IOWA: Smart pit strategy and a bold call pushed O’Ward past Newgarden, securing Arrow McLaren’s first victory of the 2025 season and denying Josef Newgarden’s hopes of a win.
Josef Newgarden and Team Penske showcased a dominant form on Saturday at Iowa Speedway, leading for most of the race. But in the end, it was Pato O’Ward and Arrow McLaren who stole the spotlight and got their first win of 2025.
Executing a strategic overcut during the final round of pit stops, O’Ward snatched the lead from Newgarden and claimed the Sukup 275. This win marked O’Ward’s eighth career win in his 100th start and the first for any Chevrolet driver in 2025.
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“This is great,” O’Ward said. “We’ve been waiting for this one all year. It’s crazy. My 50th race was also a win here in Iowa, and that’s the only other win I have here, so it’s a cool story.”
The two-time Indy 500 champion Josef Newgarden had started from pole and led 232 of the 275 laps. But a pivotal moment came when Team Penske called him to pit on lap 233. O’Ward and others stayed out longer, pitting two laps later, and that made all the difference.
When the cycle played out, O’Ward emerged in front. Despite relentless pressure from Newgarden over the closing laps, the 26-year-old O’Ward held his nerve to seal a sensational victory.
O’Ward had a trio of Team Penske cars in his rearview mirror, with Will Power rounding out the podium in third and Scott McLaughlin delivering an impressive drive from 27th on the grid to finish fourth. Alex Palou secured fifth place, doing enough to maintain a solid lead in the championship standings.
