got \u200aby Shelby with five to go, taking the win. Gurney was f\u00eated at the Chi Chi supper club, sitting with bandleader Paul Whiteman and their dates. <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]The Palm Springs Vintage Grand Prix revived the motorsports tradition from 1985 to 1996. Legends including 1961 Formula 1 champion Phil Hill, of \u200aSanta Monica, twisted through a seven-turn, 1.1-mile downtown course.<\/span><\/p>\nFor last year\u2019s IndyCar exhibition race, The Thermal Club admitted 2,000 ticketholders. This year, ESPN reported \u201c3,000-ish\u201d who scooped up general admission tickets for $450 each and VIP for $1,700 to $2,500. Tim Rogers, owner of The Thermal Club, said a key modification to the track was the $400,000 expansion of \u200apit lane to accommodate all 27 entries.<\/span><\/p>\nAmong spectators, many youngsters wore Patricio \u201cPato\u201d O\u2019Ward jerseys. Anthony Timo, 11, of Palm Desert, who stood in line with his family during the prerace autograph session, explained that his fandom dated from the docuseries, 100 Days to Indy<\/i>. <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15453-1-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 15453 1 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Marcus Armstrong\u2019s Meyer Shank Racing entry rolls through the technical inspection tent.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
\u201cIn my opinion,\u201d young Timo said, \u201che\u2019s the best driver by a lot \u2014 and the funniest!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nClaiming pole position during qualifying, O\u2019Ward clocked a lap of \u200a1 minute 39.9 seconds (110.4 miles per hour) in his Dallara-Chevrolet. Arrow McLaren teammate Christian Lundgaard, the gaunt, brooding Dane, came in at 1:40.1 to start second. Palou, at 1:40.3, sat third in his Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara-Honda.<\/span><\/p>\nOther notables gridding in the top 10 were a pair of affable Swedes with parallel careers. Marcus Ericsson, 34, winner of the 2022 Indianapolis 500, flew in early for a publicity appearance at a casino, then enjoyed dining in Palm Springs. Felix Rosenqvist, 33, winner of\u200a a 10-lap qualifying heat here last year, spoke favorably of Thermal in a midweek phone interview. \u201cI thought it was a perfect track for an Indy car,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has every type of corner, is pretty wide, and the long lap [17 turns over 3.067 miles] is cool.\u201d <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Sunday morning, the sky sizzled with Gulfstreams bearing racing fans into Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, just to the north of \u200aThe Thermal Club. Then the air traffic ceased, and everybody settled into their VIP experiences. Fox broadcasters took a final check to make sure they were camera-ready. <\/span><\/p>\nWith the wave of the green flag, O\u2019Ward, Lundgaard, and Palou swept away in the first three places. Ericsson soon went offline and dropped to 12th. The race proceeded without any crashes to prompt a yellow caution flag, so the order remained fixed through the first pit stops for fuel and new tires, starting on lap 16. Ericsson returned to the course after pitting, burned a turn, and slid off. He dropped to 21st and struggled the rest of the way with too much desert on his sticky rubber.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15728-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 15728 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]\u00c1lex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing emerges from his race-winning machine.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
O\u2019Ward dominated through his lap 36 pit stop and beyond. Last call for fuel and Firestones came at lap 49 \u2014 and Palou must have put on Salvador Dal\u00ed\u2019s cape, too. He returned to the course and soon passed Lundgaard for second in a nervy pas de deux. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPalou is head down and charging,\u201d broadcaster Will Buxton barked. O\u2019Ward had a 10-second lead, but his tires were cooked. Palou chased down Pato like a wayward duckling, charging past him on lap 55, and sailing through the final 10 laps to the checkers. <\/span><\/p>\nRosenqvist finished fifth, a fine result for Meyer Shank Racing. Ericsson\u2019s day to forget kept him mired in 21st.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFor O\u2019Ward and Lundgaard, the agony of defeat meant hiding their misery while receiving smart-looking second- and third-place trophies. In the media center for a painful Q&A, O\u2019Ward removed his cap and looked underneath as if to find the clue to defeat. Lundgaard kept his responses brief and sotto voce. If anyone, he resembled Peter Sidenius, the miserable protagonist of the Danish novel A Fortunate Man<\/i>. (Watch Bille August\u2019s film version.)<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15704-cc-1.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 15704 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Tire time with Team Penske.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15590-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 15590 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Rosenqvist suits up.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”25px||25px||false|false” border_width_top=”1px” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”72254185-3469-42a3-afce-c267c1ed93ce” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]\u201cIt\u2019s great to be part of the winners list in Palm Springs. Hopefully, we can do it again in the future.\u201d <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”fd0c60bc-af47-4165-8c9b-377d1fb07d04″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]\u2014 \u00c1lex Palou, three-time NTT IndyCar Series champion and winner of the 2025 Thermal Grand Prix<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15989-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 15989 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Palou<\/span> lets the Champagne fly.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-17452-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 17452 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Will Power gets situated; <\/span>he placed sixth.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-17409-cc.jpg” title_text=”PSL Indy Car Thermal Club 2025_STUDIO PATRICK MAUS_4 17409 cc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”891ded8d-bfb6-4883-9783-3a50da9dba2e” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Chip Ganassi Racing cheers Palou\u2019s win.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
Palou, of course, exulted during postrace interviews. \u201cIt\u2019s cool to race here,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been really good for IndyCar, I believe. I don\u2019t know if the race was fun or not to watch, but it was fun to drive.\u201d Prompted on the motorsport heritage issue, he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s great to be part of the winners list around here in Palm Springs. Hopefully, we can do it again in the future.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\nDays before coming to Thermal, the NTT IndyCar Series confirmed a 2026 street race around the Dallas Cowboys\u2019 stadium in a hosanna to suburbia, likely snatching away the mid-March calendar spot. Thermal\u2019s angle for remaining on the schedule was the offer of a new 4.2-mile track configuration, which would surpass Road America in Wisconsin as IndyCar\u2019s longest. At press time, Tim Rogers had a disappointing outlook on IndyCar\u2019s contract renewal and return: <\/span>\u201cI would say no,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\nTurns out, the most exclusive stop on the schedule may also have been the most short-lived.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-16033.jpg” title_text=”PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-16033″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In March 2024, \u00c1lex Palou won the $1 Million Challenge, a 20-lap, made-for-TV race at The Thermal Club. The winner was not exactly a surprise, but his postrace comments were. He dedicated the jackpot to buying diapers for his baby, Lucia. Palou then blasted through the season and won the NTT IndyCar Series for the third time in four years. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9057,"featured_media":769636,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[495,522],"tags":[15035],"advertiser":[],"poi_city":[],"class_list":["post-769634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-sports","tag-ntt-indycar-series"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Palm Springs Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/palmspringslifemagazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ronald Ahrens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@palmspringslife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@palmspringslife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ronald Ahrens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ronald Ahrens\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/02e2f62a0a183a5ac7a57d542c3c0f6c\"},\"headline\":\"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder?\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\"},\"wordCount\":2597,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"NTT IndyCar Series\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Arts + Culture\",\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\",\"name\":\"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg\",\"width\":1440,\"height\":960},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/\",\"name\":\"Palm Springs Life\",\"description\":\"Your Guide to Greater Palm Springs\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Palm Springs Life\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/palm_springs_life_logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/palm_springs_life_logo.png\",\"width\":480,\"height\":96,\"caption\":\"Palm Springs Life\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/palmspringslifemagazine\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/palmspringslife\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/palmspringslifemagazine\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/palm-springs-life\/posts\/?feedView=all\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/02e2f62a0a183a5ac7a57d542c3c0f6c\",\"name\":\"Ronald Ahrens\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05ef97201d4d007b3d30e68e458c7073fb988045267993e9ed83edf78959b3a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05ef97201d4d007b3d30e68e458c7073fb988045267993e9ed83edf78959b3a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ronald Ahrens\"},\"description\":\"A Desert Hot Springs resident since 2013, Ronald Ahrens has written for 80 magazines, from Automobile to Soap Opera Digest. He volunteers as a driver during the Palm Springs International Film Festival and as a Modernism Week docent, including stints at Frey House II and Hidden Frey.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/author\/ronald-ahrens\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life","description":"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life","og_description":"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?","og_url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/","og_site_name":"Palm Springs Life","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/palmspringslifemagazine","article_published_time":"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1440,"height":960,"url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ronald Ahrens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@palmspringslife","twitter_site":"@palmspringslife","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ronald Ahrens","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/"},"author":{"name":"Ronald Ahrens","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/02e2f62a0a183a5ac7a57d542c3c0f6c"},"headline":"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder?","datePublished":"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/"},"wordCount":2597,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg","keywords":["NTT IndyCar Series"],"articleSection":["Arts + Culture","Sports"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/","name":"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder? - Palm Springs Life","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-29T02:26:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-29T02:26:39+00:00","description":"The NTT IndyCar Series touched down at The Thermal Club in March 2025, this time for a points-paying race. But was it a one-hit wonder?","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/PSL-Indy-Car-Thermal-Club-2025_STUDIO-PATRICK-MAUS_4-15646-cc.jpg","width":1440,"height":960},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/arts-culture\/was-the-indycar-thermal-grand-prix-a-one-hit-wonder\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/","name":"Palm Springs Life","description":"Your Guide to Greater Palm Springs","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#organization","name":"Palm Springs Life","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/palm_springs_life_logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/palm_springs_life_logo.png","width":480,"height":96,"caption":"Palm Springs Life"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/palmspringslifemagazine","https:\/\/x.com\/palmspringslife","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/palmspringslifemagazine","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/palm-springs-life\/posts\/?feedView=all"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/02e2f62a0a183a5ac7a57d542c3c0f6c","name":"Ronald Ahrens","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05ef97201d4d007b3d30e68e458c7073fb988045267993e9ed83edf78959b3a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/05ef97201d4d007b3d30e68e458c7073fb988045267993e9ed83edf78959b3a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ronald Ahrens"},"description":"A Desert Hot Springs resident since 2013, Ronald Ahrens has written for 80 magazines, from Automobile to Soap Opera Digest. He volunteers as a driver during the Palm Springs International Film Festival and as a Modernism Week docent, including stints at Frey House II and Hidden Frey.","url":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/author\/ronald-ahrens\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9057"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=769634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/769634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/769636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=769634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=769634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=769634"},{"taxonomy":"advertiser","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/advertiser?post=769634"},{"taxonomy":"poi_city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/poi_city?post=769634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Audio](\"https:\/\/www.palmspringslife.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/psl-audio\/speaker.svg\")
Was the IndyCar Thermal Grand Prix a One-Hit Wonder?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]