Pato O’Ward wins IndyCar Milwaukee double as Alex Palou claims 5th title

Pato O’Ward took historic back-to-back wins on the same day at the IndyCar Milwaukee doubleheader while Alex Palou was crowned the 2026 IndyCar Series champion.

O’Ward sealed both victories within hours of each other after Saturday’s Race 1 was suspended on the 90th lap due to rain and was rescheduled for Sunday evening just after Race 2.

“I’ve dreamt of weekends like this before,” O’Ward said. “You know, I know having the doubleheaders just a couple of times in my career and wishing like, I want to win both of them in a weekend and we got to win both in a day.

“That’s definitely a dream come true for myself and I’m sure for the team. And I’m just so happy that we were able to get back on our oval form because I know we’ve been slacking all year.“

Race 2

Pato O’Ward‘s path to victory in Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 (Race 2) was paved by a combination of strategic pit work and flawless driving through lapped traffic.

Some teams opted for early stops to undercut rivals on worn Firestone tires, while others, like Scott McLaughlin, capitalized on a four-stop strategy that differed from the five-stop approach of most top-10 finishers.

The No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew, redeeming a slow first stop earlier in the race, executed a 6.6-second final pit stop on Lap 192, allowing O’Ward to exit ahead of McLaughlin and take the lead for good on Lap 196 when Santino Ferrucci pitted from the front.

The closing laps saw O’Ward navigate lapped traffic with precision, his margin over McLaughlin fluctuating as both drivers danced through slower cars. At one point, O’Ward’s lead shrunk to just five-tenths of a second as he attempted to pass Will Power, who was fighting to stay on the lead lap after a speeding penalty.

Once clear of Power on Lap 235, O’Ward pulled away, leading by two seconds with five laps remaining and coasting to a 0.7916-second victory over McLaughlin.

O’Ward’s Arrow McLaren teammate Christian Lundgaard completed a Chevrolet podium sweep in third place, while David Malukas and Alex Palou rounded out the top five.

Race 1

The Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 (Race 1) resumed on Sunday evening after a 25-hour and 40-minute red flag, with each driver assuming the same running position from Saturday’s race which played a major role in ensuring Pato O’Ward wins IndyCar Milwaukee double.

O’Ward led the field to the restart on Lap 100 and proceeded build a modest lead over Felix Rosenqvist, but the pit stop cycle quickly shuffled the order, with David Malukas cycling to the front after a series of stops by other contenders.

Malukas led from Lap 120 through Lap 142, when he pitted and handed the lead back to O’Ward, who then pulled away to a 2.9-second advantage over Lundgaard by Lap 150.

A caution on Lap 151 for a spin by Mick Schumacher following contact with Romain Grosjean compressed the field, and Malukas regained the lead after a wave-around during the pit stop cycle, setting up a tense final 90 laps.

The race’s defining moments came in the closing stages as Malukas led O’Ward to a restart on Lap 210 with a pair of lapped cars between them.

After a brief delay, O’Ward cleared the lapped car of Santino Ferrucci and now sat 1.1 seconds behind Malukas. A caution on Lap 213 for a crash involving Caio Collet and Josef Newgarden brought out another round of pit stops, with several drivers including Kyle Kirkwood and Alexander Rossi, opting for fresh tires.

The final restart on Lap 226 produced a breathtaking three-wide battle for the lead with Malukas, O’Ward, and McLaughlin diving into Turn 1 side by side.

O’Ward pulled off a bold overtake on the inside to take the lead and ultimately crossed the finish line 1.7535s clear of Malukas, becoming the first driver since Rick Mears in 1981 to win two IndyCar races on the same day.

Rinus VeeKay passed McLaughlin with three laps to go to secure his first podium of the season and the final spot on the rostrum, while Christian Rasmussen finished fifth and Lundgaard sixth.

Palou only managed to finish 10th after struggling with handling throughout the race but it was enough to officially crown him as the 2026 IndyCar Series champion, marking his fifth title.