By: Spencer Neff
July 4, 2025
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood was the fastest in Friday afternoon’s opening practice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Heading into this weekend’s Honda Indy 200, the driver currently second in points has yet to record an NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory on a permanent road course.
The Jupiter, Florida native posted a best lap of 1m05.8272 (123.487 mph) on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn course.
Finishing the practice just .1888 of a second off Kirkwood’s best lap was Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward. The 2024 Mid-Ohio winner was the fastest Chevrolet behind Kirkwood’s Honda.
Points leader and 2023 Mid-Ohio winner Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing was third, followed by 2017 winner Josef Newgarden of Team Penske and Kirkwood’s teammate Marcus Ericsson.
Two weeks after his first INDYCAR pole, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Louis Foster was 16th, best among the field’s three rookies.
A few minutes past halfway in the full-field session, David Malukas crashed into the Turn 9 tire barrier. The A.J. Foyt Racing driver climbed from his car but did not run anymore on the day.
Herta would also spin off track into the tire barrier, this one being in Turin 6 later in the session.
Meyer Shank Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist also saw an early finish to his day after hybrid issues.
Rasmussen and ECR penalized following engine change
On Friday morning, INDYCAR released the following bulletin:
INDYCAR has announced a six-position starting grid penalty for the entry of No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing for an unapproved engine change following a team test at Iowa Speedway Wednesday, June 25.
The entry was in violation of:
Rule 16.1.2.3.2. A fifth (5th) Engine is eligible to earn Engine Manufacturer points if a Full Season Entrant has completed the Full Season Entrant Engine Mileage with its first four (4) Engines. Otherwise, a fifth (5th) or more Engine does not earn Engine Manufacturer points and will be considered an Unapproved Engine change-out.
According to Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport Sunday, July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Up Next
Here is the remaining weekend schedule at Mid-Ohio. Stay with IndyCar1909 for the latest on the Honda Indy 200 and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
At-track schedule (all times local):
SATURDAY, JULY 5
8:35-9:20 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Practice 2, FS1 (live)
10:30-11:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 2 (45 minutes of green flag or 60 total minutes), FS1 (live)
1:30-2 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12 minutes each), FS1 (live)
2:35-4 p.m. – Qualifying for the NTT P1 Award (Three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (live)
SUNDAY, JULY 6
9:32-9:57 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warmup, FS1 (live)
10:31 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio command to start engines
10:36 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (35 laps/55 minutes), FS1 (live)
12:27 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Driver Introductions
1:15 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport command to start engines
1:22 p.m. – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport (90 laps/203.22 miles), FOX (live)
Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR Fast Facts by INDYCAR
IndyCar1909.com 