Today’s question: The NTT INDYCAR SERIES has featured two first-time oval winners this season (Alex Palou, Kyle Kirkwood) and two last season (Scott McLaughlin, Colton Herta). With two oval races to finish the 2025 season, who may join this first-time circle track winner’s club at Milwaukee or Nashville?
Curt Cavin: Easily, a half-dozen drivers come to mind, several of which are still chasing their first series victories of any kind. In reviewing this year’s oval races, I found the following interesting: The most recent short oval event was July 13 at Iowa Speedway, and the top 10 finishers included six drivers who have not won an oval race: Marcus Armstrong (photo, above) was third, David Malukas fourth, Christian Lundgaard sixth, Felix Rosenqvist seventh, Christian Rasmussen eighth and rookie Robert Shwartzman ninth. Given that and the fact he just signed an extension with Meyer Shank Racing, I’ll go with Armstrong.
Eric Smith: I’m going with David Malukas (photo, above). There’s no denying the buzz surrounding his future plans. Will Power’s win at Portland didn’t quiet the speculation that the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet could soon belong to Malukas. The catch? He’s still searching for his first career win after 59 NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts. That said, it would be fitting if his breakthrough came right after Power’s victory. Malukas has shown real strength on ovals, with all five of his career top-five finishes coming on them, including two this season. He was runner-up in the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and finished fourth at Iowa. I’m banking on Malukas becoming the next driver to score his first career oval win in the very near future.
Paul Kelly: I’m riding the hot hand and going with Christian Lundgaard (photo, above). It’s been a breakout season for the Dane, who is fighting six-time series champion Scott Dixon for third in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES final standings. He has six podium finishes in his first season in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, twice as many as in the first three full seasons combined of his INDYCAR SERIES career, all with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. All that’s missing in 2025 is a win, and after two consecutive runner-up finishes at Laguna Seca and Portland, it sure seems like Lundgaard’s time is now. There is the sticky wicket of past oval performance, as his best circle-track finish is sixth this year in the second race of the Iowa doubleheader. Still, Lundgaard has produced career-best oval finishes in two of his three oval starts this season, as he placed seventh in the Indianapolis 500. It’s hard to ignore that wave of oval and current momentum.