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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
O'Ward keeps hopes alive
Pato O'Ward. PHOTO: Kristin Enzor-USA TODAY NETWORK Mexican Pato O'Ward eked out his second IndyCar win in three weeks in Toronto yesterday, keeping alive his underdog chances to win the season championship. Alex Palou rode a dominant start to the season to a 129-point lead in the points race. After the Spaniard finished 12th yesterday, O'Ward has sliced that deficit to 99 with four races to go. O'Ward started in 10th but led 30 of 90 laps in his No5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and beat Dutchman Rinus VeeKay by 0.4843sec. Kyffin Simpson, of the Cayman Islands, was third, his first podium finish in two IndyCar seasons. "I knew I had a great car under me to race with and the guys nailed it on the strategy," O'Ward said in his post-race interview. That strategy was for O'Ward to start the race on his alternate set of tires before moving to his primary tires early on lap 3. "I was feeling so good on the [primary] tires all weekend, really. We were just struggling to get the alternates to work in qualifying. Sadly, that's the one you need to transfer," O'Ward said. Palou, conversely, started on his primary tires from the No2 position. The seven-time winner this year led 37 laps but faded down the stretch. Scott Dixon was the best of the three New Zealand drivers, finishing 10th. Marcus Armstrong briefly ran second before finishing 14th, while Scott McLaughlin's race ended shortly after an early pit stop when a wheel detached and he slammed into the wall. — APL/Field Level Media
Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Canada News.Net
Pato O'Ward wins in Toronto, inches toward Alex Palou in season race
(Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images) Mexico's Pato O'Ward eked out his second win in three weeks on Sunday at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, keeping alive his underdog chances to win the season championship. Alex Palou rode a dominant start to the season to a 129-point lead in the points race, the largest margin this deep in a season since IndyCar began using the scoring system. After the Spaniard finished 12th in Toronto, O'Ward sliced that deficit to 99 with four races to go. O'Ward started back in 10th but led 30 out of 90 laps in his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and beat the Netherlands' Rinus VeeKay by 0.4843 seconds. Kyffin Simpson of the Cayman Islands was third, his first podium finish in two IndyCar seasons. 'I knew I had a great car under me to race with and the guys nailed it on the strategy,' O'Ward said in his post-race interview. That strategy was for O'Ward to start the race on his alternate set of tires before moving to his primary tires early on Lap 3. 'I was feeling so good on the (primary) tires all weekend really. We were just struggling to get the alternates to work in qualifying. Sadly, that's the one you need to transfer,' O'Ward said. Palou, conversely, started on his primary tires from the No. 2 position. The seven-time winner this year led 37 laps but faded down the stretch. '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.' Simpson was the biggest mover of the day after starting the race 13th. 'It was a crazy race,' Simpson said. 'So many ups and downs. At one point we thought we were in the worst position, and then very quickly it turned into one of the best positions.'
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Pato O'Ward Wins Toronto, Slices Alex Palou's Lead by 30 Points
INDYCAR Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward isn't ready to concede the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship just yet. The driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet drove that point home in Sunday's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto by winning his second race in eight days as Palou finished 12th. SEE: Race Results Palou entered the weekend with a 129-point lead over O'Ward, the largest leader's margin this point system has ever seen this deep in a season. But 30 points evaporated at Exhibition Place, dropping their separation to 99 points with four races remaining. A race win can be worth as many as 54 points. 'Oh, man, I can't say I saw this (win) coming,' O'Ward said. 'But I was feeling so good on the (primary) tires all weekend really. We were just struggling to get the alternates to work in qualifying. Sadly, that's the one you need to transfer. 'But I knew we had a great car under me to race with, and (the crew) nailed it on the strategy.' The win was the first for O'Ward in Toronto and his ninth in the series overall. He started the race in the 10th position but felt luck was going to be with him after a bird dropped an unlikely present on the car and a crew member in the morning practice. 'That's going to be a good day today, and it was,' the Mexican driver said. 'I'm stoked for everybody (on the team). I would have never expected to have gone this much better in Toronto because it's been the most challenging circuit for us in the past.' Joining O'Ward on the podium were a pair of drivers scoring season-making finishes. Dale Coyne Racing's Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Honda) finished second with Chip Ganassi Racing's Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finishing third. VeeKay scored his fifth career podium finish but first since a race at Barber Motorsports Park in 2022. Simpson earned the prestigious spot for the first time in his two years in the series. NTT P1 Award winner Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), who won last year's race, finished fourth to lead a contingent of Andretti Global drivers. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Delaware Life Honda) and Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Silver Gold Bull Honda) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. This was a race of different strategies. O'Ward was in the majority starting with a set of the less-favorable alternate Firestone Firehawk tires, and he was able to have them removed with a stop just ahead of the Lap 3 caution. Thus, he only had to use that set for the better part of two green-flag laps and while that forced him into a three-stop strategy, he was able to run the primary compound the rest of the way. Palou started second, and he and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon were among the few starting on the primaries. Given an assortment and length of caution periods in the first half of the race, the strategy had a strong chance of working out. But ultimately, it didn't, with both CGR drivers reduced to spending the final segment mid-pack. Dixon finished 10th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. '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. 'Honestly, (days like this) happen. We knew it was going to be a risky strategy rather than starting on alternates. It was kind of working. We were able to open up a big gap after that first yellow, but it was not enough today. Not our day.' Palou still has reason to be optimistic. Of the four races left on the schedule, he has won twice at each of the next two road courses: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (2022 and 2024) and Portland International Raceway (2021 and 2023). O'Ward won last year's race at The Milwaukee Mile, which hosts the third of the season's final four. The combination of the various tire strategies in play and Toronto's tight confines around the 11-turn, 1.786-mile street circuit created action aplenty, and there seemed to be contact of some degree at every corner. It was arguably the most exciting of the four street races this year, with 226 on-track passes (most in the event since 2014) and 201 passes for position (most since 2019). Both totals were fourth-most overall for racing on the downtown streets of this Ontario city. Often in the middle of the action was Team Penske, which saw its challenging season continue. First, the left rear lug nut of Scott McLaughlin's car came off following a pit stop, pushing the No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet into the Turn 2 wall. Then, Josef Newgarden and his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet were collected by an incident that started with Dale Coyne Racing rookie Jacob Abel (No. 51 Abel Construction Honda) taking light contact from fellow first-year Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Louis Foster (No. 45 Droplight Honda) in Turn 1. In the mess that ensued, Abel's car landed on top of Newgarden's. Later, Will Power's No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet lost a side-by-side battle in Turn 3, hitting the left-side wall. Roger Penske's drivers finished 11th (Power), 23rd (Newgarden) and 26th (McLaughlin). Ed Carpenter Racing also had a difficult day, with both Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda ECR Chevrolet) and Alexander Rossi (No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet) hitting the wall with right-rear tires. Rasmussen was side by side with Power at the time; Rossi appeared to veer to the right after bouncing over a bump. Unfortunately for Rossi, a section of the concrete barrier split that corner of the car apart, creating a significant amount of damage and debris. The race ended under caution when the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Felix Rosenqvist wiggled and was struck from behind by Nolan Siegel's No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. That ended Rosenqvist's day as he had twice taken front-wing damage due to contact with Power. Only 26 car-and-driver combinations took the green flag as Santino Ferrucci and his No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet were held out of the race due to a damaged car and a bruised right hand in the morning practice. Ferrucci hit the Turn 7 wall on the left side, sending the car sliding into the Turn 8 run-off area. All four corners of the car were damaged with only about three hours to make repairs. Besides, Ferrucci's right hand was badly bruised and swollen. Practice for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 95-lap race, the 14th of the 17-race season, is Sunday at 3 p.m. on FOX. recommended Item 1 of 1
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Pato O'Ward Wins Toronto, Slices Alex Palou's Big Lead by 30 Points
INDYCAR Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward isn't ready to concede the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship just yet. The driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet drove that point home in Sunday's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto by winning his second race in eight days as Palou finished 12th. SEE: Race Results Palou entered the weekend with a 129-point lead over O'Ward, the largest leader's margin this point system has ever seen this deep in a season. But 30 points evaporated at Exhibition Place, dropping their separation to 99 points with four races remaining. A race win can be worth as many as 54 points. 'Oh, man, I can't say I saw this (win) coming,' O'Ward said. 'But I was feeling so good on the (primary) tires all weekend really. We were just struggling to get the alternates to work in qualifying. Sadly, that's the one you need to transfer. 'But I knew we had a great car under me to race with, and (the crew) nailed it on the strategy.' The win was the first for O'Ward in Toronto and his ninth in the series overall. He started the race in the 10th position but felt luck was going to be with him after a bird dropped an unlikely present on the car and a crew member in the morning practice. 'That's going to be a good day today, and it was,' the Mexican driver said. 'I'm stoked for everybody (on the team). I would have never expected to have gone this much better in Toronto because it's been the most challenging circuit for us in the past.' Joining O'Ward on the podium were a pair of drivers scoring season-making finishes. Dale Coyne Racing's Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Honda) finished second with Chip Ganassi Racing's Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finishing third. VeeKay scored his fifth career podium finish but first since a race at Barber Motorsports Park in 2022. Simpson earned the prestigious spot for the first time in his two years in the series. NTT P1 Award winner Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), who won last year's race, finished fourth to lead a contingent of Andretti Global drivers. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Delaware Life Honda) and Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Silver Gold Bull Honda) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. This was a race of different strategies. O'Ward was in the majority starting with a set of the less-favorable alternate Firestone Firehawk tires, and he was able to have them removed with a stop just ahead of the Lap 3 caution. Thus, he only had to use that set for the better part of two green-flag laps and while that forced him into a three-stop strategy, he was able to run the primary compound the rest of the way. Palou started second, and he and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon were among the few starting on the primaries. Given an assortment and length of caution periods in the first half of the race, the strategy had a strong chance of working out. But ultimately, it didn't, with both CGR drivers reduced to spending the final segment mid-pack. Dixon finished 10th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. '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. 'Honestly, (days like this) happen. We knew it was going to be a risky strategy rather than starting on alternates. It was kind of working. We were able to open up a big gap after that first yellow, but it was not enough today. Not our day.' Palou still has reason to be optimistic. Of the four races left on the schedule, he has won twice at each of the next two road courses: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (2022 and 2024) and Portland International Raceway (2021 and 2023). O'Ward won last year's race at The Milwaukee Mile, which hosts the third of the season's final four. The combination of the various tire strategies in play and Toronto's tight confines around the 11-turn, 1.786-mile street circuit created action aplenty, and there seemed to be contact of some degree at every corner. It was arguably the most exciting of the four street races this year, with 226 on-track passes (most in the event since 2014) and 201 passes for position (most since 2019). Both totals were fourth-most overall for racing on the downtown streets of this Ontario city. Often in the middle of the action was Team Penske, which saw its challenging season continue. First, the left rear lug nut of Scott McLaughlin's car came off following a pit stop, pushing the No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet into the Turn 2 wall. Then, Josef Newgarden and his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet were collected by an incident that started with Dale Coyne Racing rookie Jacob Abel (No. 51 Abel Construction Honda) taking light contact from fellow first-year Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Louis Foster (No. 45 Droplight Honda) in Turn 1. In the mess that ensued, Abel's car landed on top of Newgarden's. Later, Will Power's No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet lost a side-by-side battle in Turn 3, hitting the left-side wall. Roger Penske's drivers finished 11th (Power), 23rd (Newgarden) and 26th (McLaughlin). Ed Carpenter Racing also had a difficult day, with both Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Splenda ECR Chevrolet) and Alexander Rossi (No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet) hitting the wall with right-rear tires. Rasmussen was side by side with Power at the time; Rossi appeared to veer to the right after bouncing over a bump. Unfortunately for Rossi, a section of the concrete barrier split that corner of the car apart, creating a significant amount of damage and debris. The race ended under caution when the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Felix Rosenqvist wiggled and was struck from behind by Nolan Siegel's No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. That ended Rosenqvist's day as he had twice taken front-wing damage due to contact with Power. Only 26 car-and-driver combinations took the green flag as Santino Ferrucci and his No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet were held out of the race due to a damaged car and a bruised right hand in the morning practice. Ferrucci hit the Turn 7 wall on the left side, sending the car sliding into the Turn 8 run-off area. All four corners of the car were damaged with only about three hours to make repairs. Besides, Ferrucci's right hand was badly bruised and swollen. Practice for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca begins Friday at 5 p.m. ET (FS2, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). The 95-lap race, the 14th of the 17-race season, is Sunday at 3 p.m. on FOX. recommended Item 1 of 1
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Practice Shots: Lundgaard Gives Chevrolet a Strong Early Run
INDYCAR Honda has been nearly unstoppable in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, claiming 11 wins in 12 races, including a perfect 3-for-3 record on street circuits. Dating back to the 2022 Toronto race weekend, Honda has captured 13 of the last 14 street circuit victories. That stretch includes a podium sweep on the 1.786-mile Exhibition Place track last season. Heading into this weekend, Honda remains the heavy favorite to collect more hardware. But if Chevrolet is going to mount a challenge, keep an eye on Christian Lundgaard and his No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, a pairing that was ninth-fastest in Friday's practice with a lap of 1 minute, 1.1962 seconds. Lundgaard's lone career victory in 64 starts came in Toronto in 2023 — 37 races ago — where he won from pole position while driving a Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. It remains his last NTT P1 Award. 'Coming to Toronto always brings back great memories,' Lundgaard said. 'I've had strong results here in the past, including my first win. I'm excited for the weekend ahead. We know what it takes to be quick here, so now it's all about putting it together and making it happen.' This season, Lundgaard has averaged an eighth-place finish on street circuits, including a podium at Long Beach. He has also never finished worse than eighth at Toronto, highlighted by a charge from 16th to seventh in last year's event. Here are three observations about the first practice in preparation for Sunday's Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, plus other notes of interest: · The Turn 8 runoff proved to be a trouble spot during the session. At one point, Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Gallagher Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet), Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 Sexton Properties/AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet) and Pato O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet) all ended up in the runoff simultaneously due to separate incidents. The flurry of mistakes wasn't surprising as Toronto's street circuit is notoriously bumpy and slick. Friday's session also featured both Firestone Firehawk primary and alternate tires, giving drivers a chance to push the limits ahead of qualifying. · Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) opted to use two sets of primary tires during Friday's practice session, leaving him with just three sets for the remainder of the weekend. With some drivers predicting Sunday's race could require a three-stop strategy, tire management may prove critical, especially if primary tires emerge as the preferred compound. That would leave Palou with only one fresh set for qualifying and two for Saturday's practice. Palou has yet to win at Toronto and struggled in qualifying. In three career starts, he's never advanced past the first round of qualifying, starting 22nd, 15th, and 18th. Despite those setbacks, the three-time series champion has consistently charged through the field, finishing sixth, second, and fourth. · Seven different teams were represented in the top eight of Friday's speed chart led by Andretti Global's Kirkwood. Team Penske was the only organization to place multiple drivers in the top eight, with McLaughlin in second and Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) in fifth. Rounding out the top eight were Palou (Chip Ganassi Racing) in third, Marcus Armstrong (Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian) in fourth, Callum Ilott (PREMA Racing) in sixth, Pato O'Ward (Arrow McLaren) in seventh, and David Malukas (AJ Foyt Racing) in eighth. DeFrancesco Returns Home For Third Toronto Start Ontario native Devlin DeFrancesco is the lone Canadian in this weekend's 27-driver field. He was 25th-quickest in Friday's session. Making his third Toronto start, his best result came in 2022, qualifying 12th and finishing 18th. 'I love Toronto,' DeFrancesco said. 'I got my first Fast 12 here and always look forward to going home. A lot of my family will be at the race.' Born 15 weeks premature and given last rites multiple times at Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital, DeFrancesco defied the odds. Now driving the No. 30 HUB International Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, he's optimistic after a strong showing on Detroit's bumpy street circuit — a layout similar to Toronto — and is encouraged RLL's 2023 win with Lundgaard. 'We found a few things, performance-wise wise on the Detroit street course that has helped us quite a bit so that is an avenue we will follow. This team has been very strong in Toronto the last couple of years, so we should be fast.' ECR Brings Momentum Alexander Rossi returned to Toronto after being forced to sit out last year's event with a hand injury suffered in a crash in practice. This time around, he left Friday unscathed, turning the 17th quickest lap (1:02.2232). Rossi, in his first year driving the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet, has three career top-10 finishes at the venue, including a runner-up in 2017 driving for Andretti Global. Half of his four top-10s this season have come on street courses. 'The Toronto circuit is one that is always a great mix of exciting and challenging,' Rossi said. 'I am looking forward to competing this weekend after missing last year's race.' Teammate Christian Rasmussen, fresh off two top-10s at Iowa, is also feeling confident. He's 15th in points, just ahead of Rossi in 16th and was 12th overall (1:02.0923) on Friday. 'There's definitely momentum on our side,' he said. 'Hopefully, we can build on that and have another strong result.' Rasmussen earned his first professional win at this track in 2019, competing in USF2000. He claimed his first INDYCAR SERIES podium at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 15 — the second of four top-10 finishes this season, all coming on oval tracks. Team owner Ed Carpenter knows Rasmussen's aggressive driving style isn't always popular with competitors, but he's not concerned. 'He's super aggressive,' Carpenter said. 'I don't know if everyone likes it, but from my perspective, I love it. If he's making people nervous out there, I don't see a problem with that. He's been aggressive long enough now and pulls off a lot of really slick moves. He's done it enough that it's clearly not a fluke.' Odds and Ends · Toronto is the second-shortest street circuit on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar. At 1.786 miles, it's slightly longer than Detroit's 1.645-mile, 10-turn layout, the shortest street course in the series. By comparison, St. Petersburg measures 1.8 miles with 14 turns, and Long Beach is 1.968 miles with 11 turns. Despite their compact sizes, these circuits offer plenty of corners to challenge drivers and create separation in the field. Toronto has 11 turns, just one more than Detroit. Scott Dixon was 13th in Friday's session. The lack of overall speed in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda is somewhat concerning because he has a six-spot grid penalty in Sunday's race. Dixon suffered the same penalty at Detroit when he qualified 10th but rolled off 16th in the race. He climbed to finish 11th. Dixon is a four-time Toronto winner and has 12 career top-five finishes at the track. That's tied with Michael Andretti for most all-time. · The series returns to the track at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for the second practice session in advance of the three-round knockout NTT P1 Award qualifying session scheduled to begin at 2:35 p.m. Both Saturday sessions will air on FS1, FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio Network. recommended Item 1 of 1
