Pato O'Ward led an Arrow McLaren double podium at Milwaukee, while Alex Palou secured his fifth IndyCar championship with one round left.
Pato O'Ward claimed victory for Arrow McLaren in the 2026 Milwaukee Mile 250, finishing ahead of Team Penske's Scott McLaughlin and teammate Christian Lundgaard in round 17 of the IndyCar season.
O'Ward completes Milwaukee sweep
O'Ward's win completed a remarkable double on August 30. Rain forced officials to revise Sunday's schedule at The Milwaukee Mile, where the Mexican won both 250-mile races held that day.
It was his third victory of 2026, following his Mid-Ohio success on July 5. Through 17 starts, he had also collected 10 top-five finishes and led 238 laps.
McLaughlin and Lundgaard complete podium
McLaughlin finished second for Team Penske to earn his sixth top-five result of the season. He remained sixth in the standings with 428 points, 20 ahead of teammate Josef Newgarden.
Lundgaard's third-place finish gave Arrow McLaren two spots on the podium.
The result also tightened Lundgaard's grip on second place in the championship. He departed Wisconsin with 507 points, two more than Kyle Kirkwood and four ahead of O'Ward, with the runner-up battle heading to the finale.
Incidents shape a demanding race
The revised schedule put two IndyCar races on the same day, increasing the importance of recovery and strategic execution in the second 250-mile event. The supplied results did not identify O'Ward's decisive pass or pit sequence, but his second win showed Arrow McLaren handled the unusual program better than its rivals.
Romain Grosjean retired after contact with Mick Schumacher following a restart. The pair later discussed the incident on pit road.
A Chevrolet engine issue also ended David Malukas' hopes of a first IndyCar victory following a restart. He left Milwaukee fifth in the standings with 484 points.
Palou clinches fifth championship
Alex Palou secured the 2026 IndyCar title at Milwaukee, giving him a fifth championship in six seasons and a fourth straight crown.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver had 607 points after 17 starts, including six victories and 14 top-10 finishes. His 100-point lead over Lundgaard sealed the title before the final round, while Honda secured its 12th IndyCar manufacturers' championship.
Laguna Seca decides second place
O'Ward's sweep lifted him to 503 points, 104 behind Palou and four adrift of Lundgaard. Kirkwood split the Arrow McLaren drivers with 505, putting three drivers within four points.
The season ends with the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6 at 2:30 p. m. ET.
