Gateway Lights Up: 2025 IndyCar Event Schedule, Broadcast Coverage & Streaming Guide

The NTT IndyCar Series returns this June to World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 under the lights. Nestled just east of St. Louis, the 1.25-mile oval is one of the most unique short ovals on the schedule. Featuring an asymmetric “egg shape” layout, Turns 1–2 have 11° banking and echo New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while flatter 9° Turns 3–4 bring comparisons to Phoenix Raceway. The contrast between tighter and sweeping curves, coupled with three distinct lanes, makes for strategic racing and plenty of passing. It’s a 260-lap challenge covering 325 miles, where grip, tire management, and timing are everything.

This season, Alex Palou has been virtually unstoppable. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has already claimed five wins—including the prestigious Indianapolis 500, marking the first-ever Spanish winner of the event—and sits atop the championship standings by a historic margin of approximately 90 points over Pato O’Ward and more than 100 ahead of Kyle Kirkwood. His consistency is staggering: six top-two finishes in seven races, a feat not seen since the dominant days of A.J. Foyt. While Palou has mastered road and street circuits, ovals like Gateway remain a battleground where others may have a chance to close the gap.

Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global’s rising American star, is the only driver to have beaten Palou this year, securing victories at Long Beach and Detroit. His racecraft on temporary street circuits and his ability to capitalize when Palou falters show his growing maturity and aggressive edge. With two wins on the board and strong recent performances, Kirkwood enters Gateway as a legitimate threat. However, he’s yet to score a podium finish at this oval, making this race a critical test of his versatility.

Beyond Palou and Kirkwood, there’s no shortage of talent to watch. Pato O’Ward remains a model of consistency, racking up podiums and running second in the championship. Will Power and Scott Dixon, both past champions, bring a wealth of experience and strategic precision, especially valuable on ovals. Colton Herta has shown flashes of brilliance and qualifying speed that could translate into a breakthrough win. Rookies like Christian Lundgaard and dark horses like Santino Ferrucci and David Malukas have also demonstrated oval potential and could play spoiler under the lights.

As the series heads into its first prime-time oval of the season, World Wide Technology Raceway promises high drama. With Palou looking to extend his already commanding lead and Kirkwood chasing another win, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 could be a turning point in the championship. With a tightly packed field and multiple drivers capable of stealing the spotlight, fans can expect a thrilling showdown on one of the most technical ovals in American open-wheel racing.

World Wide Technology Raceway IndyCar Weekend Schedule