Pato O’Ward found victory lane for the first time in the 2026 NTT IndyCar season on Sunday (July 5) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, leading a 1-2 finish for Arrow McLaren IndyCar as he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
It was O’Ward’s first win since last season at Toronto and was also his first podium of 2026. It also added to a banner weekend for McLaren, which had the organization’s first 1-2 IndyCar finish.
“It’s been a year. It’s a tough one for sure. (Sunday) is just a perfect example of execution,” O’Ward told FOX after his victory.
O’Ward prevailed in a caution-free race dominated by Arrow McLaren as he started second, one spot behind teammate Christian Lundgaard. The latter of the two set a strong pace early, leading from the outset aside from lead exchanges during pit stops before a slip up entering turn two on the 42nd lap of the 90-lap race. That was just the opening that O’Ward needed to take the lead, as a strong showing the rest of the day on pit road by the No. 5 team built enough cushion for O’Ward’s cherished victory, 0.9877 seconds ahead of Lundgaard.
“I waited for the perfect time to pounce, and from here we just controlled it,” O’Ward said. “The guys were amazing in the pits. This car has been a joy to drive all weekend.”
Lundgaard’s quest for two wins in a row was denied in a season in which he now has two road-course wins and six top fives. The latest of those was on a sweltery day on Sunday in the Buckeye State.
“I’m just trying to catch breath, in all honesty,” Lundgaard said. “It was a long and tough race, we were very loose. In these conditions where you’re loose, it makes the car a little heavier to drive.”
Kyle Kirkwood finished third ahead of Rinus VeeKay and Alex Palou. Palou fought up from a starting spot of eighth for his top five, and VeeKay’s finish was his second finish of fourth in the past three races.
Kirkwood’s podium came following a start of tenth. The race’s top-finishing American driver made up those seven positions all without the aid of a caution flag. He now trails Palou by 56 points in the series points standings.
Sunday’s top 10 was rounded out by Will Power, Christian Rasmussen, David Malukas, Josef Newgarden and Nolan Siegel in that order.
Malukas raced within the race’s top five through the first half before a slow pit stop near the halfway mark shuffled him back a handful of spots, a gap he was unable to rally back from in time..
Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Results
The NTT IndyCar Series heads back to the oval on July 19 for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway. Broadcast is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on FOX.
Brad joined Frontstretch.com in 2020 and contributes to the site's 5 Points To Ponder column and other roles as needed. A graduate of the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication, he has covered sports in some capacity for more than 20 years with coverage including local high school sports, college athletics and minor league hockey. Brad has received multiple awards for his work from the Georgia Press Association.
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