Pato O’Ward stuns the field to take his first Toronto victory while Palou’s title cushion takes a major hit in a street race full of carnage and strategy chaos
TORONTO, ON — In a race filled with strategy twists, tire gambles, and high-profile carnage, it was Pato O’Ward who emerged from the chaos victorious in Toronto, capturing his ninth career IndyCar win and dealing a blow to championship leader Alex Palou, whose dominant lead was slashed by 30 points with four races remaining.
“I can’t say I saw this win coming,” O’Ward said. “But I knew we had a great car underneath us. The strategy was spot-on.”
O’Ward started 10th on the grid, but his gamble to start on the alternate Firestone Firehawks — and ditch them just before an early Lap 3 caution — allowed him to switch to the preferred primary compound for the majority of the race. That bold call forced a three-stop strategy, but it paid off handsomely as O’Ward steadily picked off rivals and avoided the chaos erupting behind him.
Palou’s Painful Day: Strategy Backfires, Lead Cut to 99 Points
Coming into the weekend, Alex Palou held a towering 129-point championship lead — the largest margin this deep into a season under the current points system. But that cushion took a hit after a strategy gamble backfired.
Palou and teammate Scott Dixon elected to start on primary tires, hoping for a clean first stint. However, a mix of untimely cautions and traffic doomed their approach. Palou faded to P10, and Dixon followed closely in P11, leaving the title fight wide open.
“That strategy was my call,” Palou admitted. “It looked good early on, but it didn’t play out. Not our day.”
Despite the setback, Palou remains confident heading into the final stretch. He’s a two-time winner at both Laguna Seca and Portland, the next two races on the calendar.
Podium Shake-Up: VeeKay and Simpson Stun the Field
Behind O’Ward, two of the biggest surprises of the day came in the form of Rinus VeeKay (P2) and Kyffin Simpson (P3).
- VeeKay, driving for Dale Coyne Racing, claimed his first podium since Barber 2022.
- Simpson, in only his second year with Chip Ganassi Racing, earned his first-ever IndyCar podium — a massive milestone for the young driver.
“This one feels huge,” VeeKay said. “We’ve had such a tough run. Today, everything clicked.”
Penske’s Nightmare: Newgarden’s Car Gets Crushed, Power Hits the Wall
It was a day to forget for Team Penske, which saw all three of its drivers caught in chaos:
- Scott McLaughlin was the first to go, crashing at Turn 2 after a loose left-rear wheel from a pit stop.
- Josef Newgarden had a terrifying incident when Jacob Abel’s car landed on top of his, the result of a multi-car melee triggered by Louis Foster.
- Will Power was the last to fall, clipping the Turn 3 wall while battling side-by-side.
The final tally: Power finished 11th, Newgarden 23rd, and McLaughlin 26th. The Penske garage will need serious regrouping heading into Laguna Seca.
Late Race Drama: Crashes End Rosenqvist’s Run, Final Laps Under Caution
The race ended under caution after Felix Rosenqvist spun and was rear-ended by Nolan Siegel, capping off a frustrating day for the No. 60 Meyer Shank Honda that had already sustained two front wing changes due to contact with Power.
Meanwhile, Ed Carpenter Racing suffered a double disaster — both Christian Rasmussen and Alexander Rossi hit the wall with damaged rear tires. Rasmussen was squeezed side-by-side with Power, while Rossi bounced over a bump and lost control.
No Start for Ferrucci
Only 26 cars took the green flag, with Santino Ferrucci ruled out after a vicious crash during morning practice left his AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet too damaged to repair in time. Ferrucci also sustained a bruised right hand in the incident.
Title Watch: Can O’Ward Close the Gap?
With 54 points available per race, the 99-point gap to Palou is now within reach — especially with O’Ward heading to The Milwaukee Mile, where he won in 2024. Palou’s stronghold on the championship is weakening, and with unpredictable street and short ovals ahead, the battle is far from over.
Toronto delivered one of the most action-packed races of the season — and with momentum swinging, the 2025 IndyCar Championship is heating up.
Stay tuned for Laguna Seca — where redemption and revenge will be on the line.
