2024 Hy-Vee One Step 250 Odds Favor Newgarden
Indy 500 Winner Could Get Another 'W' on Ovals in 2024
After nearly two years, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward took the checkered flag on the road last week in the IndyCar Series race in Mid-Ohio. O’Ward’s last win technically came in St. Petersburg early this season but that was due to disqualification of race winner Josef Newgarden two months after the fact.
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That marked O’Ward’s first win since Iowa in 2022 – the same event set for this weekend. Here’s how the 2024 Hy-Vee One Step 250 odds look for race two of the doubleheader:
2024 Hy-Vee One Step 250: Favorites
Josef Newgarden (+170)
Newgarden struggled in the first IndyCar Series race with hybrid powertrains. He finished 25th for his second-worst result of the season (aside from the St. Petersburg disqualification). He did clock the fastest lap to make something of the day.
Last season, Newgarden swept both races in Iowa trying to catch eventual champion Álex Palou. Of the five oval Indycar races last season, Newgarden won four: the Indy 500, Texas Motor Speedway, and both Iowa races.
He’s already won the first oval race on the IndyCar schedule in 2024 with his Indy 500 victory. Newgarden is rightfully the favorite on ovals and should be considered that until proven otherwise.
Pato O’Ward (+500)
O’Ward’s victory brings him up to third in the IndyCar standings just past the halfway mark of the calendar. He’s still a distant third, though, at 70 points behind leader Palou.
Like Newgarden, O’Ward’s raced well at ovals (though to a lesser extent). He won the second race of the Iowa doubleheader in 2022 after finishing second in the first race. Last year he finished second to Newgarden in Texas and second again in Gateway.
He’s in the conversation for the second-best oval driver on the grid behind Newgarden. With his victory last week, he has the momentum for another great result.
Alex Palou (+600)
Palou couldn’t get past O’Ward in Mid-Ohio but still managed second place and extended his championship lead. He remains the most consistent driver in IndyCar this season with top-five finishes in nine out of 10 races.
His oval track record isn’t as good as O’Ward’s and certainly not Newgarden’s but he’s no slouch. He took pole position at last year’s Indy 500 and finished fifth in the 500 this year. Last year, he finished third in the second Iowa race. Those IndyCar results are good enough for him to be a threat for victory this weekend.
Scott McLaughlin (+750)
McLaughlin notched another podium in Mid-Ohio – his fourth of the season. He’s firmly ahead of Team Penske teammate Newgarden after both were disqualified from St. Petersburgh.
He’s yet to win an oval race in IndyCar but he’s come close multiple times. He took pole for this year’s Indy 500 and finished second and fifth in last year’s Iowa races. He qualified on pole in Gateway en route to fifth last year as well. It’d be a slight surprise for him to get his first oval win this weekend but not a stretch.
Scott Dixon (+900)
Dixon had his season’s worst result in Mid-Ohio with 27th by the checkered flag. That was enough for O’Ward to sneak by him in the standings by one point.
Dixon was the driver to break Newgarden’s attempt at an oval sweep last year with a win in Gateway. He finished no lower than sixth in any oval track last year.
This year, he finished third in the Indy 500. With his wealth of experience, Dixon could earn his third win of the season.
Sleepers
Will Power (+1000)
Power lost ground to Palou in the championship because he finished 11th in Mid-Ohio. This week is an easy turnaround opportunity, though. Power took pole position for both Iowa races last season and finished fifth and second in the doubleheader.
He qualified second for the Indy 500 earlier before a crash took him out with 55 laps to go. He hasn’t won at an oval since 2019 (Pocono) but he’s a worthwhile sleeper candidate again this week.
Marcus Ericsson (+2000)
Ericsson made the top five for the third time this year at Mid-Ohio. It’s the latest turn in an inconsistent season for the Swede but this could be an opportunity this weekend.
He made the top 10 in both Iowa races last season and was incredibly close to winning the Indy 500 in 2023. It’d be a surprise to see him get his fifth career IndyCar win this weekend but his track record shows he could pull through.
Alexander Rossi (+2500)
Rossi had a solid showing in Mid-Ohio following the news that he’d be losing his seat at Arrow McLaren with sixth place. That result marks his eighth top-10 out of 10 races this season.
He could do well again this week based on his pace in the Indy 500 this year when he qualified and finished fourth. He hasn’t won at an oval track since 2018 (Pocono) but he did race well in Gateway last year to finish fourth. He’s worth a potential flyer this week.
2024 Hy-Vee One Step 250: Picks
Iowa’s doubleheader makes for arguably the most action-packed weekend of the season. The second race should be an even closer affair following what teams and drivers learned in the first race.
Of the favorites, we have to go with Newgarden (+170). His track record on ovals is just too good to on. If you want a better payout, go with O’Ward (+500).
Of the sleepers, we like Power (+1000). His track record and consistency this season make him a good choice.
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