INDYCARNTT INDYCAR SERIES

Java House Grand Prix of Monterey Fast Facts

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By: NTT INDYCAR SERIES (Photo Courtesy INDYCAR)

Race weekend: Friday, July 25-Sunday, July 27

Track: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, an 11-turn, 2.238-mile permanent road course in Monterey, California

Race distance: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Java House Grand Prix of Monterey: 95 laps / 212.61 miles | INDY NXT by Firestone: INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 & 2: 35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes (each race)

Push to Pass parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation. | INDY NXT by Firestone: A maximum of 50 activations total or 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation.

Hybrid energy deployment parameters: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Unlimited activation with a maximum deployment of 415 kilojoules (kJ) per lap.

Firestone tire allotment: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Five sets primary, five sets alternate to be used during the event weekend. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires unless wet conditions are declared. One additional set is available for the weekend’s first session to teams fielding a rookie driver. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Four new sets to be used during the event weekend. Two carryover sets from the Mid-Ohio event may be used during Friday’s practice sessions.

X: @WeatherTechRcwy, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR

Instagram: @weathertechraceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR

Threads: @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT

Facebook: @WeatherTechRaceway, @INDYCAR, @INDYNXT, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR

TikTok: @INDYCAR, #JavaHouseGP, #INDYCAR

YouTube: @INDYCAR

Event website: www.weathertechraceway.com

INDYCAR website: www.indycar.com

INDY NXT by Firestone website: www.indynxt.com

2024 race winners:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda)

INDY NXT by Firestone

Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)

Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global)

2024 NTT P1 Award winner (NTT INDYCAR SERIES): Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda), 1:07.1465, 119.988 mph

2024 INDY NXT by Firestone pole winners:

Race 1: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:12.1760, 111.627 mph

Race 2: Louis Foster (No. 26 Andretti Global), 1:12.4444, 111.214 mph

Qualifying records:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Christian Lundgaard, 1:06.4610, 121.226 mph, Sept. 9, 2023

INDY NXT by Firestone

Christian Rasmussen, 1:11.7225, 112.333 mph, Sept. 9, 2023

FOX Sports telecasts: NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Practice 1, 5 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Qualifying, 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Java House Grand Prix of Monterey 3 p.m. ET, Sunday, FOX (live). Will Buxton is the play-by-play announcer for FOX’s coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, alongside analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Georgia Henneberry, Kevin Lee and Jack Harvey are the pit reporters. A Spanish-language telecast of the race will be available on FOX Deportes. | INDY NXT by Firestone: Practice 1, 4 p.m. ET Friday, FS2 (live); Practice 2, 6:35 p.m. ET Friday, FS2; Qualifying, 1 p.m. ET Saturday, FS1 (live); Race 1, 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, FS2 (live); Race 2, 1 p.m. ET Sunday, FS1 (live). Kevin Lee is the play-by-play announcer for FOX Sports’ coverage of INDY NXT by Firestone alongside analyst Jack Harvey. Georgia Henneberry is the pit reporter.

INDYCAR Radio Network broadcasts: Mark Jaynes is the anchor alongside driver analyst Davey Hamilton. Jake Query and Alex Wollf are the turn announcers. Jonathan Grace, Dan Rusanowski and DJ Clark are the pit reporters. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey race (2:30 p.m. ET Sunday) can be heard live on network affiliates nationwide. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, INDY NXT by Firestone races (4:25 p.m. ET Saturday and 12:55 p.m. ET Sunday), NTT P1 Award Qualifying (2:30 p.m. ET Saturday) and all NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices also air live on SiriusXM 218, www.indycar.com/leaderboard and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

At-track schedule (all times local):

Friday, July 25

1-1:25 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 1, FS2 (Live)

2-3:20 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 1 (45 minutes for all cars, followed by two groups for 10 minutes each), FS2 (Live)

3:35-4 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone practice 2, FS2 (Live)

Saturday, July 26

8:30-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice 2 (45 minutes limited guarantee), FS1 (Live)

10-10:30 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying (Two groups, 12-minutes each / Fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 1, second fastest lap determines the lineup for Race 2), FS1 (Live)

11:35 a.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey NTT P1 Award qualifying (three rounds of knockout qualifying), FS1 (Live)

1:31 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

1:36 p.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 1 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS2

Sunday, July 27

9:02-9:27 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES final practice, FS2 (Live)

10:01 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 “Drivers Start Your Engines”

10:06 a.m. – INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Race 2 (35 laps / 78.33 miles / 55 minutes), FS1 (Live)

Noon – FOX on air

12:15 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey “Drivers, start your engines”

12:22 p.m. – Java House Grand Prix of Monterey (95 laps/212.61 miles), FOX (Live)

NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship facts:

· Alex Palou leads the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with four races to go for the fourth time in his INDYCAR SERIES career. Palou also led the championship with four races to go in 2021, 2023 and 2024, when he won the title. Palou has led the point standings since the beginning of the season.

· There are four drivers still mathematically eligible for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship: Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward, Kyle Kirkwood and Scott Dixon. Any driver who trails the points leader by 162 points or more following this race will be eliminated from contention.

· Since the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the winning driver has won the INDYCAR SERIES championship in the same season seven times: Bobby Rahal (1986, 1987), Danny Sullivan (1988), Michael Andretti (1991), Alex Zanardi (1998), Cristiano da Matta (2002) and Alex Palou (2024).

· Since 2008 when INDYCAR SERIES racing unified under the NTT INDYCAR SERIES banner, the eventual series champion has won the 14th race of the season four times. The most recent occurrence was in 2021 when Alex Palou won at Portland. Other drivers to win the 14th race of their championship season were Ryan Hunter-Reay (2012), Dario Franchitti (2009, 2010) and Scott Dixon (2008).

Key championship point statistic: Since 2008, the largest deficit overcome by the eventual champion was 59 points by Dario Franchitti in 2010. Scott Dixon overcame Juan Pablo Montoya’s 54-point lead in 2015.

Point differential: The 99 points separating Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward is the largest point margin with four races remaining since 2008. During that span, the average lead with four races remaining is 43.22 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FOUR RACES TO GO (2008-2025)

YEARLEADERSECONDLEADCHAMPION
2008Scott DixonHelio Castroneves65Scott Dixon
2009Scott DixonRyan Briscoe3Dario Franchitti (-20)
2010Will PowerDario Franchitti59Dario Franchitti
2011Dario FranchittiWill Power47Dario Franchitti
2012Ryan Hunter-ReayHelio Castroneves23Ryan Hunter-Reay
2013Helio CastronevesScott Dixon39Scott Dixon
2014Helio CastronevesWill Power13Will Power
2015Juan Pablo MontoyaScott Dixon54Scott Dixon
2016Simon PagenaudWill Power58Simon Pagenaud
2017Josef NewgardenHelio Castroneves7Josef Newgarden
2018Scott DixonAlexander Rossi46Scott Dixon
2019Josef NewgardenAlexander Rossi16Josef Newgarden
2020Scott DixonJosef Newgarden76Scott Dixon
2021Alex PalouPato O’Ward21Alex Palou
2022Will PowerMarcus Ericsson9Will Power
2023Alex PalouJosef Newgarden84Alex Palou
2024Alex PalouColton Herta59Alex Palou
2025Alex PalouPato O’Ward99?

Race Notes:

  • The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey will be the 28th INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca but just the sixth since 2004. Teo Fabi won the first INDYCAR SERIES race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in 1983. Alex Palou won the race in 2024.
  • Scott Dixon, Alex Palou and Colton Herta are the only former winners entered in this year’s race.
ACTIVE RACE WINNERWINSSEASONS
Colton Herta22019, 2021
Alex Palou22022, 2024
Scott Dixon12023
  • Fourteen INDYCAR SERIES drivers have won at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from the pole – Teo Fabi (1983), Bobby Rahal (1985), Danny Sullivan (1988), Rick Mears (1989), Danny Sullivan (1990), Michael Andretti (1991, 1992), Paul Tracy (1994), Alex Zanardi (1996), Bryan Herta (1998, 1999), Helio Castroneves (2000), Cristiano da Matta (2002), Patrick Carpentier (2003), Colton Herta (2019, 2021) and Alex Palou (2024).
ACTIVE POLE WINNERPOLESSEASONS
Colton Herta22019, 2021
Will Power12022
Felix Rosenqvist12023
Alex Palou12024
  • Team Penske has won six times at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Penske’s winning drivers are Danny Sullivan (1988, 1990), Rick Mears (1989), Paul Tracy (1993, 1994) and Helio Castroneves (2000). Chip Ganassi Racing has five wins with Scott Dixon (2023), Alex Palou (2022, 2024), Alex Zanardi (1996) and Jimmy Vasser (1997). Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has three wins with Bryan Herta (1998, 1999) and Max Papis (2001).
  • Twenty-four drivers entered in the event have competed in past INDYCAR SERIES races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Scott Dixon has seven starts, most among the entered drivers. Nine entered drivers have led laps at the track – Colton Herta 183, Alex Palou 166, Kyle Kirkwood 24, Will Power 23, Dixon 22, Pato O’Ward 15, Felix Rosenqvist 11, Alexander Rossi 10 and Josef Newgarden 10.
  • Rookies Jacob Abel, Louis Foster and Robert Shwartzman will race an NTT INDYCAR SERIES car at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time this weekend. Foster swept the INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader last season at Laguna Seca.
  • Milestones: Scott Dixon will attempt to make his 353rd consecutive start, extending his INDYCAR SERIES record streak…Graham Rahal will attempt to make his 253rd consecutive start, the third-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Josef Newgarden will attempt to make his 216th consecutive start, the sixth-longest streak in INDYCAR SERIES history…Dixon passed Mario Andretti for the INDYCAR SERIES record for starts with his 408th start May 25 at Indianapolis and will extend his record to 416 with a start Sunday…Dixon’s win July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – his 59th INDYCAR SERIES win – extended two ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: seasons with a win (23) and consecutive seasons with a win (21). Dixon’s second-place finish July 13 at Iowa Speedway extended two additional ongoing INDYCAR SERIES records he holds: podium finishes (145) and top-five finishes (215).

INDY NXT by Firestone notes:

  • The INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader will be the series’ 31st and 32nd races at WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca. Previous INDY NXT by Firestone winners at Laguna Seca include Bryan Herta, Andre Ribeiro, Greg Moore, Tony Kanaan, Cristiano da Matta, Scott Dixon, Townsend Bell, Spencer Pigot, Rinus VeeKay, Kyle Kirkwood and Christian Rasmussen. Current NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Louis Foster swept the Grand Prix of Monterey doubleheader in 2024.
  • The INDY NXT by Firestone title fight between Dennis Hauger and Lochie Hughes heads west for its final doubleheader weekend when the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey hits the track on Saturday and Sunday. Hauger leads Hughes by 79 points headed into the pair of 35-lap races, with series veterans Caio Collet and Myles Rowe looking to make it a four-man sprint to the finish. The ultra-competitive 2025 season has seen four winners in nine races and seven different drivers finish on the podium.
  • Push to Pass could play a key strategic role at Laguna Seca as INDY NXT by Firestone drivers will have a bank of 150 seconds to use an added 50 horsepower to assist in overtaking, similar to the drivers in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The maximum amount of time for each press of the overtake system is 15 seconds.
  • Group qualifying will decide the starting grid on road and street circuits. Based on the best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding qualifying, the fastest driver in that session will choose which group will compete in the first of the two qualifying sessions. With 12 minutes allotted for each group (with a guarantee of one timed lap), the fastest driver between the two sessions will be awarded pole position with the drivers who finished behind that driver, in order and in that group, occupying the odd-numbered starting positions (3, 5, 7, etc.) for the race and the drivers who finished in order from the other group occupying the even-numbered starting positions (2, 4, 6, etc.). One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group.