Pato O’Ward claimed victory at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto race in the NTT IndyCar Series by carefully choosing to pit one lap later than his rival Rinus VeeKay. Driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, O’Ward led for 31 laps and finished the race in just under two hours, marking the ninth win of his IndyCar career. VeeKay pushed hard with an aggressive approach, but O’Ward’s well-timed pit stop gave him the edge needed to cross the finish line first. Kyffin Simpson earned his first-ever IndyCar podium by finishing third.
Race Dynamics and Championship Standings
The race featured six lead changes among five different drivers, along with five caution periods, illustrating the competitive and challenging conditions throughout the event. O’Ward averaged a speed of 88.972 mph over the course of the race. Despite the strong performance from O’Ward, Alex Palou maintained a significant points lead in the championship, holding a 99-point advantage over O’Ward after the Toronto round.
Looking Ahead: Championship Pursuit at Laguna Seca
The IndyCar Series will continue next Sunday at Laguna Seca, where O’Ward aims to build on his momentum from Toronto and reduce Palou’s lead in the standings. His success in Toronto emphasizes the vital role of strategic decisions, particularly in the pit lane, as the championship battle unfolds. To challenge for the title, O’Ward and his team will need to stay focused on qualifying performance as well as race pace.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Rinus VeeKay?
A. Rinus VeeKay’s 2025 Indy 500 attempt ended early due to an incident on pit road. In Indianapolis, his race concluded on Lap 80 following a crash. The accident occurred when the Dutch driver was trying to slow down for his third pit stop.
Q. What is Rinus VeeKay’s real name?
A. Rinus van Kalmthout, also called Rinus VeeKay, is a racing driver from the Netherlands. Born on September 11, 2000, he races in the IndyCar Series. He drives the No. 18 Dallara-Honda car for Dale Coyne Racing.
