Make no mistake, Pato O’Ward has excelled on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway many occasions. However he hasn’t received. 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, although he has by no means held the Borg-Warner Trophy.
The driving 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 skin of the entrance row alongside rookie pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman from Prema Racing and two-time Indy 500 champion Takuma Sato from RLL.
In an unique interview with Motorsport.com, a relaxed O’Ward mentioned his method to the crown jewel of IndyCar, why he nonetheless considers Crew Penske to be the primary rivals although 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 massive goal that I actually needed to perform going into the month, to be sincere. 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 targeted on being outdoors of the entrance row, to be sincere. And we made it occur. We made it occur precisely the place I had been serious about the place I needed to be. Clearly, pole would have been magical, however you attempt to not take too massive of steps.
“As a result of I’ve by no means actually been within the scenario the place we have been actually having a shot for pole. So, this yr was actually cool to simply to have that chance to be on the entrance row. After which, I imply, that simply provides you a greater, to start with, higher view into flip one. Being behind there’s clearly somewhat little bit of a unique method that it’s important to take, not less than 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 bear in mind whenever you’re up there. But it surely does make a distinction whenever you’re behind two vehicles versus behind 12. The automobile behaves in a different way. And that first stint often goes somewhat bit totally different, particularly when it begins moving into the pit cease sequences.”
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 start out going when he begins to go. I believe I am in a really prime place to actually form of select, decide and select the place I wish to place myself and be for that first stint. However I would be fully positive staying the place I begin.”
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Talking with you, you appear form of relaxed and chill. Do you are feeling that means about Sunday?
“I do. I really feel it has been a really easy month. I imply, simply clearly Indy 500 month is rarely not worrying. Like there’s positively been conditions the place it has gotten somewhat intense. But it surely’s been an excellent month, very good month, very easy by way of, , how qualifying went. You realize, the automobile has been behaving good in qualifying trim. Now in race trim, we have got some work to do. I would be mendacity if I mentioned we’re, , we’re good as a result of clearly we’re not. I do not assume we’re the place the automobile must be for the race. So we’ve some work to do there.
“However man, it is such a protracted race. It is 200 laps. It is 500 miles. You realize, because the race goes on, persons are like, , ‘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 rely upon different folks’s choices as properly. When the yellows come out and, , what technique are you on? Are you overcutting? Are you undercutting? That every one comes into play. So I am simply excited to be part of that incredible occasion once more and going to attempt my finest to be there on the finish.”
What influence do you assume the hybrid can have throughout the race?
“It has been a really gnarly month by way of 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 somewhat wiggle or a little bit of playroom to see the place the automobile desires 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 folks coming collectively and having accidents. It is going to be rather a lot more durable and more difficult 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.”
In case you make it to the ultimate lap competing for the win, how you utilize this hybrid unit could possibly be the deciding issue within the race?
“Yeah, I imply, it may positively assist you to get a greater run or get any person somewhat bit simpler than what it has been previously simply due to somewhat further enhance. However that additionally provides them the prospect to get you somewhat bit simpler when you’re not totally packed as much as defend or one thing. So it is positively going to be strategic with how the driving force decides to make use of it.”
How wouldn’t it assist your expertise from final yr when you have 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 rely upon different folks’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 troublesome. I believe you simply must 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. Generally you may’t make the move the place you wish to make the move as a result of your automobile possibly is not robust sufficient there. So that you even have to simply actually see the most effective factor for you and the place you may make it occur.”
Patricio O’ward, Arrow McLaren
Photograph by: Penske Leisure
Who do you see as your principal 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. Straightforward.”
What wouldn’t it imply to you to lastly win this race on Sunday?
“I’ve dreamt about it. I’ve dreamt about it many occasions. I’ve put myself in that scenario. What should it really feel like? I visualized it and I might like to deliver it to life. As a lot as I do know it may really feel magical, I do not assume I am going to have the ability to actually get the grasp of what it may imply.”
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