NTT INDYCAR SERIES: ‘Championship Is Not Over’ – Pato O’Ward Applies Pressure on Alex Palou
Updated Jul. 21, 2025 12:47 p. jili promotion free 100m. ET
TORONTO — Pato O’Ward enjoyed a commanding lead for the final third of the race on the streets of Toronto, giving him the chance to relax for just a moment. He could have taken a second to consider how much he could reduce Alex Palou’s championship lead that Sunday afternoon. However, he didn’t check Palou’s position in the race; he didn’t even inquire.
O’Ward celebrated on the podium after the INDYCAR race at Toronto, highlighting the significant gap that existed prior to the race. Upon learning that he had decreased Palou’s lead from 129 points to 99, O’Ward wasn’t going to let the steep challenge ahead spoil the joy of securing his second victory in the last three races.
Palou, who boasts seven wins this season, finished in 12th place. “It’s only down to 99,” O’Ward expressed. “That’s a substantial chunk. His best performances typically happen on days like today. We need to ensure that we continue to have days like today — not just one but a few.” O’Ward added, “I think we’re going to keep this conversation going until Nashville jili fun888 login. That’s my goal.”
For O’Ward to keep the title fight alive until the season finale in Nashville, he would need to be within 54 points of Palou. Next up is Laguna Seca Raceway, one of Palou’s strong tracks. Following that, the final three races will take place at Portland International Raceway, The Milwaukee Mile, and Nashville Superspeedway.
Palou will not be able to secure the championship at Laguna Seca. He would need to be 108 points ahead of O’Ward after Portland and 54 points ahead after Milwaukee in order to clinch his third consecutive title and fourth overall.
Currently, O’Ward is the only driver even in striking distance of the championship. Kyle Kirkwood is third in the standings, trailing by 173 points, while Scott Dixon is 174 points behind. “We’re at a point in the championship where we need to become more aggressive, as I did today to create opportunities for us to win this race,” O’Ward said. “That’s the only way we’ll make him sweat a little.”
The aggressive approach included an incident involving Will Power. INDYCAR looked into whether O’Ward could have avoided the contact, which caused Power to slightly make contact with the barrier after the wheel clash. After review, O’Ward was cleared of any wrongdoing, and INDYCAR deemed it a racing incident. Though he felt for Power, O’Ward noted that the driver outside in a two-wide situation in that corner was taking a risk of contact.
“The problem lies in the very fine line we are battling,” O’Ward remarked. “You don’t want to lose positions. When you’re full opposite lock, we basically hit square. When tire connects with tire, both drivers lose control momentarily. jl bet app You just have to gather it back up.” Power managed to recover and finished 11th, one position ahead of Palou.
Today’s challenge for Palou was a matter of strategy. He began the race on primary tires and required a longer stint on alternate tires compared to other drivers. He started strong but got caught in traffic during the second half of the race. “I chose the strategy,” Palou admitted. “Today, we made a mistake with that strategy. I believed it would give us the best chance to win. The car was very fast, and I wanted to stay out front to avoid being trapped in traffic. But it happens; we were aware it was a risky strategy.”
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown commented that if not for Palou’s impressive performance, many would view O’Ward’s season more favorably. He also expressed belief in miracles. “The championship is not over,” Brown stated on FOX prior to the race. “A miracle might need to happen, but miracles can and do occur. That’s what makes the sport so thrilling.”
Now, the team’s focus should be on approaching every race with confidence in their ability to secure a victory. Toronto, for example, hasn’t historically been one of O’Ward’s stronger tracks. “Pato and I’s biggest challenge is instilling a belief in everyone that no matter what, especially in INDYCAR, every green flag is an opportunity,” said team principal Tony Kanaan. “We had a productive and intense meeting last night. I told them, ‘We have to believe it.’ Days like today provide a confidence boost, showing that we can take the next step.”
That next step involves O’Ward continuing to fight for wins irrespective of the track’s characteristics. lucky cola log in “You need a car that you can attack with and pass other drivers,” O’Ward remarked. platform “Just relying on strategy isn’t enough. If we had depended solely on strategy today, we would have only managed to sniff the podium. That’s insufficient. You need the capability to genuinely fight your way to the front. It feels fulfilling to achieve this win today, especially in a place where we’ve struggled during past weekends.”
What are your thoughts on this thrilling race and the championship battle ahead?