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

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

August 31, 2024

in Racing

Reading Time: 2 mins read

Pato O’Ward blasted his McLaren staff’s “unacceptable” efficiency when he completed fifteenth in Portland every week in the past, however rebounded in fashion with victory in Milwaukee.

O’Ward claimed his third victory of the season by absorbing stress from Will Energy over the closing levels of at the moment’s 250-lap race. The Penske driver’s second-place end allowed him to take a chunk out of championship chief Alex Palou’s benefit.

Conor Daly joined them on the rostrum after an excellent drive from twenty fifth on the grid. The driving force who took over from Agustin Canapino two races in the past claimed the Juncos Hollinger staff’s finest results of the season.

O’Ward handed Colton Herta and Scott McLaughlin shortly earlier than half-distance to say the lead of the race. He led to the chequered flag after the third and ultimate restart on the 204th lap race.

Behind him, Energy labored his well past Santino Ferrucci, who restarted in second, however misplaced two additional locations to Daly and Palou after the Penske got here by. He fought again to reclaim fourth from Palou earlier than the end.

Linus Lundqvist, who handed pole winner Scott McLaughlin for the lead throughout the first stint, completed sixth after dropping time at his first pit cease. Alexander Rossi took seventh off McLaughlin on the run to the flag. Christian Lundgaard took ninth, whereas Scott Dixon completed his four-hundredth begin in tenth place. Christian Rasmussen, Kyle Kirkwood and Felix Rosenqvist have been the one different drivers to complete on the lead lap.

Colton Herta dropped out of competition when his front-left tyre changer failed to connect his new wheel at his ultimate pit cease, which got here off the automotive quickly after he rejoined the observe. That triggered the third and ultimate warning interval of the day.

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Katherine Legge triggered the primary with a innocent spin from which she was capable of proceed. Josef Newgarden didn’t trigger a warning interval regardless of placing the barrier along with his right-rear tyre at one stage.

He did contribute to the second warning, nonetheless, when he tangled with Marcus Ericsson, sending each into the obstacles. Ericsson was attempting to go the Penske on the time however unwilling to take to the much less grippy inside line as Newgarden squeezed him.