4 Takeaways From Alex Palou’s Title Clinch And Pato O’Ward’s Milwaukee Sweep

The Milwaukee Mile (West Allis, Wisc.) — Alex Palou didn’t need to win during the Milwaukee doubleheader weekend to make history. Palou became the first INDYCAR driver to win five championships over six years, thanks to finishing fifth and 10th in the two races Sunday at The Milwaukee Mile. He tied the record of four consecutive titles by clinching the championship with one race left in the 2026 season. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has won 14 races in the last two years. “We’re having more fun and more fun each day,” Palou said in his post-race news conference. “It’s been an absolute joy of a year. The last two years have been just magical for us.” The weekend wasn’t designed to have two races in one day, but after rain forced INDYCAR to suspend the race Saturday after 90 laps, it followed the scheduled race Sunday with the conclusion of the Saturday race on the 1-mile asphalt oval. Pato O’Ward swept both events while Palou enjoyed what may have been an even bigger celebration. Here are my takeaways: 1. Palou Clinches Title After a 20th-place finish in Washington where he made a few mistakes, Palou tried to caution anyone who mentioned the title before the Milwaukee doubleheader. But after the first race on Sunday, when he ran well enough to just need a top-20 finish later in the day, it was easy to tell he could taste it. “We’ll see if we can get it home early,” Palou told me and other reporters. “That would be cool. … As long as we get it at some point this year, I’ll be happy.” That some point was about four hours later. And, boy, was he happy. “It’s tough to put into words. … It’s been incredible,” Palou said in the post-race news conference. 2. Pato Salvages His Season O’Ward salvaged a season during which he had only one podium finish (a win at Mid-Ohio) by capturing two victories on the 1-mile oval. He made a little history as the first driver since 1981 to win two INDYCAR races in one day, although there are no longer twin races where they would compete in two races in the same day. “I’ve dreamed of weekends like this before. … I’m just so happy that we were able to get back in our oval form because we’ve been slacking all year,” O’Ward said in his FOX Sports interview after the race. “What a way to end our 2026 season after some tough challenges.” The Arrow McLaren driver went from fifth to fourth in the standings with the two victories. 3. McLaughlin, Malukas, Kirkwood Fall Short Scott McLaughlin and David Malukas came up just short with second-place finishes, while Kirkwood — the only driver with a shot at the title after the first Milwaukee race was completed — posted finishes of sixth and 15th to be the last driver eliminated from contention. Malukas might have been the most despondent, as O’Ward launched past him on the final restart of the race. Both have Chevrolet power. “We’re just cursed,” Malukas said. “I literally believe I have some sort of curse. Everything was in our favor there and this weekend. “Both races, we were having issues with the engine on restarts, coming out of the pits and having events where we just lose power. … That really let us down.” Kirkwood didn’t have a problem watching Palou celebrate. “They were better than us,” the Andretti Global driver told me Sunday night. “They were better than everybody. They have been for four years. … I’m happy for them, to be honest. I’m really not upset to see it. He’s very deserving.” 4. One Day, 410 Miles INDYCAR had hoped to finish the Saturday race on Sunday morning, but heavy overnight rains forced them to push it to after the Sunday race. It made for a long day, as INDYCAR wanted to give teams three hours between events in case they had to make repairs. In the end, they got both races finished to completion. “It’s a tough situation when you have an oval that doesn’t have lights,” McLaughlin said in his news conference after the first completed race. “Part and parcel of a doubleheader. What can you do? I think they’ve done as good as they can.” 4 ½. What’s Next INDYCAR completes its season in a week at the Laguna Seca road course in Monterey. Who will be the favorite on the 2.238-mile course? Palou. He has won three of the last four Laguna Seca races.