- Pato O’Ward wins from 10th on the grid to cut Palou’s points lead to double digits
- VeeKay returns to the podium while Simpson celebrates first-ever top-three finish
- Palou’s risky tyre strategy backfires in chaotic race packed with on-track action
Pato O’Ward reignited the NTT INDYCAR SERIES title battle on Sunday, claiming his second win in eight days with a commanding performance in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. While chaos unfolded behind him, the Arrow McLaren star drove clean, aggressive and calculated, cutting into Alex Palou’s sizeable championship lead.
O’Ward’s charge from 10th on the grid to victory leaves him trailing Palou by 99 points with four rounds still to go. He credited his team for executing a flawless plan and giving him confidence in the car.
“This has been a great day,” O’Ward said. “It’s been the most challenging circuit in the past for us, and I didn’t expect it to get this much better for us this year. The team gave me an awesome strategy, they nailed it, and I was feeling so good on the Firestone Primary tires. The car was great and we executed it all today. Amazing job.”
He added that the unusual start to his morning gave him a feeling something special might be coming.
“That’s going to be a good day today, and it was,” he laughed, recalling how a bird’s unexpected ‘present’ during morning practice had landed on his car and a crew member.
Behind him, the podium was rounded out by two drivers enjoying milestone moments. Rinus VeeKay delivered his first top-three since 2022 and a first for Dale Coyne Racing this season, while Kyffin Simpson claimed his maiden INDYCAR podium for Chip Ganassi Racing. Both drivers described their results as career-changing.
Colton Herta led the Andretti Global charge in fourth, having started from pole, while Marcus Ericsson and Kyle Kirkwood followed in fifth and sixth. O’Ward’s win came through a three-stop strategy that saw him rid himself of the less-favoured alternate tyres early, switching to a long-running primary stint just before a Lap 3 caution.
Palou, by contrast, opted for the primary tyre to start and paid the price. “Well, I chose the strategy, so that’s what we did wrong today,” Palou said. “I was pushing for that strategy. I thought it was going to give us the best opportunity to win. I wanted to be up front trying to avoid being trapped in traffic.”
He admitted the gamble nearly worked. “We were able to open up a big gap after that first yellow, but it was not enough today. Not our day.”
Palou finished 12th and his Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon ended the race in 10th, as both were swallowed up mid-pack when the cautions disrupted their plans.
The Toronto street circuit lived up to its reputation for unpredictability. The 1.786-mile, 11-turn layout produced 226 on-track passes, the highest total since 2014, with 201 for position, a figure not seen since 2019. The tight layout and varied strategies created countless clashes.
Team Penske endured a particularly tough afternoon. Scott McLaughlin lost a wheel following a pit stop and crashed into the Turn 2 wall. Josef Newgarden was caught up in a mess triggered by rookie Jacob Abel and fellow first-year driver Louis Foster, leaving Abel’s car briefly perched on top of Newgarden’s. Will Power added to the drama by hitting the wall in Turn 3, with the trio finishing 11th, 23rd and 26th.
Ed Carpenter Racing’s day was just as difficult. Both Christian Rasmussen and Alexander Rossi hit the wall with right-rear tyre failures. Rossi’s impact caused significant car damage after bouncing over a bump and making contact with a section of concrete barrier.
The race ended under caution when Felix Rosenqvist spun and was collected by Nolan Siegel. Rosenqvist had already suffered front wing damage twice during the race due to contact with Will Power.
Only 26 cars started the race. Santino Ferrucci was ruled out following a crash in morning practice that left his car too damaged and his right hand badly bruised.
As the series heads next to Laguna Seca, O’Ward has momentum on his side. Palou, however, has won at the next two venues in recent years, setting the stage for a thrilling end to the 2025 championship fight.
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