Palou is two from two in the season, so let’s face it: Can that continue? It’s very rare in this series, but never say never in INDYCAR.
Scott McLaughlin—Long Beach is a mixed-bag track for the likeable Kiwi, who finished 10th in 2023 and near the rear of the field in 2024. Then, there were the Penske dramas that followed that weekend on the push-to-pass saga.
McLaughlin is one of those drivers that rises to the occasion on a street course with his often elbows-out style of racing when required, a hangover from Supercars but the known skills now of an INDYCAR race winner, so again, I say a podium or win is very possible.
Marcus Armstrong debuted at Long Beach in 2023 with an 8th-place finish. In 2024, he started from 9th and ended up 12th. Again, Armstrong is another driver who thrives on the street course atmosphere.
With his MSR entry and the alliance with CGR, I expect to see Marcus make the Fast 6 in qualifying and have a strong race as a result. MSR is proving they have the goods, and it’s time to shine for them and Armstrong.
Long Beach is the 50th Grand Prix, running in various forms. 11 turns over the 1.968-mile street course, and the iconic hairpin and fountain sections always create something within the race. In 2025, the lap distance will be increased by five laps, so it will be 90 laps from 85, which will undoubtedly spice up the race strategy and fuel mileage.
Based on the forecast, expect a warm day and sunny skies, crowds of around 200,000, and a well-tread track. Over the weekend, there will be a variety of racing, including the Weathertech Sports Car series, the Stadium trucks, and Drifting.
The series ramps up now after massive breaks between rounds one and two. After this, it is Barber, the Indy Oval Test, the Indy GP, and then the 500. They are all rapid-fire, and the season is relentless after Indy.
The INDY NXT series will not be seen again until the INDY GP Weekend in early May, back at the Indianapolis Road Course. Kiwis Callum Hedge and Liam Sceats have good mileage around there, so all signs remain positive. It’s incredible to think we have all these guys competing at such a high level, and they deserve our support, that’s for sure.
Onwards to our two other young up-and-comers:
Jacob Douglas, Sebastian Manson, and the USF Pro 2000 series are racing this weekend in New Orleans (NOLA). The series pre-season test was held there in mid-February, so teams should have a good baseline to work from straight out of the trailer when practice gets underway.
It’s a three-race weekend for them after the doubleheader weekend to start the season at St Petersburg.
Douglas is 9th in the championship after a podium finish in race two at St Pete, while Manson is 15th out of the 22-car field. It’s a tough weekend for these guys, with many races and nonstop racing in a very tight field of drivers, teams, and cars.
After this, there was a small break and three races at the IMS Road Course during the INDY GP weekend. Then, there was the small but very fast oval at IRP, and for Manson, it was his first run on the oval.
Weather could be a significant factor. The areas had a load of recent storms, but hey, Kiwis are used to a bit of rain, aren’t we?
Header Image: Travis Hinkle / IMS Photo
