O’Ward holds off Power to win as championship fight closes up · RaceFans

Pato O’Ward blasted his McLaren team’s “unacceptable” performance when he finished 15th in Portland a week ago, but rebounded in style with victory in Milwaukee.

O’Ward claimed his third victory of the season by soaking up pressure from Will Power over the closing stages of today’s 250-lap race. The Penske driver’s second-place finish allowed him to take a bite out of championship leader Alex Palou’s advantage.

Conor Daly joined them on the podium after a superb drive from 25th on the grid. The driver who took over from Agustin Canapino two races ago claimed the Juncos Hollinger team’s best result of the season.

O’Ward passed Colton Herta and Scott McLaughlin shortly before half-distance to claim the lead of the race. He led to the chequered flag after the third and final restart on the 204th lap race.

Behind him, Power worked his way past Santino Ferrucci, who restarted in second, but lost two further places to Daly and Palou after the Penske came by. He fought back to reclaim fourth from Palou before the finish.

Linus Lundqvist, who passed pole winner Scott McLaughlin for the lead during the first stint, finished sixth after losing time at his first pit stop. Alexander Rossi took seventh off McLaughlin on the run to the flag. Christian Lundgaard took ninth, while Scott Dixon finished his 400th start in 10th place. Christian Rasmussen, Kyle Kirkwood and Felix Rosenqvist were the only other drivers to finish on the lead lap.

Colton Herta dropped out of contention when his front-left tyre changer failed to attach his new wheel at his final pit stop, which came off the car soon after he rejoined the track. That triggered the third and final caution period of the day.

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Katherine Legge triggered the first with a harmless spin from which she was able to continue. Josef Newgarden did not cause a caution period despite striking the barrier with his right-rear tyre at one stage.

He did contribute to the second caution, however, when he tangled with Marcus Ericsson, sending both into the barriers. Ericsson was trying to pass the Penske at the time but unwilling to take to the less grippy inside line as Newgarden squeezed him.

Race result

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