McDowell enjoys smooth ride to Verizon 200 victory

SPEEDWAY – Michael McDowell’s first-ever NASCAR Cup Series win was a big one: The Daytona 500 in 2021.

McDowell’s second-ever win was another big one: The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard. The 38-year-old McDowell was dominant at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, leading 54 of 82 laps to claim the Verizon 200 title.

McDowell had a smooth ride for the last 20 laps, then held off a late run by runner-up Chase Elliott during the final two laps.

“I was really trying to pace myself,” said McDowell moments after the race. “I figured there’d be a late-race caution. I didn’t want to burn myself up. I was just trying to maintain that gap.”

The race was a fast one, as there was only one caution period, during the first six laps of the race. Pole-sitter Daniel Suárez led during the yellow, but McDowell jumped ahead for the first time on Lap 6 and led for the remaining nine laps of Stage 1.

There was a little more jostling around in the 20-lap Stage 2, with drivers pitting here and there. Christopher Bell, Austin Dillon and Denny Hamlin all moved into the lead during the stage. Hamlin was the Stage 2 winner (35 laps), but McDowell jumped back in front to start the final stage.

After McDowell pitted on Lap 50, Chicago winner Shane Van Gisbergen moved in front. McDowell eventually regained the lead on Lap 56, and everything went his way to the checkered flag.

Suárez stayed near the front during the last half of the race, finishing in third place.

“We win and we lose as a team,” said Suárez. “That’s all I got to say.

“I was always one step behind the 9 and 34,” said Suárez. Still, it was his best finish at the Speedway since he placed seventh in the 2017 Brickyard 400 (oval edition), Suárez’s first race at Indy.

“A little bit heartbreaking, but that’s part of the sport,” said Suárez.