Thanks to a grid penalty for an unapproved engine change, Josef Newgarden dropped from his P2 position to start P11.
McLaughlin got a perfect start, with Linus Lundqvist taking the high line to vault up into P2.
Malukas, O’Ward and Herta (+5) completed the top 5 early doors. Conor Daly had an extraordinary start, moving up 11 spots in the first 5 laps to move into P15.
McLaughlin, Lundqvist, Malukas, O’Ward, Herta, Power, Rossi, Rosenqvist, Ericsson and VeeKay was the top 10 when things settled down. Newgarden was P12, Palou in 14th. The Penske driver made light contact with Grosjean into turn 2 at the start.
As the stint went on, Newgarden started to make his way through. He passed Grosjean and VeeKay to move into the top 10.In the fight for P4, Colton Herta made a comfortable pass on Pato O’Ward.
On lap 49, Linus Lundqvist took the lead of the race, passing McLaughlin in turn 2, with the Kiwi’s front wing making light contact with the Swede’s rear right.
Malukas, Herta, O’Ward, Power, Rossi, Rosenqvist, Newgarden and Ericsson completed the top 10 a fifth of the way through.
The first car to pit was Nolan Siegel on lap 55. The Arrow McLaren started carving his way through on the fresher tyres, such was the tyre degradation.Rossi, who was running in P7, boxed on lap 60 as the front runners started to come in. O’Ward, Ferrucci, Palou, Kirkwood and Dixon followed him in a lap later.
McLaughlin and Malukas bailed out on lap 65 from P2 and P3 as many decided to go for the 3-stop. Race leader Linus Lundqvist responded a lap later but had a slow stop with the right rear.
On fresh tyres, Newgarden had a snap of oversteer and touched the wall with his right rear tyres.
O’Ward led Herta, McLaughlin, Lundqvist, Rossi, Malukas, Ferrucci, Grosjean, Ericsson and Palou after the vast majority of cars had pitted.
Working through lapped traffic, Herta got a run on O’Ward and took the lead for Andretti.
Marcus Armstrong, who was getting gobbled up after running a very long first stint, finally pitted on lap 80.
The first caution was thrown three laps later as Katherine Legge lost the car on power coming out of turn 2, spinning onto the grass. She avoided the wall, however.
Everyone bar McLaughlin and Robb came in under caution for fresh boots. Herta, O’Ward, Rossi, Malukas, Grosjean, Ferrucci, Palou and Lundqvist completed the top 10 ahead of the restart.
Power ran 11th, with Newgarden down in P17 and Dixon P18.
Kyle Kirkwood was handed a penalty for hitting a pit crew member, going a lap down.
Ferrucci had a storming start, moving into P4 by passing Rossi, Malukas and Grosjean.
McLaughlin led Herta, O’Ward, Ferrucci, Rossi, Malukas, Palou, Grosjean, Ericsson and Power. Early leader Lundqvist was 11th.
Sting Ray Robb fell off a cliff, plummeting to P18.
The battle between O’Ward and Herta continued, this time for 2nd. The Mexican got by the Andretti as Herta was checked up by Marcus Armstrong who was 2 laps down.
With 22-lap fresher tyres, O’Ward swept by McLaughlin for the lead just before the halfway point.
AJ Foyt’s Ferrucci continued his run through the pack, passing Herta and McLaughlin to move into P2.
The undercut for Josef Newgarden worked a treat. Sitting in P15 before the stops, he vaulted up to P2.
O’Ward, Newgarden, Ericsson, Palou, Power, McLaughlin, Ferrucci, Grosjean, VeeKay and Herta was the top 10 after that pit cycle.
A second caution was thrown with just over 100 laps to go. At turn 2, Ericsson and Newgarden touched, with both cars ending up in the wall and out of the race.
O’Ward led Palou, Power, McLaughlin, Ferrucci, Grosjean, Herta, VeeKay, Dixon and Rosenqvist was the top 10 on the restart.
Ferrucci was on maximum attack when things got going. Initially he fell to 9th as he got checked up by Power. He went on to pass Grosjean, VeeKay, Rossi (contact), Herta and McLaughlin to move into P4.
O’Ward led Palou, Power, Ferrucci, McLaughlin, Rossi, Herta, VeeKay, Dixon and Grosjean with 80 laps to go.
A third caution came out during the final pit stop sequence. Herta’s left front was not fitted properly, and his wheel flew off, going up the track but thankfully hitting nobody.
O’Ward, Ferrucci, Power, Lundqvist, Lundgaard, Daly, Palou, McLaughlin, Rossi and Dixon was the top 10 on the restart. Herta dropped to the back as he took emergency service following his loose wheel, followed by a penalty for unsafe conduct.
Daly had a superb restart, passing Lundgaard and Lundqvist to move into 4th. Palou also cleared Lundgaard for P6.
Kyle Kirkwood got sandwiched between Grosjean and Rasmussen, leading to contact. The French driver ended up with a broken steering arm.
Unfortunately for Lundgaard, he continued to fall away. He was overtaken by McLaughlin and Rossi to drop to 9th.
Ferrucci started to fall way in the last 30 laps. He was passed by Power aggressively, which allowed Daly to come through for 3rd. Palou found his way by three laps later after teammate Lundqvist ceded the place, but Ferrucci quickly regained the spot.
Rossi continued to move through, passing McLaughlin for 7th with 15 laps remaining.
O’Ward managed the traffic and tyres perfectly, holding off Will Power to take a superb victory. Juncos Hollinger Racing scored their first ever podium, with Conor Daly in P3.
Ferrucci, Palou, Lundqvist, Rossi, McLaughlin, Lundgaard and Dixon completed the top 10.
