O’Ward beats Power in Milwaukee opener
Will Power might have been second best to Pato O’Ward in the opening Milwaukee IndyCar race, but gained valuable ground in the championship.
With Alex Palou finishing fifth, Power was able to keep his championship alive, while Kiwi Scott McLaughlin led early from pole, only for an inverse strategy left him on the back foot and down in eighth.
Power’s hopes of victory greatly accelerated when he caught O’Ward in the final 15 laps, but could not quite get close enough to launch an attack, while Conor Daly scored his first podium since 2016.
Now Power is 43 points adrift of Palou to keep the championship alive with the second race of the Milwaukee doubleheader on Sunday local time.
The Aussie lamented the challenge to race wheel to wheel at the 1.015m Wisconsin speedway, but was relieved for a yellow to fall just when he needed to make his third stop around lap 200 of 250.
“It was very difficult to pass. Not impossible but the car was wiggling all over the place. Stoked to get on the podium,” he said.
“We were either going to do a big undercut and gain track position which we lost in the first stint or do what we did and hopefully catch a yellow which was perfect timing.
“One more was what we needed but Pato was really strong and got through that traffic very well and Alex is always consistent.
“We are doing everything we need to and executing, so we will keep digging.”
McLaughlin led from pole and controlled the field for the first 56 laps before being jumped by Linus Lundqvist in traffic.
However, the Kiwi regained the lead before the first action arrived for the spun Katherine Legge.
A decision to stay out during the yellow left the Kiwi “confused” as to why he was now on 20-lap older tyres than his rivals.
However, he was able to retain his lead at the restart as Herta and O’Ward wrestled hard for second and Power was able to get into the top 10.
But by Lap 119 McLaughlin had nothing left to fight with as O’Ward cruised past to snatch the lead.
When Herta launched an attack the Team Penske driver was able to mount a much stronger defence and actually keep the charging #26 behind.
This allowed O’Ward to build a 13s advantage as the pits started on Lap 137 where championship contenders Palou and Power both boxed where the championship leader almost ran over a Penske crew member.
Two laps later McLaughlin made his second stop after a long stint and losing second to Ferrucci.
Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson were on inverse strategies and reaping the rewards, flying into the top three until they tangled on Lap 148.
Ericsson was on the inside before contact sent the Swede into a spin and both cars into the outside wall.
The biggest beneficiaries were Palou and Power, who surged into the top three behind leader O’Ward as McLaughlin settled into fourth after his stop.
Green flag racing carried on for about 40 laps before another interruption arrived just as the field were completing their final stops.
Herta pitted but the team could not complete the front left wheel change before Herta was released and the tyre parted ways even before he rejoined the track.
Power was unable to box before the yellow and rejoined third, only behind O’Ward and Ferrucci, while McLaughlin was eighth at the lap 204 restart.
With 28 to go Power made his move on Ferrucci and snatched second, while Daly also followed through to further displace the #14.
Power now set his sights on leader O’Ward, who was a second further up the road.
With just 14 to go and lapped traffic a factor, the Aussie caught the rear of the #5 McLaren to set-up a tense run to the flag.
But Power could not quite get close enough, while McLaughlin battled to eighth having been passed by Rossi.
The penultimate race of the 2024 IndyCar season is at 4.30 AEST Monday morning.
Photo by LAT Images
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