Kyle Kirkwood came into the 2022 season with a lot of promise as he’s the only driver to win all three championships on the Road to Indy ladder system in consecutive years. We chatted with him prior to the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach about his preparation for this year’s event, the Indy 500 and how he’s been able to learn from veteran Sebastien Bourdais who was in this seat last year. Driving for the four-time Indy 500 winner, A.J. Foyt, Kirkwood talks about the dream coming true to finally race at the Indy 500. Enjoy!

NOTE: Kirkwood had his best finish of the year at Long Beach with a 10^th place. It was announced at the end of the season that he would be moving to Andretti Autosport to compete for a championship there in 2023. Kirkwood also raced with the Vasser Sullivan Lexus team for the endurance rounds in IMSA. He and his co-drivers won the season finale at the 2022 Petit Le Mans (Road Atlanta). Kirkwood also was at the top or near the top in the Thermal Club Spring Training IndyCar test in early February 2023.

By Larry Mason

Copyright © 2022 Larry Mason

Kyle Kirkwood is focused on being well-prepared to race competitively at the 2022 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Kirkwood is shown here putting pressure on Felix Rosenqvist and Pato O’Ward from the McLaren team as they ‘round the fountain early in the race.

Like his fellow competitors, Kyle Kirkwood isn’t shy about using the curbs in Turn 5!

It’s imperative to exit Turn 8 just right in order to extract the maximum lap time at Long Beach. The second-longest straight is non-descript, other than the fact that it runs under the convention center walkover bridge.

Kirkwood squeezed all he could out of his A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet ultimately earning a 10^th place finish at Long Beach – his best of the season. Soon after this race, the Rokit sponsorship would evaporate. . .

Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason