has excelled on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway many instances. However he hasn’t gained. In 5 races, he has completed second twice (in 2024 and 2022), fourth as soon as, and sixth as soon as. He additionally crashed whereas chasing the win in 2023. These performances have made him a fan favourite, despite the fact that he has by no means held the Borg-Warner Trophy.
The motive force of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will attempt to change that on Sunday within the 109th Indianapolis 500, when he’ll begin on the surface of the entrance row alongside rookie pole-sitter from Prema Racing and two-time Indy 500 champion from RLL.
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In an unique interview with Motorsport.com, a relaxed O’Ward mentioned his strategy to the crown jewel of IndyCar, why he nonetheless considers Crew Penske to be the principle rivals despite the fact that two of their vehicles will begin from the again of the pack, and the way he cannot totally grasp what profitable the Indy 500 will imply.
Motorsport: That is your first time on the entrance row of the Indy 500. How does that change issues for you in your bid to win the race on Sunday?
“It is a large goal that I actually wished to perform going into the month, to be trustworthy. I’ve clearly by no means been on the entrance row for an Indy 500. This shall be my sixth [race]. I used to be so centered on being outdoors of the entrance row, to be trustworthy. And we made it occur. We made it occur precisely the place I had been desirous about the place I wished to be. Clearly, pole would have been magical, however you attempt to not take too large of steps.
“As a result of I’ve by no means actually been within the scenario the place we had been actually having a shot for pole. So, this yr was actually cool to only to have that chance to be on the entrance row. After which, I imply, that simply offers you a greater, to start with, higher view into flip one. Being behind there’s clearly a bit of little bit of a distinct strategy that it’s important to take, at the least within the begin of the race. As a result of it’s important to be simply so conscious of everybody round you. Not that you do not have to remember whenever you’re up there. Nevertheless it does make a distinction whenever you’re behind two vehicles versus behind 12. The automobile behaves otherwise. And that first stint often goes a bit of bit totally different, particularly when it begins entering into the pit cease sequences.”
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Have you ever visualized what you will do when the inexperienced flag drops?
“Robert (Shwartzman) can clearly have the precedence and everybody’s going to begin going when he begins to go. I believe I am in a really prime place to essentially sort of select, choose and select the place I need to place myself and be for that first stint. However I might be utterly high-quality staying the place I begin.”
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
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Talking with you, you appear sort of relaxed and chill. Do you are feeling that approach about Sunday?
“I do. I really feel it has been a really clean month. I imply, simply clearly Indy 500 month is rarely not disturbing. Like there’s undoubtedly been conditions the place it has gotten a bit of intense. Nevertheless it’s been an excellent month, very good month, very clean when it comes to, you understand, how qualifying went. You already know, the automobile has been behaving good in qualifying trim. Now in race trim, we have got some work to do. I might be mendacity if I stated we’re, you understand, we’re good as a result of clearly we’re not. I do not suppose we’re the place the automobile must be for the race. So we’ve got some work to do there.
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“However man, it is such a protracted race. It is 200 laps. It is 500 miles. You already know, because the race goes on, individuals are like, you understand, ‘this man’s going to win the race’ and we’re like lap 140. I used to be in like fifteenth place at lap 140 final yr. So many issues change with the restarts and also you depend upon different individuals’s choices as effectively. When the yellows come out and, you understand, what technique are you on? Are you overcutting? Are you undercutting? That each one comes into play. So I am simply excited to be part of that tremendous occasion once more and going to attempt my greatest to be there on the finish.”
What influence do you suppose the hybrid can have in the course of the race?
“It has been a really gnarly month when it comes to accidents, as everybody has seen. The vehicles are simply a lot extra on the restrict. The window of with the ability to make or having a bit of wiggle or a little bit of playroom to see the place the automobile needs to go is a lot smaller. It actually bites whenever you get it just a bit bit incorrect, when possibly final yr you may have saved it.
”Contemplating that, I believe that is going to have a big effect on how the racing goes to be within the race. I believe that is going to have a big effect on what occurs with individuals coming collectively and having accidents. It may be so much harder and tougher for the drivers to remain on prime of the steadiness due to how a lot shift there was to the rear of the automobile. It is like 100 kilos to the rear of the automobile, which is the final place you need it.”
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In case you make it to the ultimate lap competing for the win, how you employ this hybrid unit may very well be the deciding issue within the race?
“Yeah, I imply, it may undoubtedly provide help to get a greater run or get any person a bit of bit simpler than what it has been prior to now simply due to a bit of additional increase. However that additionally offers them the possibility to get you a bit of bit simpler for those who’re not totally packed as much as defend or one thing. So it is undoubtedly going to be strategic with how the motive force decides to make use of it.”
How would it not assist your expertise from final yr for those who had been in the identical scenario once more?
“It is all concerning the timing, is not it? It is all about getting the timing proper and also you depend upon different individuals’s choices. Somebody makes a silly determination proper earlier than you make the selection to go and that is your race ending. It is so tough. I believe you simply have to learn what automobile you are racing in opposition to and seeing the place he is weak, the place you are robust and simply use that to your benefit. Typically you possibly can’t make the go the place you need to make the go as a result of your automobile possibly is not robust sufficient there. So that you even have to only actually see the very best factor for you and the place you may make it occur.”
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure
Penske Leisure
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Who do you see as your important rivals for the victory?
“The Penske vehicles are rockets. They’re rockets by themselves and in visitors.”
Will Josef Newgarden and Will Energy begin at the back of the sphere?
“Oh, yeah. It is not going to take lengthy. I say on the 100-lap mark, Josef goes to be by means of two thirds of the sphere. Simple.”
What would it not imply to you to lastly win this race on Sunday?
“I’ve dreamt about it. I’ve dreamt about it many instances. I’ve put myself in that scenario. What should it really feel like? I visualized it and I’d like to deliver it to life. As a lot as I do know it will really feel magical, I do not suppose I am going to have the ability to actually get the grasp of what it will imply.”
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