One of the big questions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field entering the 2025 season was how to halt the title march of three-time and two-time defending series champion Alex Palou. They’re still searching for that answer, even after the first race of the season Sunday on the sunny streets of St. Petersburg. Palou opened his quest for a third consecutive Astor Challenge Cup as series champion in the best way possible, winning the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding in a master class of strategy, speed and patience. He drove his No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing DHL Honda to a 2.8669-second victory over teammate and six-time series champion Scott Dixon (No. 9 Chip Ganassi PNC Bank Racing Honda). “What an amazing job by everybody,” Palou said. “They gave me everything we needed this weekend to win. I told you yesterday we had a really, really fast car. Our strategy changed a lot during that first yellow, but I’m so glad we got that No. 10 in Victory Lane. It’s been 138 days since Nashville (2024 season finale), and I’ve been dreaming about this every single night.” Spaniard Palou, who started eighth, earned his 12th career victory in the series. The Ganassi team secured its first 1-2 finish since July 2023 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to INDYCAR Media)

(Photo by Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment)

(MotoGP.com)

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez (No. 93 Ducati Lenovo Team) won the season-opening PT Grand Prix of Thailand. Brother Alex Marquez (No.73 BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) was second and Francesco Bagnaia (No. 63 Ducati Lenovo Team) finished third. Ninety-three Grand Prix weekends after he last led the World Championship, Marc Marquez took his first Grand Prix victory in the red of Ducati, and a 112th podium, which matches ex-teammate at Honda Dani Pedrosa in the rostrum rankings. Franco Morbidelli (No. 21 Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) clinched fourth place ahead of an impressive AI Ogura (No. 79 Trackhouse MotoGP Team). Ogura’s result is the best by a rookie in a Grand Prix since 2013 – some kid called Marc Marquez back then. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to MotoGP.com)