The NTT IndyCar Series is set to make its debut at The Thermal Club for the highly anticipated Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix today, March 23, 2025. After a three-week hiatus, the series returns to action, and all eyes are on the drivers as they prepare to navigate the exclusive 17-turn, 3.067-mile road course nestled in the Coachella Valley of California.
Pato O'Ward of Arrow McLaren has claimed pole position for the race, achieving a blisteringly fast time of 1:39.9567 during qualifying on March 22. This marks O'Ward's sixth career pole and his first since the 2022 season at Mid-Ohio, showcasing a remarkable turnaround from his dismal performance in the season opener at St. Petersburg earlier this month.
“I knew if we could get the car to my liking, I would get it done,” O’Ward expressed, crediting his team for the effort put into their preparations. He added, “We just made a little bit of an adjustment. As soon as we went out in Q2, I said ‘I've got this.’” Parallelly, teammate Christian Lundgaard joined O'Ward on the front row, qualifying second with a time just .1678 seconds slower.
Alex Palou, the two-time defending champion who secured victory in a non-points race at Thermal last year, will start in a strong third position. Palou showed consistent speed throughout qualifying, but had to settle for third place with a time of 1:40.3092.
The top five is rounded out by Colton Herta in fourth and Marcus Ericsson in fifth, both ready to challenge O'Ward and Lundgaard right from the outset. Herta mentioned it was encouraging to see all three Andretti Global cars performing well, saying, “If we’re not quick right away after a place that you’ve tested at, it’s a little disappointing.”
Saturday's qualifying session was intense, as drivers pushed their limits with revised tire compounds under the California sun. However, not all teams celebrated as Team Penske faced disappointment when all three of their drivers—Scott McLaughlin, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power—failed to advance beyond the first round of qualifying. This marks the first time since September 2021 that none of their drivers made it past round one.
While McLaughlin struggled, finishing in 25th after spinning during his first qualifying attempt, Newgarden and Power only managed to secure 17th and 21st starting positions, respectively. “We were good in every single session except the ones that counted,” Power lamented, indicating ongoing challenges as the season progresses.
The race event begins at 3:00 p.m. ET, with pre-race coverage kicking off at 11:00 a.m. on FS1. Fans can catch the green flag at 3:22 p.m. on FOX. Viewers are eagerly anticipating how tire strategies will unfold throughout the 65-lap contest, especially with the expected wear of the new tire compounds in the heat of the day.
This weekend’s race at The Thermal Club is particularly significant as it transitions from a non-points-paying exhibition to an integral part of the NTT IndyCar Series championship landscape. The last race at St. Petersburg saw Alex Palou securing his first win of the season, and now he is on the lookout for another strong performance as he aims for his third consecutive series championship.
For teams and drivers alike, today presents a crucial opportunity to earn valuable championship points and build momentum as the season unfolds. With O'Ward starting from pole, fans are eager to see if he can translate that advantage into victory on this challenging course.
As the excitement builds for the inaugural Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix, racing aficionados are reminded that this event promises a thrilling battle on track, with tire strategies and driver skill ultimately dictating who will emerge victorious. Tune in to FOX or stream on the FOX Sports app to follow the action live.
