Felix Rosenqvist enjoyed a strong first round of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, qualifying third and finishing seventh despite an unfortunate strategy scenario derailing a potential podium result.
Rosenqvist and his Meyer Shank Racing squad proved instantly on pace as the new season began in Florida this weekend, the Swede powering to P3 in Saturday’s qualifying session – with new team-mate Marcus Armstrong taking fourth as the squad locked out the second row of the grid.
That left the entire MSR operation in high spirits going into Sunday’s 100-lap race on the demanding street track, and Rosenqvist duly delivered on the early promise by running second throughout the opening stint – putting pole-sitting race leader Scott McLaughlin under pressure.
However, an early caution period following a midfield clash on lap one meant Rosenqvist’s strategy (much like McLaughlin’s and team-mate Armstrong’s) was essentially undone.
The incident played into the hands of drivers down the order who had opted for the alternative strategy of starting on the green-walled soft Firestone tyres, allowing them effectively a free pit stop under yellow conditions.
Tumbling far down the order after his first stop much deeper into the race, Rosenqvist then spent the rest of the day battling his way back towards the front, eventually finishing seventh.
Encouragingly, though, he came home second among the drivers on the similar strategy, beaten only by McLaughlin, and set the third-fastest lap of the race.
“A decent day and a pretty good start to the season,” says Felix Rosenqvist. “We had a really quick car here this weekend, but unfortunately we were unlucky on the strategy. We were on the black (hard) tyre at the start and the worst that could happen was a yellow at the beginning – and that was literally what happened. Then there were no more cautions, which meant we had to essentially eat back a whole pit stop in green-flag conditions, so pretty much the worst scenario for us.
“Considering all of that, I’m pretty happy with seventh today. I honestly thought it was going to be worse. We were down to 14th or something after that sequence and we made up a lot of time out on track. It was a good recovery, and a good job by the team all weekend. I’m actually more excited about the pace we had here this year compared to last, so overall it’s a really exciting start to the season.”
The season-opener was won by reigning champion Alex Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing). Round 2 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES takes place at The Thermal Club in California on March 21-23.
RESULTS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | Rd. 1
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Streets of St. Petersburg (USA)
1: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 100 laps
2: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, +2.866s
3: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, +6.204s
4: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, +8.687s
5: Kyle Kirkwood (USA), Andretti, +10.970s
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7: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Meyer Shank Racing, +24.289s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
NTT INDYCAR SERIES | After 1/17 races
1: Alex Palou (ESP), Ganassi, 51 p.
2: Scott Dixon (NZL), Ganassi, 41 p.
3: Josef Newgarden (USA), Penske, 36 p.
4: Scott McLaughlin (NZL), Penske, 36 p.
5: Kyle Kirkwood (USA), Andretti, 30 p.
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7: Felix Rosenqvist (SWE), Meyer Shank Racing, 26 p.