Kyle Kirkwood says beating Alex Palou’s 2025 IndyCar wins record isn’t his priority

Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood recently wrapped up the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in 1st place after qualifying in 10th. He recently spoke about his victory and how beating Alex Palou for most wins this season isn't his priority.

The 26-year-old, driving the Andretti Global #27 Honda, secured a victory at the oval. He put in a lap at an average speed of 135.939 mph, finishing .5398 seconds ahead of Pato O'Ward in second place. After the race, during a press conference, it was revealed to Kirkwood that he is just a few wins away from surpassing Palou's win record for the 2025 season. Here's what he had to say about the same:

"Yeah, that's not really the focus right now, it's more just beating him." (Via ASAP Sports)

With this victory, Kyle Kirkwood secured his fifth career win and his third victory of the season. It also marked his first win at an oval. Despite Kirkwood's strong season, the two drivers seem to be having a contrasting championship run, as Alex Palou is currently leading the championship while Kyle Kirkwood is in third place.

Notably, the Florida native's season so far has been impressive. He qualified in 9th position for the maiden race of the season at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg held on March 2, and finished in 5th place. During the recently held Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, the 26-year-old driver qualified in third place and wrapped up the race in first place.

Kyle Kirkwood speaks about 'clearly allowed' move at IndyCar

The #27 Andretti Global driver recently spoke about racing in Detroit. He also highlighted IndyCar's completely allowed move during racing.

The 26-year-old appeared on SpeedStreet, a podcast hosted by fellow IndyCar driver Conor Daly and Chase Holden. The trio spoke about the Detroit Grand Prix, where Kirkwood took his second victory of the season.

Daly questioned Kirkwood about the risks and rewards, along with the differences between a track like Long Beach, where the latter had previously won, and Detroit. The Florida native replied by speaking about the maneuver where one driver takes out the other on a narrow track while making a risky move.

"It gets enticing to just like I'll break this guy, and it's easy to do. Cause everyone's going so slow, and it's just too inviting compared to all the other races that we go to, and that's what's creating trash, right, like all the places that would be great. Exactly like and then when somebody actually does get alongside somebody, a lot of the corners like narrow up on you.....Yes, what is actually available on entry is not available on exit. So running two cars side by side is nearly impossible, like the exit of one," Kyle Kirkwood said.

"The exit of one, the exit of four, the exit of five. There's not enough room to run side by side. You do a risky move, you take yourself out with another guy, or you take the other guy out with you. Which, in the eyes of race control, we've seen in the past, is clearly allowed, so people end up doing it, which I don't agree with," he added.