Josef Newgarden The Value Bet For 2025 IndyCar Championship

Henry Shepherd
By , Updated on: Jan 23, 2025 12:00 AM
IndyCar Championship 2025 Betting Picks

The 2025 IndyCar season is just around the corner! Racing action kicks off with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 2nd. Let’s explore the championship odds and highlight some top betting picks for the season ahead.

  • What? 2025 IndyCar Championship
  • Where? Starts at Firestone Grand Prix, St. Petersburg
  • When? Starts Sunday, March 2, 2025

2025 IndyCar Championship Odds

Below are the odds for the 2025 Championship from three of the best sports betting sites.

Indy Car ChampionshipBovadaBetOnlineSportsbetting
Alex Palou+225+240+240
Scott McLaughlin+350+375+375
Josef Newgarden+550+550+550
Scott Dixon+550+600+600
Pato O'Ward+800+800+800
Will Power+800+800+800
Colton Herta+1000+900+900
Kyle Kirkwood+1600+1800+1800
Marcus Ericsson+1600+2000+2000

In 2024, Alex Palou claimed his second consecutive championship and the third of his career. Rounding out the top five for the season were Colton Herta, Scott McLaughlin, Will Power, and Pato O’Ward. The 2025 campaign begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, featuring a 1.8-mile street circuit weaving through the heart of downtown. Spanning 17 races, the season concludes with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix, held for the second year in a row at Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33-mile oval. As always, the 109th Indianapolis 500 will award double points, a potentially game-changing factor as the season nears its end.

If you are interested in betting on the Indy 500, then check out the Indy 500 Odds.

Josef Newgarden (+550)

Josef Newgarden immediately stands out as a strong contender. While Alex Palou rightfully leads the odds as the favorite at +240, those odds feel quite short. Scott McLaughlin falls into a similar category. With Newgarden, however, you’re getting solid value for a proven driver with the talent and experience to reclaim the title. A two-time champion, Newgarden competes for Roger Penske, also known as "The Captain," which adds to his pedigree.

Newgarden had a rollercoaster 2024 season. He kicked off with a victory in St. Petersburg, only to be disqualified shortly after. Though he achieved his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory, the remainder of the year didn’t meet his usual standards. Two race wins and an eighth-place finish in the standings were underwhelming by his lofty expectations.

Looking back, Newgarden’s performance in recent seasons underscores his capabilities. In 2023, despite facing challenges, he won four races and was a title contender until a late-season crash at Gateway dashed his hopes. The year prior, in 2022, he came within 16 points of championship winner Will Power after notching five wins.

Newgarden has consistently delivered and remains a top-tier competitor, even after a challenging 2024. Sitting fourth on the odds board, he represents excellent value. His proven track record and undeniable talent make him a bet worth considering at his current price.

Josef Newgarden To Win 2025 IndyCar Championship
Bovada
+550

Colton Herta (+1000)

If you're searching for a promising longer odds betting option, 24-year-old Colton Herta fits the bill perfectly. Representing Andretti Global, Herta enters 2025 fresh off a runner-up finish in the 2024 standings.

As the youngest driver ever to win an IndyCar race, Herta’s immense talent is evident, but he and his team occasionally make missteps that hinder their success. These growing pains are understandable for a young driver, though, as he continues to develop. Remarkably, Herta is set to begin his seventh full-time IndyCar season at just 24 years old.

After a two-year drought, Herta returned to victory lane in Toronto, followed by an impressive breakthrough with his first oval win in Nashville to close out the season. This achievement marks a significant milestone in establishing himself as a genuine championship contender.

Having climbed to second place in the standings last season, the question now is whether this racing prodigy can take the final step and secure the Astor Cup in 2025. At odds of +1000, Herta offers excellent value as a potential champion.

Colton Herta To Win 2025 IndyCar Championship
Bovada
+1000

Below is our partner table of the best betting sites. You can read our Best Sportsbook Reviews 2025 to help decide the best option for your IndyCar Championship bets.

Meet the author

Henry Shepherd

Henry started his career in the betting industry before moving in to writing. He specializes in soccer, golf and darts but covers a multitude of sports from all over the world. After finishing University with a BA Honors degree in Business and Management, Henry work...

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