Palou clinches fifth title, O’Ward wins twice

IndyCar Series driver Alex Palou clinched his fourth consecutive championship Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, despite finishing 10th in the final race of the season. Palou secured the title over Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood, marking his fifth championship in the past six years. He joins Sebastien Bourdais as the only other driver to win four titles in a row and sits third on the all-time list behind A.J. Foyt and Scott Dixon, his outgoing Chip Ganassi Racing teammate. The 29-year-old Spaniard is the youngest five-time champion in IndyCar history, a distinction Foyt did not achieve until he was 32 and Dixon until he was 38.

Historic Day for O’Ward

Pato O’Ward delivered a historic performance at the West Allis, Wisconsin track. He became the first driver since Rick Mears in 1981 to win both a scheduled race and a rain-postponed event on the same day. O’Ward claimed victory in the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 and the Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250, which was moved to an evening start after weather delays. The Arrow McLaren driver secured three wins at the Milwaukee Mile this season, closing out his 2026 campaign on a high note despite struggling on ovals for much of the year.

Malukas was in position to claim his first IndyCar victory when he dropped a gear, allowing O’Ward to pass him for the lead in the final laps. The Team Penske driver was frustrated by engine issues on restarts, a recurring problem that plagued him in both races this weekend. He finished second for the sixth time this year, tying Romain Grosjean and Geoff Brabham for the most second-place finishes without a win. “I literally believe I have some sort of curse,” Malukas said, reflecting on the string of bad luck that has followed him from the Indianapolis 500.

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Rinus VeeKay rounded out the podium in third place, moving ahead of Scott McLaughlin in the final laps. The race was originally suspended on Saturday due to rain before a 6 p.m. start was announced on Sunday. The 2026 IndyCar season concludes this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

While Palou celebrated his achievement, O’Ward acknowledged the magnitude of his teammate’s success. He joked about sending a “baby goat” to Palou’s door, referencing the nickname he suggested for his rival. O’Ward noted that despite the Honda driver taking the championship, the top seven positions in the race were filled by Chevrolet drivers, a fact that pleased the Chevy organization.