By: Spencer Neff

August 30, 2026

2026 Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Results

After missing out on the pole by .0003 of a second to Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward started in second and overcame issues on the first pit stop of the afternoon and won Sunday’s Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250.

It is the second victory for the Monterey, Mexico native in both the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES campaign and in his career on the 1.015-mile Milwaukee Mile oval in West Alis, Wisconsin.

O’Ward led the final 55 of 250 laps in today’s race. He now ties Eddie Hearne, Johnnie Parsons and Adrian Fernandez with 11 career INDYCAR victories- one of 42 drivers to do so.

O’Ward, who also won Race 1 of the 2024 doubleheader, beat Team Penske’s Scott Mclaughlin by .7916 of a second in the 250-lap race. Later today, O’Ward restarts the remainder of Saturday’s delayed Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 from the lead with 91 of 250 laps complete.

O’Ward’s teammate Christian Lundgaard earns his best finish on an oval and bookends the podium for Arrow McLaren. Team Penske’s David Malukas improved 10 spots from his starting position to finish the race in fourth.

After starting on the pole and leading a race-high 115 laps, Palou finishes fifth and leads Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood by 97 points with a pair of races to go in the 18 races. If Palou finishes 20th or better following the resumption of the postponed race this afternoon, he will clinch his fifth INDYCAR Championship.

Kirkwood finished sixth after qualifying 24th, improving a race-high 18 spots. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Mick Schumacher continued a solid run on the ovals as the rookie finished 13th in his first full race at the famed Milwaukee Mile.

Recap

Palou set the early pace from the pole and led the first 34 laps. As the leaders began working their way through lapped traffic, Newgarden found his way to the lead. On Lap 36, Romain Grosjean spun after the Dale Coyne Racing driver worked his way into the Top 10 after starting 20th.

Palou held the lead after the first round of pit stops were taken under the caution. O’Ward fell back in the field after issues with the right-rear tire on his stop.

Following the trend set during the early running on Saturday, many drivers would stop early in an attempt to “undercut” the leader, using the pace advantage from the fresher sets of Firestone tires. Palou held the lead after that round of stops but would soon be in the clutches of VeeKay. On Lap 100, VeeKay found his way to the lead.

Shortly after the next round of pit stops began toward the halfway point of the race, Palou would get back around VeeKay for the lead. Power would make his way up to second before later being passed by Malukas.

After struggling on worn tires, Josef Newgarden spun on Lap 142 exiting Turn 4. The spin would cause an impact with the outside wall that knocked off the front wing of his car and the Team Penske driver was quickly released from the infield medical center and would make it back out briefly yet ultimately dropped out of the running and finished 76 laps down in 25th.

Just as the race went back to green with 93 laps to go, Grosjean spun in Turn 4 and the caution was brought back out.

Power worked his way past Dixon and later Mclaughlin for the lead of the race with 83 laps to go. During the final round of pit stops, he would be penalized for speeding on pit lan e and forced to serve a drive-through penalty, effectively dooming his chances at his first victory of 2026.

O’Ward found his way to the lead with 53 laps to go. Despite frustrations with lapped traffic, O’Ward held on for the victory. The lead changed hands 10 times between eight drivers. Three cautions slowed the race to an average speed of 129.204 mph.

Despite missing out on the podium for the first time in 2026, Hond clinches the Manufacturers’ Championship for the second consecutive season and sixth time in the last nine years.

Up Next

Here is the schedule for tomorrow at the Milwaukee Mile. Stay with IndyCar1909 and our social media platforms with the latest on the Snap-On INDYCAR Weekend and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. 

At-track schedule (all times Central):

SUNDAY, AUG. 30

5 p.m.-resumption of Snap-on Makers and Fixers 250 (FS1)

Header Image By Chris Owens/INDYCAR