After showing he had the speed and capturing the pole during the season opener, Pato O’Ward was beat because of a strategy choice at Barber, his first career IndyCar win eluding him for the time being.
On Sunday, three races later, O’Ward was the one that triumphed the strategical moves.
The Mexico native took the lead from Josef Newgarden with 23 laps remaining at Texas Motor Speedway and held on the whole way home. A former Indy Lights champion is finally an IndyCar winner.
Pato O'Ward's pass on Josef Newgarden with 23 to go. He's looking for his first career #IndyCar win.
🎥 @IndyCaronNBCpic.twitter.com/eUt5j9AnZR
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 2, 2021
The 21-year old overtook both Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal during the final round of green flag pit stops, to give himself a chance for the race lead.
He came out of the sequence with nearly a one-second advantage over the pair of established veterans after nailing his pit sequence. That was another reassuring sign for Arrow McLaren SP.
Although, right after O’Ward established himself for the final run, a yellow came out for Felix Rosenqvist’s tire that came off of his car.
It left O’Ward behind Takuma Sato and Josef Newgarden for the final stint of the race, but nothing was stopping the young gun to overtake anyone in his way at Texas.
Only 14 drivers finished the race under full power on Sunday, after a major incident took place in the race’s opening laps.
Thanks to IndyCar’s new aeroscreen technology, though, all drivers were okay.
Pietro Fittipaldi triggered an accident in the #IndyCar race as the field came to the initial green flag today.
Conor Daly flipped, & others like Alexander Rossi's days were ruined. However, thanks to that aeroscreen, all drivers are OK.
🎥 @IndyCaronNBCpic.twitter.com/eN73YhoUAY
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 2, 2021
O’Ward becomes the fourth different winner in the first four races for the NTT IndyCar series that enters its month of May with some momentum in the parity department.
Burn it down Pato! First career #IndyCar win 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
🎥 @IndyCaronNBCpic.twitter.com/ZXODgG5B5S
— Connor Ferguson (@cfchangs9) May 2, 2021
Thanks to his win on Sunday, O’Ward is in sole position of second place behind Dixon in the point standings, going into the month where anything can happen.
Alex Palou’s season opening win is still looming large in the points, as he remains in third. Graham Rahal’s podium gives him a good start in that department, something he’s longed for for years.
IndyCar’s next official race will not be until May 15, although ARD will have full coverage of IndyCar practices as they go through the best month in racing.
IndyCar Texas 2 Results
1. Pato O’Ward
2. Josef Newgarden
3. Graham Rahal
4. Scott Dixon
5. Colton Herta
6. Simon Pagenaud
7. Alex Palou
8. Scott McLaughlin (R)
9. Rinus VeeKay
10. Ryan Hunter-Reay
11. Ed Carpenter
12. Marcus Ericsson
13. Will Power
14. Takuma Sato
15. Tony Kanaan
16. Felix Rosenqvist
17. Jack Harvey
18. James Hinchcliffe
19. Sebastien Bourdais
20. Alexander Rossi
21. Pietro Fittipaldi
22. Ed Jones
23. Dalton Kellett
24. Conor Daly
| IndyCar Standings | ||||
| Position | Driver | Points | Behind | |
| 1 | Scott Dixon | 153 | – | |
| 2 | Pato O’Ward | 131 | -22 | |
| 3 | Alex Palou | 127 | -26 | |
| 4 | Josef Newgarden | 116 | -37 | |
| 5 | Graham Rahal | 107 | -46 | |
| 6 | Simon Pagenaud | 102 | -51 | |
| 7 | Colton Herta | 100 | -53 | |
| 8 | Scott McLaughlin ® | 99 | -54 | |
| 9 | Will Power | 99 | -54 | |
| 10 | Jack Harvey | 90 | -63 | |
2021 IndyCar Race Winners
Barber | Alex Palou
St. Petersburg | Colton Herta
Texas 1 | Scott Dixon
Texas 2 |
