Sukup 275 Report: O’Ward Secures First Win of 2025 at Iowa Speedway
Iowa Speedway, July 15, 2025 – In a dramatic turn of events at the Sukup 275, Pato O’Ward captured victory, overcoming a commanding performance by Josef Newgarden. After leading most of the race, Newgarden faced a slow tire change during the final pit stop, allowing O’Ward to assume the lead and ultimately secure his first win of the season.
This victory marked O’Ward’s eighth career win and came in his 100th IndyCar start. The win also represents the first for Chevrolet in 2025 and positions O’Ward as the second driver in the championship standings, narrowing the gap to 105 points behind leader Alex Palou.
O’Ward expressed his excitement post-race: “This is great. We’ve been waiting for this one all year… Great racing out there.”
Newgarden, frustrated after his second-place finish, concluded the race 0.235 seconds behind the winner. Will Power completed a Chevrolet podium sweep, finishing third, 1.213 seconds back.
Reflecting on his race, Newgarden noted, “We gave up track position there and it was game over, just as simple as that.” Power acknowledged the effectiveness of utilizing the second lane, stating, “Just a very smooth day.”
Palou, the championship leader and the highest-placed Honda driver, finished fifth, while Ed Carpenter Racing’s Christian Rasmussen made a notable drive from 19th to sixth.
The race was characterized by its early dominance from Newgarden but was punctuated by crucial pit stop strategies, resulting in a less compelling on-track battle than fans might have anticipated. The caution periods exacerbated the challenges, as the field juggled tire strategies, highlighted by the slow pit work that cost Newgarden dearly.
Looking ahead, Palou and Honda will start on pole for the second race at Iowa, with O’Ward positioned ninth. The ever-changing standings promise an exciting run to the finish of the season, with the next races in Toronto and Nashville approaching swiftly.
Results Summary:
- Pato O’Ward (Chevrolet)
- Josef Newgarden (Chevrolet)
- Will Power (Chevrolet)
- Scott McLaughlin (Chevrolet)
- Alex Palou (Honda)
- Christian Rasmussen (Chevrolet)
- Conor Daly (Chevrolet)
- Santino Ferrucci (Chevrolet)
- Marcus Armstrong (Honda)
- Scott Dixon (Honda)
The final chapters of the 2025 IndyCar season promise intrigue as teams head into the next leg of competition, with loss and redemption in close pursuit.
