Pato O’Ward Wins Toronto Grand Prix and Closes Gap in IndyCar 2025 Standings
Mexican driver Pato O’Ward secures victory at the 2025 Toronto Grand Prix, earning his second consecutive win and narrowing Alex Palou’s lead in the IndyCar championship.
Comeback Victory on Canadian Streets
Pato O’Ward isn’t ready to give up on his NTT INDYCAR SERIES 2025 championship hopes just yet. The Arrow McLaren driver scored a thrilling victory at the Toronto Grand Prix on Sunday — his second win in just eight days — and proved he's still a major contender this season.
Starting from 10th on the grid, O’Ward executed a flawless race strategy, vaulting himself to the top of the podium ahead of Rinus VeeKay (Dale Coyne Racing) and Kyffin Simpson (Chip Ganassi Racing). The Mexican ace took advantage of early pit opportunities to ditch the less favorable alternate tires and complete the rest of the race on primaries.
“I can’t say I saw this coming, but the car felt great all weekend. The crew nailed the strategy,” said O’Ward after clinching his ninth career victory in the series.
Palou Pays the Price for Risky Strategy
While O’Ward was celebrating, championship leader Alex Palou endured a rough outing. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver started in second, but a gamble to begin on primary tires backfired. Palou slipped to 12th place, losing 30 points from his lead and reducing his cushion over O’Ward to 99 points with just four races left.
“That was my call. We knew it was risky, and today it didn’t work,” admitted Palou.
Wild, Action-Packed Race in Toronto
The tight 1.78-mile Toronto street circuit delivered non-stop action with crashes, chaos, and bold strategy plays. From Josef Newgarden’s car being pinned under a rival, to multiple Team Penske retirements, the race tested both man and machine.
The event ended under yellow after a collision between Felix Rosenqvist and Nolan Siegel. With 226 total on-track passes — the most in Toronto since 2014 — it was arguably the most exciting street race of the season.
What’s Next?
The championship fight heads to iconic Laguna Seca next weekend, a track where Alex Palou has won twice. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey takes place Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET