Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Previous to the 2025 INDYCAR season, the Andretti International 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 truth, 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 best way, gained 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 crew has triggered a optimistic shift.
“We do not see precisely what goes on within the improvement facet,” Kirkwood mentioned. “However clearly, three races in now, we appear higher than we’ve got been up to now couple years. That is resulting from his management and the funding that is going into the crew.
“We’ve an inflow of individuals, an inflow of improvement. There is a huge will to win. We acquired a win right here, however we additionally had actually good performances on the previous two circuits.”
Towriss has lots on his sports activities plate as of late because the proprietor of Andretti International (in INDYCAR and Formulation E), Spire Motorsports in NASCAR (each Cup and vehicles) and Wayne Taylor Racing (IMSA). He’s embarking on his largest motorsports quest but, as he builds the Cadillac F1 crew that’s set to debut on the grid subsequent 12 months.
He didn’t view the Kirkwood win as an indication of one thing altering in 2025.
“I might go again to following the 500 final 12 months with a number of the investments we made within the crew,” mentioned Towriss, whose sports activities portfolio contains an possession stake within the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Andretti International 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 (vehicles) to Miami (Formulation E) to Lengthy Seaside (Dodgers, INDYCAR). He was in a position to rejoice on a weekend the place his group used the varied occasions to focus on 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 acquired concerned from an funding standpoint with Andretti International, we acquired the win. We simply continued to spend money on the crew,” Towriss mentioned. “The crew has simply been so resilient, simply persevering with to attempt to get higher in such a aggressive sequence.
“At the 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 am going to take into consideration for a very long time.”
Kirkwood made it look comparatively simple. He gained the pole and led 46 of the 90 laps. He didn’t deviate from technique, as different drivers tried to pit on totally different laps to doubtlessly 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 automotive [of Kirkwood] had,” Palou mentioned. “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 likelihood, he simply had slightly bit extra tempo. Disgrace that we could not actually make it extra attention-grabbing for the followers, however I am tremendous glad to be right here.”
It was the third profession win for Kirkwood, who gained Lengthy Seaside and Nashville in 2023 however went winless final 12 months. 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 mentioned. “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 huge for them to see investments paying off. That is all individuals wish to see.”
Towriss hopes he’ll see his drivers problem and beat Palou constantly.
“It is a course of to enhance,” Towriss mentioned. “There’s numerous areas of enchancment. There’s the pace within the automotive. There’s execution on pit street from that standpoint, and we actually have simply continued to construct. There clearly have been a number of issues in St. Pete that have been disappointing from a crew standpoint [with pit-stop issues], however the pace within the automotive has been there.
“As we proceed to execute, we’re very excited in regards to the season. Clearly, Alex Palou is having one hell of a season. He’ll be robust to catch, however we predict we will do it, and we’ll make it robust for him.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years protecting 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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