Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2024 in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.

For the first time since 2014, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES finished the season with a race on an oval track. But that was only part of the broader journey to the championship.

The recently completed season featured ovals hosting the final three races. Such circuits comprised four of the final five races and six of the final eight. The last time the schedule had so many oval races was in 2010, when the season ended with four such races.

Led by returns to the Milwaukee Mile and Nashville Superspeedway, the action in the stretch run was magnificent and suspenseful, and the fans showed up in strong numbers wearing driver-branded jerseys, T-shirts and hats. The energy in the grandstands was genuine.

On track, the two races in Milwaukee presented 667 and 763 passes for position, respectively. On Sunday, there were 56 passes among drivers running in the top five. The drama included the top title contenders, too, with Alex Palou’s car unable to start Race 2 for 28 laps. Then, Will Power lost a lap to the leaders when he pitted for a necessary wing fix.

The adventures of Palou and Power left the Spaniard with a 33-point lead heading to the finale in Nashville. A clear path to Palou’s second consecutive championship – and third in four years – became apparent when Power’s seat belts came loose, forcing him to pit for repairs.

Overall, the season featured seven oval races, the most for the series since 2011. The highlight was Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden’s last-lap pass of Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward to win a second consecutive Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. There also was a doubleheader at Iowa Speedway and a race at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Two drivers won the first oval race of their careers. In the first race at Iowa, Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske went to victory lane for the first time, and he later won Race 2 at Milwaukee. McLaughlin also captured the “500” pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he and Penske teammates swept the front row in qualifying. Colton Herta of Andretti Global with Curb-Agajanian won the season finale at Nashville.

In addition to Indy, Newgarden won at World Wide Technology Raceway and O’Ward won Race 1 at Milwaukee. Power won Race 2 at Iowa.