Scott McLaughlin

Today’s question: Which driver exuded the most confidence about the 2025 season last week during 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days in Indianapolis?

Curt Cavin: Across the board, driver confidence is always high during Content Days. The season is still weeks away, and no one has had a poor qualifying result, a mechanical failure or experienced a blood pressure spike. I always like to hear title contenders exude confidence, and I heard that loud and clear from Scott McLaughlin. He’s been Team Penske’s top-finishing driver each of the past two years, and I think he’s poised to make his strongest championship pursuit yet. Yes, McLaughlin gave shout-outs last week to Penske mates Will Power and Josef Newgarden along with perennial frontrunners Alex Palou and Colton Herta – they’re all ones to watch for the 2025 title – but he has an oval win under his belt, something he didn’t have prior to last year’s first race at Iowa Speedway. Now he knows he can win anywhere in this series, and you can hear it in his voice.

Eric Smith: I agree with Curt on the driver confidence of Content Days. The scoreboard is essentially reset, with everyone in a tie for first place with zero points. Some drivers, though, expect to remain in or close to the top perch all season. One of those last week was AJ Foyt Racing driver Santino Ferrucci. He told me ahead of last year’s season finale at Nashville Superspeedway that his No. 14 Chevrolet would be a championship contender next season. Well … it’s the next season. The thought process didn’t change. He expects to fight for an Astor Cup championship trophy in 2025. Ferrucci said during Content Days, “I wasn’t messing around when I said I think we can run for a championship.” Last season, Ferrucci was fifth in oval points scored and finished all but two races – a mechanical issue in the Sonsio Grand Prix in May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and a crash in July at Toronto. Neither was his fault. He ended the season with eight top-11 finishes in the final 10 races, including four consecutive finishes of eighth, fourth, fourth and sixth, respectively. He is confident he can end Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske’s hold on the championship as victors of 12 straight titles.

Arni Sribhen: It would have been easy for Alex Palou to enter NTT INDYCAR SERIES Content Days with some swagger: After all, he’s won three of the last four NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships, but that’s how Palou rolls. He’s all business, all the time. Like his precise, consistent driving style behind the wheel, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver was adept at answering media questions with an understated confidence during his media availability. He moved from topic to topic with ease but let everyone in the room know he was not resting on his laurels and working just as hard to keep his crown. No place was that more evident than when he answered a question about if he’d rather win the Indy 500 in 2025 or take a three-peat of series titles. In typical Palou style, he said he'd take the title before winning the Indy 500 later because he’s not about to stop winning races. Frankly, I believe he could do both this year.