The NTT IndyCar Series visited central Ohio on Sunday, with drivers putting their adaptation skills to the test as they ran the first race with hybrid power.
There was drama before the race even got underway, as Scott Dixon rolled to a halt on the parade laps.
He reported that there was some sort of failure with the hybrid system, which drained the supercapacitors excessively fast and then stopped the engine as well.
READ MORE: IndyCar Mid-Ohio – Full Race Results
The six time champion, and current title contender, was pulled off the track and finally was able to turn laps after sitting in the garage for 20 laps of the race.
Once the race got going, on lap 3 due to Dixon being stopped on track, Alex Palou used his pole position advantage to drive off with the lead.
He built a gap and easily held the top spot until lap 56, when a slightly long pit stop cost him the lead. Pato O’Ward pounced on the opportunity and streamed into the lead.
The two were within two seconds of each other for the remainder of the race, and Palou was able to get right up on the rear of O’Ward for the final 10 laps.
Passing was difficult, however, and O’Ward was able to hang on for the victory with a final margin of just under one half of a second.
The popular Mexican driver dumped cold water on his own head after climbing from the car, owing to how difficult it was to drive a full pace in hot and humid conditions.
Finishing a full 15 seconds behind the front two drivers was Scott McLaughlin, earning the final step on the podium.
The Team Penske driver was able to lead a few laps during pit stop cycles, but did not have the pace to challenge for the top spot.
Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson finished fourth and fifth respectively, giving Andretti Global a solid results day despite not being on the podium.
There were no cautions during the 80-lap race, excepting the first two laps that were run under caution while Dixon’s car was moved off the track.
Josef Newgarden very nearly caused a caution, however, as he hit a curb wrong and took a high speed ride through the grass in Turn 11.
He gathered it up and continued on his way, but then was hit with a pit lane speeding penalty that dropped him off the lead lap. He finished a disappointing 25th.
Another disappointed driver was David Malukas, although his day was not quite as bad as Newgarden’s.
The young driver started from third, but a slow pit stop relegated him to the middle of the field and he was not able to recover. He ended the day in 12th in his Meyer Shank Racing #66 entry.
Next week, IndyCar begins the oval-heavy portion of the schedule with a double-header from Iowa Speedway. The hybrid will be in play there as well, which will bring additional challenges.
