O’Ward delivers a rare sweep on a historic afternoon
The INDYCAR SERIES record book needed extra room after Pato O’Ward powered through a remarkable Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile. The Arrow McLaren driver won the completion of the Snap‑on Makers and Fixers 250 just hours after taking the checkered flag in the Snap‑on Milwaukee Mile 250, becoming the first driver since Rick Mears in 1981 to win two INDYCAR races on the same day. O’Ward had imagined weekends like this, but pulling off both victories in one afternoon gave him and his team a moment they will carry for years.
O’Ward controlled the race from the moment it resumed after Saturday’s weather suspension, eventually beating David Malukas by 1.7535 seconds. Rinus VeeKay capped his strong season with a podium, while Scott McLaughlin and Christian Rasmussen completed the top five. Chevrolet swept the top seven positions on a day when Honda still secured its 12th manufacturers’ championship.
Palou seals his fifth championship
While O’Ward owned the headlines on track, Alex Palou quietly secured another place in INDYCAR history. His tenth‑place finish clinched his fifth championship and his fourth straight, tying Sebastien Bourdais’ record from 2004‑07. At 29, Palou became the youngest driver ever to reach five titles, joining only A.J. Foyt and Scott Dixon in the sport’s elite tier.
Palou battled handling issues throughout the race and kept his distance in traffic, knowing he only needed to protect a comfortable points lead. His focus never wavered, and the championship was locked in by day’s end.
A dramatic restart decides the race
The defining moment came on Lap 226 when Malukas led the field to green but struggled to accelerate. O’Ward dove low, McLaughlin went high, and the three cars charged into Turn 1 side‑by‑side. O’Ward emerged with the lead and never looked back, making one of the day’s 372 passes for position. Malukas stayed close for several laps but faded late, settling for his sixth career runner‑up finish.
Eyes turn to Monterey
The season concludes this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where Palou has dominated in recent years. He will run a special livery honoring Alex Zanardi, adding emotion to a weekend already filled with history.
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