LONG BEACH, Calif. — Previous to the 2025 INDYCAR season, the Andretti World drivers indicated that they did not see a distinction between the change in possession after Dan Towriss, the CEO of TWG Motorsports, assumed management from Michael Andretti.
After three races, Kyle Kirkwood can verify that there, in actual fact, is a distinction.
Kirkwood dominated the Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside. He beat Alex Palou (who completed in second) by 2.68 seconds. Palou, by the way in which, received the primary two races of the season.
And Kirkwood captured his second win within the final three years at one of many sport’s most historic and prestigious occasions, apart from the Indianapolis 500. Sitting second within the standings at 34 factors behind Palou, he can inform that the funding Towriss and his companions have made within the workforce has induced a constructive shift.
“We do not see precisely what goes on within the growth aspect,” Kirkwood stated. “However clearly, three races in now, we appear higher than we now have been up to now couple years. That is attributable to his management and the funding that is going into the workforce.
“We have now an inflow of individuals, an inflow of growth. There is a massive will to win. We obtained a win right here, however we additionally had actually good performances on the previous two circuits.”
Towriss has rather a lot on his sports activities plate nowadays because the proprietor of Andretti World (in INDYCAR and Method E), Spire Motorsports in NASCAR (each Cup and vans) and Wayne Taylor Racing (IMSA). He’s embarking on his largest motorsports quest but, as he builds the Cadillac F1 workforce that’s set to debut on the grid subsequent yr.
He didn’t view the Kirkwood win as an indication of one thing altering in 2025.
“I would go again to following the 500 final yr with among the investments we made within the workforce,” stated Towriss, whose sports activities portfolio consists of an possession stake within the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Andretti World has been on an upward trajectory on INDYCAR. I am happy with how we introduced pace to the monitor.”
Towriss spent the weekend going from Bristol (vans) to Miami (Method E) to Lengthy Seaside (Dodgers, INDYCAR). He was capable of have fun on a weekend the place his group used the varied occasions to spotlight its sprawling sports activities pursuits.
He celebrated in the identical victory lane as he did two years in the past with Kirkwood for the primary win after his firm had invested in Andretti.
“When we first obtained concerned from an funding standpoint with Andretti World, we obtained the win. We simply continued to put money into the workforce,” Towriss stated. “The workforce has simply been so resilient, simply persevering with to attempt to get higher in such a aggressive sequence.
“Right this moment is simply an extra-special win for me personally from that standpoint. To have the ability to do it On this location, this race, with Kyle once more, is one thing that I will take into consideration for a very long time.”
Kirkwood made it look comparatively simple. He received the pole and led 46 of the 90 laps. He didn’t deviate from technique, as different drivers tried to pit on completely different laps to probably achieve spots. On his last cease within the caution-free race, Kirkwood blended onto the monitor forward of Palou and held him off — ending the Palou quest for 3 consecutive wins to open the season.
“We actually did not have that final pace that the 27 automobile [of Kirkwood] had,” Palou stated. “They did an superior job all through the weekend, qualifying and the race.
“He was managing. Each time I used to be having a small probability, he simply had somewhat bit extra tempo. Disgrace that we could not actually make it extra fascinating for the followers, however I am tremendous glad to be right here.”
It was the third profession win for Kirkwood, who received Lengthy Seaside and Nashville in 2023 however went winless final yr. Whereas he is second within the standings, his teammate Colton Herta is seventh and Marcus Ericsson is twelfth.
“We nonetheless have the identical precise individuals round us, similar precise group, however we will really feel it,” Kirkwood stated. “Issues are beginning to click on in a number of methods.
“We’re producing quick race automobiles. We’re getting higher on the locations we weren’t so nice at. Our pit stops are exponentially higher. There’s a ton of funding going into it. It is massive for them to see investments paying off. That is all individuals need to see.”
Towriss hopes he’ll see his drivers problem and beat Palou persistently.
“It is a course of to enhance,” Towriss stated. “There’s a variety of areas of enchancment. There’s the pace within the automobile. There’s execution on pit highway from that standpoint, and we actually have simply continued to construct. There clearly had been just a few issues in St. Pete that had been disappointing from a workforce standpoint [with pit-stop issues], however the pace within the automobile has been there.
“As we proceed to execute, we’re very excited concerning the season. Clearly, Alex Palou is having one hell of a season. He will be powerful to catch, however we predict we will do it, and we will make it powerful for him.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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