2025 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio post-qualifying preview & best bets

Honda IndyCar 200 betting preview

The 2025 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is set for Sunday, July 6, with Alex Palou extending his remarkable season by clinching pole position with a blistering lap of 1:05.0215s.

The Chip Ganassi Racing star leads a Honda-heavy field into the 90-lap race on the technical 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, aiming for his seventh win of the season and second consecutive victory at this track, with the top online sportsbooks pricing him as the heavy favorite.

Palou’s pace was untouchable in qualifying, beating Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard by nearly two-tenths. Further back, Ganassi’s Kyffin Simpson impressed with a career-best third on the grid, while rookie Nolan Siegel secured fourth for Arrow McLaren. Colton Herta rounded out the Fast Six, but was over a second off Palou’s time, highlighting the Spaniard’s dominance.

Sunday’s race promises plenty of storylines. Pato O’Ward, last year’s Mid-Ohio winner, struggled in qualifying and will start 15th after failing to escape Q1, leaving him with a significant challenge if he hopes to repeat his triumph.

Kyle Kirkwood, the only other race winner this year besides Palou, was knocked out in Q2 and will start seventh, although he does hold the advantage of an extra set of fresh red tyres for the race.

Meanwhile, Team Penske endured a disastrous session, as none of its drivers advanced past Q1; Josef Newgarden will start 18th, while Scott McLaughlin and Will Power find themselves buried in 21st and 22nd positions respectively, far from their usual competitive form.

Weather conditions remain favorable, with sunny skies and mid-80s temperatures forecasted. Strategic plays around hybrid deployment and tire choices — especially for drivers with saved sets of red tires — could produce surprises, even for those starting deeper in the pack.

IndyCar Series 2025 Honda Indy 200 betting odds

• Alex Palou – -188.68
• Christian Lundgaard – +300
• Kyle Kirkwood – +800
• Colton Herta – +1100
• Scott Dixon – +1400
• Patricio O’Ward – +1800
• Kyffin Simpson – +1800
• Josef Newgarden – +2500
• Nolan Siegel – +2500
• Alexander Rossi – +3000
• Scott McLaughlin – +3000
• Marcus Ericsson – +4000
• Will Power – +4000
• Louis Foster – +4000
• Marcus Armstrong – +4900
• David Malukas – +4900
• Felix Rosenqvist – +5900
• Santino Ferrucci – +7900
• Graham Rahal – +9900
• Callum Ilott – +9900
• Conor Daly – +9900
• Robert Shwartzman – +9900
• Rinus VeeKay – +9900
• Devlin DeFrancesco – +9900
• Christian Rasmussen – +9900
• Sting Ray Robb – +9900
• Jacob Abel – +9900

More odds available at .

Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio betting predictions

Alex Palou to win

Pole position and relentless pace have become the story of Alex Palou’s 2025 season, and Mid-Ohio is no exception. He was in a class of his own in qualifying, gapping the field by over a tenth even while saving tires for the race. With clean air and the best hybrid strategy team on pit road, Palou is the man to beat. Odds of -188.68 at may feel short, but there’s no more reliable winner on road courses this year.

Christian Lundgaard podium finish

Christian Lundgaard was Palou’s closest rival in qualifying and continues to impress on road courses. He’ll launch from the front row, giving him prime track position to defend against undercuts and caution-induced reshuffles. Given Arrow McLaren’s recent upward trend and Lundgaard’s smooth, efficient driving style, a podium at +100 with looks like a solid bet.

Scott Dixon top-six finish

Scott Dixon has been Mr. Mid-Ohio for nearly two decades. He starts ninth this time, which isn’t ideal, but his record here (14 top-six finishes in 21 starts) speaks for itself. With hybrid strategy and potential tire advantage as the race progresses, Dixon is perfectly placed to pick off positions and finish in the top-six.

Honda Indy 200 Qualifying Results