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LEXINGTON -- Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio turned into a showcase for Pato O’Ward on Sunday as the Arrow McLaren driver raced from the front row to capture his first victory of the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season.
O’Ward overtook pole sitter Christian Lundgaard and held off repeated challenges over 90 laps on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to claim the checkered flag. Lundgaard finished second, while Kyle Kirkwood completed the podium in third.
The victory gave O’Ward a much-needed breakthrough after several near misses during the opening half of the season and tightened the championship battle heading into the summer stretch of the schedule. Championship leader Alex Palou overcame traffic and strategy to finish fifth, preserving a valuable points haul despite missing the podium.
Lundgaard started from pole after posting the fastest lap in Saturday’s qualifying session, but O’Ward stayed within striking distance through the opening stint before making the decisive move. Once in front, the Mexican driver managed tire wear and fuel strategy while navigating multiple pit-stop cycles to maintain control of the race.
Kirkwood continued his consistent campaign with another podium finish, while Rinus VeeKay placed fourth. Veteran Will Power crossed the line sixth, followed by Christian Rasmussen, David Malukas, Josef Newgarden and Nolan Siegel to round out the top 10.
Ohio native Graham Rahal finished 12th in front of his home-state fans.
The Mid-Ohio race marked the 11th event on the 2026 IndyCar calendar and opened the second half of the season as the championship now shifts its focus to the next round later this month in Nashville.