O’Ward Denies Newgarden In First Act Of Iowa Double

Pato O'Ward celebrates in victory lane Saturday at Iowa Speedway. (Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment photo)

NEWTON, Iowa –  On a day when it looked like Team Penske might finally snap its run of awful luck in the NTT IndyCar Series, Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren found a way to deny the juggernaut organization.

O’Ward secured the win Saturday in the SYNK 275 powered by Sukup, keeping his No. 5 Chevrolet in clean air late ahead of six-time Iowa victor and race-long dominator Josef Newgarden.

Newgarden’s No. 2 Astemo Chevrolet was nearly untouchable from the pole, leading the first 232 of 275 laps. But when O’Ward got off pit road ahead of Newgarden on lap 233 following the final round of pit stops, the game was on.

A caution with 27 to go for O’Ward’s McLaren teammate, Nolan Siegel, set up the duel between the two longtime rivals, but it also led to a red flag stoppage for repairs to the SAFER Barrier before racing resumed with 14 laps left.

Another quick yellow followed on that restart, for a spin from PREMA Racing’s Callum Ilott, before O’Ward took off and held off Newgarden for the win over the final nine-lap dash to the checkered flag.

It made the Monterrey, Mexico, native an Indy car winner for the eighth time in his young career. His .2352-second margin of victory over Newgarden was the smallest such gap at Iowa since 2007, when Dario Franchitti edged Marco Andretti by .0861 seconds.

“This is great. We’ve been waiting for this one all year. It’s crazy,” said O’Ward. “My 50th race win was also a win here in Iowa, and that’s the only other win I have here, so it’s a cool story. Great job by my Arrow McLaren guys and gals, this Chevy-powered machine, [with a] one-two-three Chevy podium … it was about time for that. I’m super happy I’m the Chevy guy that gave them their first win this year.

“Josef [Newgarden] is the master at these races. He rules around here, so I knew we had to be spot on, and I had to be so precise on the in-laps to beat him at his own game,” O’Ward added. “This is awesome, and we have another chance tomorrow, so it’d be really cool to double up.”

O’Ward became the sixth Indy car driver all-time to win in his 100th career start, and the first to do so since Canadian Patrick Carpentier in 2002.

For O’Ward, Saturday was a chance to flip the script on two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Newgarden, after the latter had beaten him on ovals the last four times that they’d finished first and second.

“We’ve had so many duels, Josef [Newgarden] and I, but he usually has a percentage that comes out on top more. This time, I was like, ‘You know what, today’s the day that changes,’” O’Ward noted. “It’s great racing out there, and I had a lot of fun making that outside groove work when we were fourth and fifth, and as soon as we were behind him, we just kind of positioned ourselves to get it done.”

Newgarden finished second on an all-around positive momentum shift for Team Penske, despite looking like he was going to run away with his seventh victory in ‘corn country’.

Still, it was a much-needed strong run after a whirlwind season thus far, including four DNFs for Newgarden, most recently at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Newgarden just knew that it could have been even more.

“I don’t know that [having the most laps led and finishing second] changes tomorrow. O’Ward got track position there, and that was game over. Just simple as that,” he said. “The Astemo car was quick. Team Chevy did a great job; the Bowtie finally getting a win this year a big deal.

“They should have had way more on the year, so good to finally get one. Just wish it had been us.”

Will Power claimed the final step on the podium. Currently not under contract for 2026, the pressure is on for Power to find victory lane, after receiving everything he hoped for Saturday.

“I’m really happy with third. I just wanted to have a smooth day with no problems, and that’s what I got,” Power said. “Hopefully tomorrow we can go for the win.”

Finishing fourth was Power’s Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin, who wheeled his No. 3 XPEL Chevy ahead a whopping 23 positions after starting last in the 27-car field.

Point leader Alex Palou was fifth, and Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen finished sixth.

Juncos Hollinger Racing’s Conor Daly, A.J. Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, Meyer Shank Racing’s Marcus Armstrong, and last week’s Mid-Ohio winner Scott Dixon completed the top 10.

Despite O’Ward’s win trimming the advantage slightly, Palou still carries a whopping 106-point advantage with six races left in the pursuit of the Astor Cup.

Yellow flags for race one at Iowa were all due to single car incidents, including Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, who recovered from a spin at the start to a 13th-place finish.

Ilott, Siegel, Alexander Rossi, Kyle Kirkwood, and Jacob Abel all fell off the lead lap due to crashes.

Race two from Iowa, the Farm To Finish 275 powered by Sukup, gets underway Sunday, July 13 at 1 p.m. ET, live on FOX, the IndyCar Radio Network, and SiriusXM IndyCar Nation, channel 218.