Pato O'Ward Tames Nemesis Josef Newgarden For A lot-Wanted Win At Iowa

Bob Pockrass

FOX Motorsports Insider

NEWTON, Iowa — When Arrow McLaren group principal Tony Kanaan took the stage throughout the successful group information convention Saturday, he talked about how Chevrolet wanted that first win of the season and the way the group wanted that first win.

However how concerning the driver himself? Pato O’Ward wanted the win, it appeared, as a lot as anyone as he captured the primary race of an INDYCAR doubleheader weekend at Iowa Speedway.

“How unhealthy did I want it?” O’Ward mentioned. “I wished it. I would not essentially say if I did not get it, it was going to be the tip of the world. We have been chipping away at it. If it wasn’t a win, I believe it was going to be a second.

“I do not know what number of seconds I’ve this yr, … No. 1 appears to be like and feels significantly better.”

Josef Newgarden (second), Pato O’Ward (first) and Will Energy (third) took the rostrum throughout race 1 at Iowa Speedway.

O’Ward had motive to be ok with the victory, as he was in a position to make use of a sooner pit cease on the ultimate green-flag cycle to get forward of Josef Newgarden. He remained forward of him and led the ultimate 32 laps on the best way to the win.

Neither O’Ward nor Newgarden had gained this yr, and Newgarden has traditionally crushed O’Ward of their 1-2 battles six instances — seven for those who rely final yr at St. Petersburg earlier than the Newgarden disqualification — have they crossed the end line 1-2 with O’Ward following Newgarden.

“If it wasn’t for him, I might have much more wins,” O’Ward mentioned. “However he is a troublesome competitor.

“I believe this yr for him has been fairly completely different to what it has been up to now. I see him very in another way, to be trustworthy, like his perspective and all the things is unquestionably not the Josef that I’ve at all times praised, I might say. However I’ve studied him. I understand how to race him.”

That learning is that Newgarden has made a residing making daring strikes to take the lead. He can put his opponent in a foul place and make the most of it.

“I mentioned, ‘as we speak is the day that is going to alter’ as a result of clearly he is acquired much more expertise than I do, however I believe over time, I’ve grown to appreciate that I am fairly useful, not less than in sure ovals,” O’Ward mentioned.

“I imagine our bundle may be very robust, and it is essential to capitalize once we can get these wins.”

Pato O’Ward takes the checkered flag at Iowa.

O’Ward turned simply the fourth driver to win this season behind Alex Palou (six wins), Kyle Kirkwood (three wins) and Scott Dixon (one win).

“All of us wanted it,” Kanaan mentioned. “The group hadn’t gained, and Pato being the chief of this group — he is been fairly constant.

“Let’s face it, the sequence has been dominated by two guys and it’s very bizarre, so all of us wanted it.”

O’Ward is the chief of the group however there’s little question that he’s being pushed by the arrival of teammate Christian Lundgaard, who got here from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. They each had 4 podiums within the first 10 races of the yr.

Some had questioned if that is really a group the place O’Ward is the chief. O’Ward solidified himself in that function not less than in public notion with the victory Saturday.

“We will’t make him not a pacesetter simply because Christian got here in and is as robust,” Kanaan mentioned. “It’s fairly well-known that this has been Pato’s group for a very long time. Christian got here in and we’re welcoming him, and now we wish it to be each of their groups.

“However Pato is extra skilled. He’s been right here the longest. Has extra wins. … I had all through my profession, nice expertise with teammates, and we made a group very robust with robust different teammates. So that is the purpose. However Pato at all times, for my part, goes to be the chief. He is been right here for six years.”

Leaders of groups are speculated to problem for championships, O’Ward reduce 20 factors into Alex Palou’s lead as he moved to second within the standings however nonetheless sits 105 factors behind Palou with six races remaining.

A kind of races is Sunday within the second race of the Iowa doubleheader the place Palou begins from the pole and O’Ward will begin ninth.

“The man simply would not have any unhealthy races, and a foul race for him is like fifth,” O’Ward mentioned. “In any other case he is on the rostrum.

We have simply acquired to maintain chipping away at it. I have been as constant as I’ve ever been. I really feel like I have been laying low, and that normally means you are staying out of hassle. However it’s powerful to be podium rivalry and qualifying top-3 each single weekend.”

Pato O’Ward earned a much-needed first win of the 2025 season.

Palou, after his fifth-place end, believes O’Ward can be a menace once more Sunday.

“Pato has an excellent likelihood tomorrow to attempt in lower than 24 hours to get two wins,” Palou mentioned. “We have to attempt to step it up slightly bit and see if we are able to end up entrance.”

Can the “something will occur” state of affairs truly occur and for somebody to catch Palou? Should you take a look at the unlikelihood of a gradual Newgarden cease when he wanted it essentially the most, then perhaps something can occur.

“Palou is doing his job,” Kanaan mentioned. “It is our job to cease it. So we’re going to attempt as laborious as we are able to. Clearly, he is fairly robust, however we’ll see.”

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.