WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Pato O’Ward of Monterrey, Mexico took his frustrations out on the IndyCar field to win Saturday’s Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250s at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds.
O’Ward was very vocal in his disappointment that NASCAR was able to secure a race in Mexico City earlier in the week. The driver from Mexico had long believed and encouraged IndyCar to find any way possible to add a race in Mexico City to the schedule to help bolster IndyCar.
O’Ward spoke about that on Friday, saying that IndyCar was missing a tremendous opportunity. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles responded and gave his reasons why that hasn’t happened.
So O’Ward decided to take it out on the field, leading 132 laps in the 250-lap for his seventh career IndyCar victory, and his second this season.
O’Ward also won the July 7 Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio and the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
It was O’Ward’s first win on an oval since the second race of the inaugural Hy-Vee IndyCar Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway in 2022.
It was the first IndyCar race at The Milwaukee Mile since Sebastien Bourdais won an IndyCar race here in 2015.
O’Ward defeated Team Penske’s Will Power by 1.8215 seconds.
By finishing second, along with IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing finishing fifth, Power was able to trim 11 more points off Palou’s lead heading into Sunday’s second race at The Milwaukee Mile.
Power trails Palou by 43 points with two races left in the season.
Conor Daly of the United States was third, the first-ever podium finish for Juncos Hollinger Racing.
Santino Ferrucci was fourth in the No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet. Palou finished fifth in the No. 10 DHL Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing.
“We got another one and that is three in the book this year,” O’Ward said. “The car was fantastic. The team was fantastic in pit stop. Strategy was amazing today and super proud for the team.
“The car was getting a little wiggly.
“We’ll enjoy for today and get back to work tomorrow (for Race No. 2).”
Power scored his seventh podium of the season.
“I’m stoked to get on the podium in the Verizon Chevy,” Power said. “I’m doing everything I can. Keep digging, man, I’m going to keep digging.”
Daly was emotional after he gained a field high 22 positions in the race to finish third.
“They gave me the car I needed today,” Daly said of Juncos Hollinger Racing. “I want to do well in the series. My goal is to do well in the series and it’s nice to be on the podium again.”
Ferrucci’s fourth-place finish was his ninth top 10 finish.
“We knew we had a good car, didn’t get it right for qualifying, but it was dirt-racing style. It was awesome,” Ferrucci said. “I knew I could throw it down into Turn 3 and just set it and the car would not slide out from under me.
“Can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Palou’s fifth place finish still allows him a sizable lead in the championship.
“A good top five, the car was amazing, looking forward to tomorrow,” Palou said. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I think we can be a step above everybody on Sunday.”
If Palou can leave Sunday’s second race with a 55-point lead over Power, he will clinch his third IndyCar Series Championship and become the first back-to-back IndyCar Champion since Dario Franchitti won three straight from 2009 to 2011.
There were seven lead changes among five drivers and 754 total passes on track. There were four cautions in the race.