2025 must be the year that Team Penske breaks Chip Ganassi Racing’s dominance. The team is determined to bring the IndyCar title back to Mooresville, North Carolina. To achieve this, they are relying on the same three top drivers as in recent years: Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power.

Josef Newgarden

Newgarden, in particular, will be eager to get back on track for the new season. The American may have won the Indy 500 last year, but the rest of the season was disappointing. He finished only eighth in the championship, nearly 150 points behind champion Alex Palou. That has to change in 2025.

“I think you could call last year a dynamic season,” Newgarden said. “It was a year of incredible highs, but there were also some deep lows. For me, it was really a good season to experience. It makes me excited for 2025. In the end, it turned out to be a very positive year, despite the ups and downs. It put us in a great position to start strong in 2025, and I think we can do that.”

Scott McLaughlin

Scott McLaughlin is definitely a name to keep an eye on. The driver, who is entering his fifth IndyCar season this year, was by far the most productive racer on ovals last season while also performing strongly on road and street courses. That makes McLaughlin one of the clear title contenders, although his first goal is to claim his maiden Indy 500 victory.

“For me, the Indy 500 has always been the main goal because it feels similar to my experience in Australia,” McLaughlin said. “That’s no disrespect to the championship itself, but on that one day, everything has to be perfect. You have to run a flawless race and make it happen. And ultimately, that’s exactly what happened when we won Bathurst and then the championship.”

“In the championship, you can have a bad race and still bounce back—anything can happen. Your competitors will have their moments throughout the season, and so on. And of course, winning the title would be an amazing goal, too. But for me, winning the 500 is my top priority. The history behind it, and just the fact that it’s such an incredible race—yeah, that’s definitely what I dream about the most.”

Will Power

Will Power was in the championship fight until the final race last year, but two crucial setbacks prevented him from overtaking Alex Palou for the title. In Milwaukee, Power spun on a restart, and during the season finale in Nashville, his seatbelts came loose. These incidents ultimately dropped him to fourth place in the standings.

“Based on our performance in the second half—really, for most of last season—we were very strong,” Power said. “It was a really disappointing ending, of course, losing a few spots in the championship. But I’m determined to come back strong in 2025. I think we have the car, engine, and overall package to make it happen, and Penske is in a great position right now.”

“Colton looked very strong last year. I think Andretti will be competitive. McLaren will be strong as well—they now have Lundgaard alongside Pato, so that’s two really strong guys. It’s going to be a tough year, as always, and that’s exactly why I love it. I thrive on that kind of challenge!”