Indy Car Hyvee 250 Race 2 sees McLaughlin win his third race in 2024

McLaughlin wins, Power closes in on Palou and Newgarden crashes early

By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net

Milwaukee, Wisc. — Pato O’Ward took the front end of the HyVee 250 on Saturday, joining only two other active drivers who have won the Milwaukee Mile. The first, Will Power finished second to O’Ward in leg one, and the other, Josef Newgarden sits on today’s pole. The first Indy Car racing weekend since 2015 brought both nostalgic feelings and quality oval racing.

Team Penske takes the front row and the fourth spot on the starting grid- How did it Go?

Josef Newgarden is known as the oval king and he will race from the pole in race two. Scott McLaughlin will race next to him on row one and Will Power will race from the fourth position on the outside of row two. Only Marcus Armstrong breaks up the Penske clean sweep. Newgarden crashed out of the HyVee Race One when he tangled with Marcus Ericsson. Power finished second and McLaughlin finished eighth in race one. Then the race began and Newgarden’s day ended when he was rear ended. (More on this below).

Checkered Flag

Scott McLaughlin was possibly the third best option for Team Penske to earn a victory in the HyVee 250 in spite of starting on the outside of row one. Running behind Will Power the first half of the HyVee day two race, McLaughlin took advantage of teammates Newgarden and Power having race issues and kept Scott Dixon in his rear view mirror for his third victory of the season. McLaughlin led 4 times for 84 laps and won his third race of the season. How does McLaughlin like oval racing now? Look, I wouldn’t say… For me, I think winning on an oval, not saying road and street courses isn’t satisfying, because I’ll never forget my first race win and whatnot, but it’s incredible winning on an oval. A lot of things have to go right. You have to make the right moves at the right time. That’s probably why I put Indy above a championship in some ways because it’s just incredible how perfect it has to go on an oval.
Yeah, it’s the backbone of our sport. I thought it was great. The crowd was awesome. Yeah, it was an awesome weekend. Honestly.”

Podium- Second

Scott Dixon said qualifying is where his weekend went wrong. After finishing tenth on Saturday, Dixon started race two in 17th position and worked his way through the field. He has more podium finishes than anyone in Indy Car history and he will add to it as he chases AJ Foyt for the most wins in Indy Car history. Dixon is glad to return to Milwaukee. Yeah, the only time I got to see the infield was during the autograph situation. The activation was great in there. Previous years we’ve gone back, whether
it’s food stalls or bars, have been closed. To have that, the bands, local entertainment, I think is huge.”

Podium – Third

Colton Herta had an outside chance of winning the NTT Indy Car points championship going into the weekend. After the HyVee doubleheader, Herta is still fourth in points. He finished 22nd in the first race and third on Sunday. He is still fourth in points entering Nashville. Herta has had a fine season but he knows what might have been.

In the Mix

Will Power took advantage of his fourth place start and the Newgarden accident to dual with McLaughlin to win the HyVee 250 race two. Power led the race through lap 132 x times for x laps. He restarted 13th on lap 132 and went around without contact. He had wing damage and made two pit stops going down one lap. Power finishes 10th.

Santino Ferrucci is without a contract for 2025 but a pair of fourth place finishes on both ends of the HyVee 250 show how talented the AJ Foyt Enterprises driver is. Ferucci wears out his welcomes with his teams quickly. No word has been leaked by Foyt, but with David Malukas coming on board in 2025 and Sting Ray Robb appearing to be on the roster, either Foyt moves to three rides or Ferrucci will move on once again.

Day One Hyvee Luck Runs Out

–Pato O’Ward lost his gearbox less than 100 laps in the race. The Saturday race winner finishes 24th on the race.

–David Malukas had mechanical problems less than 100 laps in the race and finishes 22nd. He finished 15th on Saturday.

Waiting for Nashville

When you are the NTT Indy Car Series points leader, the entire field is trying to catch you. Alex Palou’s No. 10 DHL machine came to a stop. Palou lost a lap to the field and his electronics would not refire and had to recycle. His team pushed him back to his pit stall for the computer to refire. Palou entered the race on lap seven, six laps behind. On the restart on the Newgarden crash, Palou’s DHL ride was towed back to the pits. Instead of having a meltdown like most drivers, Palou was calm, cool and collected. He reenters the race trying to take a few points from drivers who did not finish the race through attrition setting up a showdown with Will Power at Nashville. Palou worked his way to 19th place and where he lost the NTT points lead midrace, after Power’s spinout and multiple pitstops, he has a 33 point cushion going into the Nashville season finale.

For the second race in a row in both ends of the HyVee 250, Newgarden crashed out the Milwaukee Mile when he was expected to have at worst, podium finishes. In the Hyvee 250 race two, the race start was waved off and Newgarden was collected in an opening lap crash. His fellow Indy Car drivers tears are in short supply as the #2 used gamesmanship to pull away on the final restart at Worldwide Technology Raceway a few weeks ago stalling his car and bunching up the field. Newgarden reaped what he sowed. He told NBC Sports. What happened? “Newgarden answered, do not ask me that question. Someone obviously did not get the memo. The light was yellow.”

Final Standings after Hyvee 250 Race 2