It was a solid divide at the start on tyres, with sixteen drivers going for the alternates, and the other eleven on the primary.
The highest primary runner at the start was championship leader Pato O’Ward.
Kirkwood got away well and fended off Ericsson into turn 1. Behind them, Josef Newgarden got an unbelievable run on the run down to the first corner and gained four places to move into P4.
In the second half of the field, Helio Castroneves dropped his car on the exit of turn 1 and broke his front wing as he hit the wall.
Kirkwood led Ericsson, Grosjean, Newgarden, O’Ward, Palou, Dixon, Herta, McLaughlin and Rosenqvist was the top 10 when the race resumed on lap 4.
O’Ward got overtaken by Palou and Dixon as the power of alternate tyre showed on the restart. A lap later saw Alex Rossi use his softer tyre to overtake Arrow McLaren teammate Rosenqvist into turn 8.
After crashing in FP2, Callum Ilott was forced to pit on lap 7 as he punctured a front right tyre as he clipped the wall on the exit of turn 1. He went a lap down along with Castroneves.
On lap 19, Newgarden started to take full advantage of his primary tyre and made a great move up the inside of Grosjean into the first corner for 3rd.
There was controversy a lap later as O’Ward went for a late move on Dixon into turn 8 and contact was made. The New Zealander ended up in the tyres but avoided significant damage and could continue.
A caution saw everyone bar Canapino pit for tyres and fuel.
Team Penske and Arrow McLaren delivered great stops to help Newgarden jump Ericsson and O’Ward get ahead of Palou respectively.
Canapino led Kirkwood, Newgarden, Ericsson, Grosjean, O’Ward, Palou, McLaughlin, Herta and Rossi when the race resumed on lap 26.
Canapino’s teammate Callum Ilott rejoined just in front of him as the race got going again.
As Ilott backed up the pack and with Castroneves trying to unlap himself, there was contact between the Brazilian and Canapino into turn 6. Kirkwood had to take avoiding action and it gifted Newgarden the lead.
O’Ward tried a desperate move into turn 8 on the Andretti Autosport of Kirkwood and lost the car. The Arrow McLaren did hit the tyres with his rear wing but avoided damage. He dropped down to P15.
Just like in his incident with Dixon, he caused more problems for two of the Chip Ganassi Racing cars as Ericsson and Palou had to slow right up to avoid hitting him. It stopped the Swede and Spaniard to P7 and P12 at that point.
Ericsson and Power gained a spot each as they overtook Rossi and Rosenqvist in short order.
Newgarden, Kirkwood, Grosjean, McLaughlin, Herta, Ericsson, Rossi, Power, Rosenqvist and Armstrong was the top 10 when things settled down.
A day to forget for Scott Dixon was compounded as no oil pressure for car 9 saw him back into the pits.
Things started to fall away badly from Scott McLaughlin on his alternates as he lost positions to Herta, Ericsson, Rossi, Power, Rosenqvist and Armstrong in the space of five laps. He completely dropped out of the top 10 on lap 48 as Palou got by.
A local yellow was required at the first corner as Benjamin Pedersen went straight on and stalled his car.
On lap 50 of 85, Newgarden continued to lead on his rapidly degrading alternates from Kirkwood, Grosjean, Herta, Ericsson, Rossi, Power, Rosenqvist, Armstrong and Palou.
Ericsson tried a move on the inside into turn 1 on Herta for 4th on the 51st tour but locked up and it allowed the American to get him back on exit. However, there was no mistake a lap later with a nice move at the same corner.
Race leader Newgarden came in at the end of lap 52 and it triggered a flurry of stops from all the contenders.
Grosjean and Kirkwood managed to overcut Newgarden with their extra fuel. The American led the Frenchman as Andretti Autosport found themselves in 1st and 2nd. Newgarden dropped to P3, with Ericsson and Herta rounding out the top 5. Rossi, Palou, Power, Rosenqvist and Armstrong completed the top 10.
Palou ran the longest of anyone and it allowed him to just up three spots, although he did lose put to Rossi on his outlap into turn 9. Nonetheless, he quickly repassed the Arrow McLaren to move into P6.
After making his final stop so early, Newgarden was forced to save a huge amount of fuel and got overtaken by Ericsson, Herta and Palou as he fell through the field.
Kirkwood continued to lead Grosjean, Ericsson, Herta, Palou, Newgarden, Rossi, Power, Rosenqvist and Armstrong with fifteen laps remaining.
Newgarden’s fall through the field continued as Rossi, Power, Rosenqvist and Armstrong passed him in the closing laps.
There was some late drama as Rossi went off the road at turn 9 and lost a 6th place finish.
Kirkwood controlled the race superbly and took his maiden win in IndyCar, holding off Grosjean and Ericsson. The Chip Ganassi driver reclaimed the title lead with his P3.
Herta, Palou, Power, Rosenqvist, Armstrong, Newgarden and McLaughlin completed the top 10.
Ferrucci, Rahal, Harvey, Lundgaard, Pagenaud and DeFrancesco completed the finishers on the lead lap. Former championship leader Pato O’Ward was P17 and a lap down.
Photo credit: Penske Entertainment | Joe Skibinski
