Kyle Kirkwood “here to win” Indy 500, not think championship

Kyle Kirkwood isn’t thinking about points going into the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500.

“Quite honestly, it’s the biggest race in the world,” said Kirkwood, 27. “We’re here to win. That’s exactly what we want to do. We’re only, what, six races in now? We’ll worry about the points afterwards. Hopefully the win will catapult us back towards the front. That’s kind of the focus.”

The Florida native currently sits second in the IndyCar championship standings, 27 points behind four-time and reigning series titlist Alex Palou (237-210).

While a win next Sunday in “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” would elevate Kirkwood’s legacy and help in the title race, he already took a small hit after qualifying. He was unable to make the Fast 12 and earn any valuable points from qualifying, which pays 12 points to pole-winner, Palou, and descends down the running order to 11th (Note: after rookie Caio Collet’s time was thrown out, he won’t collect any qualifying points despite making the Fast 12).

Kirkwood will have to fight from 25th on the grid in the #27 Andretti Global Honda.

“Of course I watched qualifying yesterday,” he said. “There are some points that are paid out for qualifying, if I’m not mistaken, so that one hurt a little bit.

“Quite honestly, I’m not focused on the championship points, but I see it in the aftermath. But we’re here to win. That’s the focus.” 

Although Kirkwood has only four previous starts at the Brickyard, he’s endured charging from the back to the front, going upside down, and being in the thick of the battle near the front only to fall short. He has a best finish of seventh in the Indy 500 (2024). And this is also not the first time he’s come in with momentum and being at the sharp end of the championship standings.

When asked if there are any lessons from prior he can apply this time around, Kirkwood called upon that experience but also pointed to teammates Will Power and Marcus Ericsson, who have each triumphed at the Indy 500.

“Every time you come back here, something’s different, something’s new,” he said. “There’s always something that you can learn. 

“I’m drinking from a fire hose from these two [pointing to Power and Ericsson] that do it so well around a place like this and have many more years of knowledge than I do. So we actually have a great camaraderie between all three of us drivers. I think we’re a powerhouse group if you look at the lineup.”

Kirkwood also continues to learn off the past lessons while also gauging the future.

“Every year I come back here, I feel more confident,” he said. “I know what a good race car feels like. It feels like almost every year I’ve driven from the back to the front at some point, whether we’ve qualified at the front and ended up at the back and then gone back forward or we’ve qualified at the back and gone back forward. But it gives me a lot of confidence coming here. No matter where I think we’re going to start, you’ll see our Sam’s Club Honda near the front at some point next week. 

“It’s exciting times, and there’s always something to learn off of, for sure.” 

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– The Motorsport.com Team

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