IndyCar legend Michael Andretti reacted with praise after rookie Louis Foster secured his first career pole position in the IndyCar series at Road America on Saturday, June 22, 2025. Foster, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, surprised the field by setting a best lap time of 1:44.5141 around the 4.048-mile circuit. This lap was over a tenth of a second faster than the reigning champion Alex Palou, who qualified behind him.

Foster’s pole was the 38th for the Bobby Rahal-owned team in IndyCar and their first pole of the 2025 season. Michael Andretti, who had a historic rivalry with Bobby Rahal in the late 1980s and early 1990s, publicly commended Foster for his achievement at one of the trickiest circuits on the IndyCar calendar. Andretti posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Congrats @_LouisFoster on that big lap to get pole @roadameric!” Foster responded with an appreciative emoji.

Louis Foster was signed by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the 2025 season following a dominant 2024 Indy NXT campaign. In 2024, Foster won 8 of 14 races driving for Andretti Global in Indy NXT (formerly Indy Lights). Michael Andretti had originally signed Foster to his Indy Lights team in 2023. During his rookie Indy NXT year, Foster earned six podiums including two wins before dominating the following season.

Foster clinched the 2024 Indy NXT championship with a victory at Milwaukee Mile, securing the title before the final race at Nashville, where he also won. He finished the season with 639 points, well ahead of his closest rival Jacob Abel, who had 517 points. Michael Andretti praised Foster’s performance after the Milwaukee win, calling him “unstoppable” and expressing pride in the strength of the Andretti Indy NXT program, which had achieved a 20-race podium streak over two seasons.

Foster’s Indy NXT title was also a notable moment as a “sweet goodbye” for Michael Andretti, who announced his departure from the Andretti team later in 2024.

At Road America in 2025, the 21-year-old British driver led the 27-car field to the green flag, with championship contenders Alex Palou and Kyle Kirkwood close behind. Foster’s teammate Graham Rahal also qualified well, making the Fast 6 and starting sixth.

The article highlights the significance of Foster’s pole lap and the recognition from Michael Andretti, emphasizing Foster’s rapid rise through the ranks and his impressive rookie season in IndyCar.