Palou and O’Ward share Iowa wins as McLaughlin finds trouble

Alex Palou returned to winning ways in the IndyCar Iowa double header, where Scott McLaughlin “got caught in someone else’s accident.”

After finishing fourth from 27th in Saturday’s first leg, won by Pato O’Ward, McLaughlin held high hopes coming into Sunday.

However, the Team Penske Kiwi’s race was over in unlucky fashion moments after it began.

McLaughlin was on the high side going through Turn 4 and Devlin DeFrancesco spun his #30 Luther Automotive Honda straight into the path of the former Supercars star and taking him out.

“I just got caught up in someone else’s accident, unfortunately. Just, it is what it is,” he said.

“Really gutted for everyone on the Gallagher Chevy and everyone at Gallagher It was their one race. We had a lot of support here today. Look, positives. We had a really good yesterday’s race.

“The car was really good, and I’m just bummed out. I haven’t been able to use it today. I try to be patient, but, it’s hard to avoid something like that.

“There’s only so much you can do it to avoid it. We nearly got him, but it is what it is.

“There were a couple of negatives this weekend, but I’ll take a positive yesterday and just charge to Toronto.”

To rub salt into the wounds, Australia’s Will Power did not get much further and only recorded 21 laps before his Chevrolet engine burst.

“Not sure what happened, an engine issue of some kind,” Power said. 

“It feels like Mid-Ohio. The car is good. We had improved upon yesterday. 

“It felt like we would have had a great race today. 

“Of course, you never know what could happen. It’s a pity, we keep giving away days when we have a Verizon Chevy that could win. Just one of those seasons. Not much we can do.”

As the Team Penske stars struggled, it was a familair story at the front of the field with Palou winning again.

He has not needed much luck in his crushing title defence, but he did need some to take out the second race in Iowa.

Palou sat third during the final round of stops, but critically stayed out after those ahead of him, Josef Newgarden and David Malukas pitted.

A caution then arrived after Colton Herta found the wall, providing the perfect window for Palou to pit and retain the lead.

He then had to survive an 11-lap sprint home with Scott Dixon breathing down his neck and clung on by just half a second.

It was the Chip Ganassi driver’s seventh win of 2025, a feat no one has achieved in a single season since Al Unser Jr. in 1994.

“Speechless, honestly speechless,” Palou said in victory lane. “It’s been an unbelievable day, an unbelievable weekend. More than anything, what an incredible year for us.

“I really cannot believe it, honestly.”

IndyCar rolls on to the streets of Toronto on July 18-20.

Image: Penske Entertainment

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine