The win was the first for O’Ward in Toronto and his ninth in the series overall. He started the race in the 10th position but felt luck was going to be with him after a bird dropped an unlikely present on the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet and a crew member in the morning practice. “That’s going to be a good day today, and it was,” the Mexican driver said. “I’m stoked for everybody (on the team). I would have never expected to have gone this much better in Toronto because it’s been the most challenging circuit for us in the past.”

One thing about Toronto is that it’s run between concrete barriers on a narrow, bumpy course that often results in what’s more of a demolition derby than a real road race in AutoInformed’s view. Streets of Toronto? Nay, Barriers of Toronto. No matter Toronto is one of the places where Palou has not won a race. Palou entered the weekend with a 129-point lead over O’Ward, the largest leader’s margin this point system has ever seen this late in a season. O’Ward in first meant the separation is 99 points with four races remaining.

Joining O’Ward on the podium were a pair of drivers scoring season-making finishes. Dale Coyne Racing’s Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Honda) finished second, with Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) finishing third. VeeKay scored his fifth career podium finish, but first since a race at Barber Motorsports Park in 2022. Simpson earned a podium finish for the first time in his two years in the series.

NTT P1 Award winner Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda), who won last year’s race, finished fourth to lead a contingent of Andretti Global drivers. Marcus Ericsson (No. 28 Delaware Life Honda) and Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Silver Gold Bull Honda) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

This was a race of different strategies. O’Ward was in the majority starting with a set of the less-favorable alternate Firestone Firehawk tires, and he was able to have them removed with a stop just ahead of the Lap 3 caution. Thus, he only had to use that set for the better part of two green-flag laps and while that forced him into a three-stop strategy, he was able to run the primary compound the rest of the way.

Palou started second, and he and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon were among the few starting on the primaries. Given an assortment and length of caution periods in the first half of the race, the strategy had a strong chance of working out. But ultimately, it didn’t, with both CGR drivers reduced to spending the final segment mid-pack. Dixon finished 10th in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.*

“Well, I chose the strategy, so that’s what we did wrong today,” Palou said. “I was pushing for that strategy. I thought it was going to give us the best opportunity to win. I wanted to be up front, trying to avoid being trapped in traffic.

“Honestly, (days like this) happen. We knew it was going to be a risky strategy rather than starting on alternates. It was kind of working. We were able to open up a big gap after that first yellow, but it was not enough today. Not our day.”

Well that’s just one day. Of the four races left on the schedule, Palou has won twice at each of the next two road courses: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (2022 and 2024) and Portland International Raceway (2021 and 2023). O’Ward won last year’s race at The Milwaukee Mile, which hosts the third of the season’s final four. The last event is the Nashville Superspeedway.

Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward – Courtesy of and Copyright IndyCar 20 July 2025 all rights reserved