Pato O’Ward needed this.

O’Ward, seeking his first win and podium finish of the season, led pre-qualifying practice Saturday for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR with a top lap of 1 minute, 44.0029 seconds in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

SEE: Practice Results

The Mexican finished a career-best second in the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings, with two victories, but has sputtered this season. He is fifth in the standings, 103 points behind leader and reigning champion Alex Palou, with a best finish of fourth, three times.

Marcus Armstrong, fighting the flu, was second at 1:44.1097 in the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda after leading Friday practice at 1:44.2714. Scott McLaughlin was third at 1:44.3108 in the No. 3 XPEL Team Penske Chevrolet.

Team Penske placed two drivers in the top four, as David Malukas was fourth at 1:44.4142 in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. AJ Foyt Racing rookie Caio Collet continued his impressive weekend by rounding out the top five at 1:44.4166 in the No. 4 Combitrans Amazonia Chevrolet despite nursing fractured ribs suffered in a late crash during the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge last month.

Series leader Palou fell to sixth at 1:44.5117 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda after ending up third Friday in the opening practice. Palou is the reigning winner of this race and is seeking his record-setting fourth win at this 14-turn, 4.014-mile circuit since 2020.

Up next is NTT P1 Award qualifying at 2 p.m. ET today (FS1, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls). Live coverage of the 55-lap race starts at 2 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX, FOX One, FOX Deportes and INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls.