Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider The 2025 INDYCAR season delivered on the hype, from a record-setting champion to an exciting Indy 500 to drama on and off the monitor.After INDYCAR handed out {hardware} at its official awards ceremony, we at FOX Sports activities have some awards and superlatives to dish out as we mirror on the previous season.Driver of the YearAlex Palou. C’mon, who else would get this nod? He received eight of the 17 races and had the most important margin of victory of any champion underneath the present factors system. Race of the YearIndy 500. OK, possibly a little bit bias right here, however the Indy 500 will nearly at all times wins this award. It’s, in any case, the best spectacle in racing. The on-track product didn’t disappoint with a Palou cross on Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps remaining.Race of the Yr (non-Indy 500)Milwaukee. An excellent occasion with 9 lead adjustments, Christian Rasmussen received with a daring transfer to take the lead with 16 laps remaining — the primary laps he had led all day. It was the primary victory for Rasmussen.Second of the YearNot a lot can beat the images of Palou and his spouse and 3-year-old daughter on the ceremonial kissing the bricks at Indy.Exhausting Luck Driver of the YearPato O’Ward. He had an amazing season. Probably a championship-worthy season in some years, however not within the one the place Palou was unbelievable.Pole of the YearWas there something extra thrilling than rookie Robert Shawrtzman, driving for a rookie Prema group, profitable the Indianapolis 500 pole? Not on a pole day.Transfer of the YearChristian Lundgaard going from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to Arrow McLaren gave the impression to be a wise one. He went from ending eleventh within the standings a 12 months in the past to fifth in 2025 (and had run a lot of the season within the top-four in factors). Weird Second of the Yr (kinda laughable):Whereas it was harmful, Will Energy knocking Kyle Kirkwood out of the way in which at Detroit in follow was one thing you possibly can in all probability have a look at and snicker at within the aftermath. It was uncommon to see the chrome horn in INDYCAR.Weird Second of the Yr (positively gut-wrenching)Scott McLaughlin wrecking on an Indy 500 warmup lap whereas getting some warmth in his tires was stunning to see. That’s one thing you wouldn’t want on anybody to be out of the race earlier than it even begins.Breakout Driver of the YearKyle Kirkwood went from seventh within the 2024 standings to fourth with three wins. It was the 12 months that the Andretti driver confirmed he will likely be one to be within the combine for wins for the following a number of years.Rookie of the YearLouis Foster received the rookie of the 12 months by a few factors over Shwartzman, however he clearly had the higher season. He received a pole and began six races inside the highest 10. However his finest end was eleventh.Storyline of the YearThe Will Energy saga at Penske is one which cleaning soap operas are made from as he and Penske debated his future all year long. He ended up leaving for Andretti. Enigma of the YearFrom unbelievable moments to scratch-your-head moments, Santino Ferrucci had all of them in 2025. He was one to look at for positive.Most Improved Staff of the YearMeyer Shank Racing went from having its finest driver ending twelfth within the standings (solely Felix Rosenqvist drove all of the races for the workforce in 2024) to each contained in the top-10 with Felix Rosenqvist (sixth) and Marcus Armstrong (eighth).Quietly Good Driver of YearScott Dixon completed third within the standings even when you barely heard him all year long except for the win at Mid-Ohio. He did open the season with a second-place end and positioned top-5 in six races.Shock of the YearRinus VeeKay didn’t have a experience till a few weeks earlier than the season, after which he went out and had the most effective seasons in Dale Coyne Racing historical past as he completed 14th within the standings with seven top-10s.Comeback of the YearDavid Malukas began 2024 with out a experience after he broke his wrist. He completed 2025 at eleventh within the standings and with a deal to go to Penske in 2026. Disappointment of the YearTeam Penske for positive. Two wins that solely got here within the remaining three races. No driver increased than ninth within the standings and that was Energy, adopted by McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden. Three executives fired (one now at McLaren, one other at Andretti). Good riddance to 2025 for Penske.Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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2025 INDYCAR Awards: Choosing Greatest Driver, Prime Rookie, Largest Shock, Extra
