Car maker Fred Duesenberg picked up his second consecutive Indianapolis 500 victory in 1925 with driver Pete DePaolo at the wheel.

DePaolo set an average speed record of 101.13 mph which would stand for seven years, and was the first 500 winner to average more than 100 mph. Norman Batten was his relief driver and took the wheel while DePaolo had his blistered hands treated and bandaged. Batten was not as aggressive and when DePaolo returned to the race he had to work his way back to the front. When Dave Lewis wasted a pit stop DePaolo regained the lead and kept it.

DePaolo was the nephew of 1915 champion Ralph DePalma, who was also in the race that year. It was DePalma's last 500 and he finished 7th.