O'Ward Victory in Milwaukee; Power Shortening the Distance

Pato O'Ward managed to win the first of the two Hy-Vee Milwaukee Mile 250 races, while Will Power managed to reduce the points gap between him and Alex Palou in the battle for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship.

O'Ward Bounces Back with a Victory in Milwaukee

After three tough races, Pato O'Ward returned to the podium, crossing the line 1.8215 seconds ahead of Will Power. The Arrow McLaren driver, behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet, secured his third win of the season. This success also marked his seventh career victory, demonstrating a significant recovery after previous rounds that had knocked him out of the title race.

"After a difficult weekend in Portland, this win is a great relief," O'Ward said. "The team was incredible both in the pits and with the strategy, and although the end was a bit tricky, I'm happy to have brought the car home in first place."

Will Power Keeps Pushing in the Title Race

Will Power, who finished in second place, continues to pressure Alex Palou in the overall standings. Although Palou remains in the lead, his advantage has been reduced from 54 to 43 points, keeping the championship open with two races remaining. Power, driving the No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet, showed consistency and capitalized on opportunities that arose during the race, though he was unable to overtake O'Ward.

Conor Daly Surprises with a Strong Performance

Conor Daly, racing for Juncos Hollinger Racing, surprised the crowd with a third-place finish, his best result since 2016. Driving the No. 78 Chevrolet, Daly made 51 overtakes during the race, the most recorded this season, using every racing line available at the Milwaukee Mile.

Ferrucci and Palou Round Out the Top 5

Santino Ferrucci and Alex Palou completed the top five, facing significant challenges in pit strategy. Ferrucci, driving the No. 14 Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises, maintained a competitive pace, while Palou, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, minimized his losses, securing a result that could be crucial to maintaining his lead in the championship.

Pit Strategies and Traffic Decide the Race

The race was filled with action and largely determined by strategic decisions made in the pits and managing traffic on track. Various teams tested "undercut" and "overcut" strategies during early pit stops, hoping to gain an advantage with fresh tires or a well-timed yellow flag.

Ultimately, O'Ward secured the lead on lap 195 after a series of strategic pit stops. Despite heavy lapped traffic, he managed to maintain his lead over Power until the end of the race.

Palou Stays Calm and Remains in the Hunt

Despite starting from 12th position, Alex Palou remained composed and managed to finish within the top five, reinforcing his consistency throughout the season. Palou narrowly avoided a multi-car accident involving Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson, and thanks to smart strategy and a bit of luck, he recovered his lap during the final yellow flag.

"A bit unlucky with that yellow, but we got a good result," Palou said. "The car was fantastic, and tomorrow we'll try to be one step ahead of everyone."