For the first time since Iowa 2022, Pato O’Ward took the checkered flag first. Earning himself a hard-fought victory at Mid-Ohio. This win stood in contrast to the controversial St. Pete race, where O’Ward was awarded the win following Penske Push to Pass penalties.
A New Era Begins in Ohio
The NTT INDYCAR Series entered a new era with the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. This season sees the retirement of the combustion engine, with a new hybrid engine created in collaboration with Honda and Chevrolet. This hybrid system allows drivers to regenerate and deploy energy, adding an additional 60 horsepower. Combined with Push To Pass, this provides drivers with an additional 120 horsepower for the rest of the season.
With a brand new repave of the 2.2-mile sports car course, Alex Palou secured pole position, with Pato O’Ward just .002 seconds behind him, marking the closest front row in Fast Six history.
Green Flag
Despite the lap counter beginning, the drivers didn’t take the green flag immediately. On the pace lap, Scott Dixon’s car suffered a failure. The AMR Safety Team recovers the number 9 PNC Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. Dixon’s day is over before it has even started.
The drivers take the green flag on lap 3. Palou took a strong lead on the start, growing his gap to Pato O’Ward. The drivers began to navigate the deployment of energy and push to pass system while on the brand new repave.
Leading into lap 6, the top 5 was as followed: Palou, O’Ward, Malukas, Herta and McLaughlin. Ericsson, who started in 4th, had dropped to 6th. Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing had jumped from his best starting position of 9 to running 7th.
Early Pit Stops
By lap 9, Alex Palou’s lead had grown to just over 3 seconds.
Lap 10, Kyffin Simpson in the 4 car for Chip Ganassi Racing became the first car to pit. The 4 team changed to alternate tires. Rinus Veekay, Josef Newgarden and Pietro Fittipaldi followed Simpson shortly after.
Armstrong, Siegel and Rosenqvist opted for their first pit stop the following lap.
Alex Palou remained in control as the top 5 were unchanged heading into lap 15.
Palou’s lead extended to over 5 seconds.
Dixon Returns
Lap 22, the blue and orange PNC Bank Honda of Scott Dixon exited the pits.
Cars on the two-stop strategy began to pit.
Lap 28, O’Ward was the first in the top 5 to pit. Malukas followed after. Malukas stalled trying to exit his pit stop.
The dominate leader entered pit lane on lap 29. The remaining top 10 followed in suit to the pits.
Scott McLaughlin led the pack on lap 30 before he entered the pit lane to execute the over cut.
Palou On Cruise Control
McLaughlin exited the pit and gained one position as Colton Herta fell to fourth place.
Lap 34, Palou’s lead continued to grow to over 5 seconds.
On lap 37, PPG Chevrolet of Newgarden re-entered the pits as he led those on the three stop strategy.
By lap 38, Palou began lapping the back of the field.
40 To Go
By lap 43, Palou’s lead was still over 4 seconds to Pato O’Ward.
O’Ward began to close the gap to just under 3 seconds by lap 48.
Lap 52, O’Ward chased down Palou and shortened the gap to one second. The 5 car favored the red alternate tires.
Lap 54, O’Ward entered the pits while the leader Palou stayed out to build a gap.
The 5 car team had a quick stop.
Change of The Leader
Lap 55, Palou entered the pits. The 10 car didn’t stall but it got stuck in first gear and had a second delay exiting the box.
O’Ward took the lead while the 10 car exited the pits.
McLaughlin made his final pit stop and cycled out into 3rd.
O’Ward navigated lapping back markers as he grows his lead to Palou 1.5 seconds.
Lap 63 Palou began to close the gap to the 5 car. O’Ward’s lead shrank to just over half a second.
Final Stretch
With 14 laps to go, O’Ward still led and Palou took a bit of exit curb which allowed O’Ward’s lead to grow to 1.2 seconds.
O’Ward hunted down Simpson and Canapino, the last back marker cars still on the lead lap.
10 laps to go, O’Ward got close enough to Simpson where he was getting dirty air, this made it easier for Palou to close the gap on the 5 car.
5 laps to go Palou closed the gap to .2 but he dropped two tires off the track and the gap to O’ Ward grew to half a second.
O’ Ward continued to navigate his gap to Palou while simultaneously chasing down Simpson.
Final Countdown
Romain Grosjean spun off by turn 9, but it didn’t bring out a yellow as he continued on, but forced him a lap down.
O’Ward kept Palou at bay and Palou was running out of passing opportunities.
Pato O’Ward took the win after a well-fought battle.
This was the first time O’Ward goes to victory lane since Iowa 2022.
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