O'Ward earns emotional win

Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT -- Pato O'Ward became IndyCar's first repeat winner of the season with a victory dedicated to his injured teammate.

Felix Rosenqvist was injured in a violent crash in the first race of the doubleheader weekend and hospitalized overnight. O'Ward called his Arrow McLaren SP teammate Sunday morning and promised to win the second race for him.

"I'm a man of my word, I wanted to get it done for him," O'Ward said. "I truly wanted to get it because [Saturday] was very mixed emotions. I consider Felix very close, and it's not a cool feeling to see that."

Making good on his promise required a masterful drive in which the 22-year-old from Mexico restarted fifth on the final restart with seven laps remaining in a race completely dominated by pole-sitter Josef Newgarden.

O'Ward picked off Graham Rahal in the first turn, then Alex Palou in the second turn.

He next caught Colton Herta, leaving only two-time IndyCar champion Newgarden in his sight. O'Ward caught him in Turn 7 with a little over two laps to go, and Newgarden tried to use his experience to run O'Ward down to the marbles.

Wheel to wheel they battled and the cars even touched.

"I think it makes it more exciting whenever there's a little rubbin'," O'Ward said.

He completed the pass and drove away to beat Newgarden by 6.7595 seconds, confident he never crossed the line between clean racing and aggressively chasing a win and the IndyCar championship.

"In my head, the two guys that I'm fighting the championship with are in front of me, and I was not going to be pleased if we ended behind them," O'Ward said. "So if I had the chance, I was going to strike."

O'Ward, who earned his first career victory last month, took a one point lead over Palou in the championship standings.

Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward (5) competes during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward (5) competes during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cars compete during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Cars compete during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates by jumping into James Scott Memorial Fountain after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward (5) races during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. O'Ward won the race. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward (5) races during the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. O'Ward won the race. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward races in the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. O'Ward won the race. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward races in the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit, Sunday, June 13, 2021. O'Ward won the race. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates with a team owner Sam Schmidt after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pato O'Ward celebrates with a team owner Sam Schmidt after winning the second race of the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix auto racing doubleheader on Belle Isle in Detroit Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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