WEST ALLIS, WI – didn’t maintain again.
Talking publicly for the primary time for the reason that announcement of his 2027 teammates, the favored Mexican driver unloaded on anybody who doubts or questions why a 46-year-old because it seems to be to the longer term.
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“I’ve been shocked on the disrespect that he’s obtained,” O’Ward mentioned Wednesday throughout an take a look at .
“For individuals to speak down any person like that basically is a disgrace. Speak down on me as a lot as you need. Like, I don’t care. However to speak down on any person like Scott Dixon … typically I actually do really feel like I want individuals felt ashamed somewhat bit extra as a result of to disrespect any person from that caliber and that degree …
Scott Dixon of Chip Ganassi Racing (9) seems to be to the sky as rain approaches throughout NTT IndyCar Collection testing Wednesday, July 8, 2026, on the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.
“It’s simply it erases any decency of what an athlete goes by means of. You gained’t at all times be profitable races and profitable each championship yearly. You’ll at all times undergo cycles. I really consider he’s going to be such an important addition to this crew.”
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that it could not carry again Christian Lundgaard – a two-time winner this season who sits third within the standings – and Nolan Siegel subsequent season in favor of teaming O’Ward with Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist.
Dixon is a six-time IndyCar champion and sits second on the all-time Indy-car racing wins record with 59, eight behind A.J. Foyt. Fifty-eight of these, together with the 2008 Indianapolis 500, have been earned over 25 seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing, which he joined in 2002 whereas nonetheless in Champ Automobile.
Because the begin of 2024, although, Dixon has managed simply three victories whereas teammate Alex Palou has gained 16 occasions. Palou has claimed 4 of the 5 championships since Dixon final gained one in 2020, and he leads the standings by means of 11 of 18 races.
“He possibly hasn’t had a few of the greatest years the final couple,” O’Ward mentioned of Dixon. “However guys like him don’t overlook tips on how to drive.
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“This cycle of racing goes up and down, and I really feel like for somebody like him to make a change after so a few years someplace and to obtain a few of the backlash that he’s obtained … I actually hope when he joins he has an important run for a championship and wins many races as a result of I consider he deserves it as an individual. He deserves it as a champion.”
Rosenqvist, 34, began in IndyCar with Ganassi in 2019 and gained one race over two seasons. He drove for McLaren from 2021-23 after which landed at Meyer Shank Racing, the place he set a profession greatest by ending sixth within the standings in 2025 and went on to win the Indianapolis 500 in Might.
Dixon “was my man” rising up, mentioned O’Ward, who was barely 3 when Dixon debuted with Ganassi in Champ Automobile at Milwaukee in 2002.
Then, O’Ward and Rosenqvist constructed a detailed friendship at McLaren that endured after Rosenqvist was let go, a far totally different state of affairs from .
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“Simply to have an opportunity to study from somebody like Scott Dixon is, I might say, one of many luckiest positions anyone in racing can have since you’re studying from, in my view, the most effective the sequence has ever seen, any person that not solely embodies what I consider an important champion is within the automobile, but additionally any person that embodies that exterior of it,” O’Ward mentioned.
Pato O’Ward of Arrow McLaren (5) drives off Flip 4 in NTT IndyCar Collection testing Wednesday, July 8, 2026, on the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.
“Clearly Felix, he’s had a number of experiences, not simply exterior of IndyCar, however in IndyCar as effectively and [is] any person that was within the crew three years in the past. Coming again after being in one other crew, profitable the Indy 500, having different experiences, all of that wealth of data goes to be so precious for me to maintain on studying and likewise for our complete crew.
“I can’t wait to study from those who I aspire to be like.”
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Insider:
Though Dixon was not obtainable to reporters in the course of the take a look at for the Aug. 28-30 Snap-on doubleheader weekend, Rosenqvist was.
Whereas Arrow McLaren crew principal Tony Kanaan instructed Fox Sports activities he was keen so as to add two drivers who’ve a great probability to win Indy in 2027, Rosenqvist mentioned he noticed his transfer as extra of a protracted play.
IndyCar intends to debut a brand new automobile in 2028. Rosenqvist has a popularity as somebody who could possibly be useful in improvement, similar to Dixon.
McLaren is also working towards becoming a member of the World Endurance Championship in 2027. Such a venture might present alternatives for an IndyCar driver within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, ought to schedules allow or after an open-wheel profession.
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Rosenqvist – who in two months has welcomed his first youngster, gained the Indy 500, had his knowledge enamel pulled and located a brand new trip – mentioned the upcoming change has him feeling awkward. His first objective, he mentioned, is to win extra races with Meyer Shank.
Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing (60) drives to the pits in NTT IndyCar Collection testing Wednesday, July 8, 2026, on the Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin.
Nonetheless, Rosenqvist is keen to see the 2027 McLaren lineup in motion.
“There’s lots of expertise, with Pato being the youngest of us,” he mentioned. “He’s clearly been with McLaren for just about his complete profession.
“Everybody’s good. I feel it’s extra concerning the dynamic and having the appropriate man for the appropriate automobile, principally. I feel it’s going to be lots of enjoyable.”
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Becoming a member of a detailed good friend could possibly be icing on the cake.
“On the finish of the day, you’re spending extra time together with your teammates than your loved ones, so that you higher make it worthwhile,” Rosenqvist mentioned. “And typically it must be compelled and typically it’s pure, however I at all times at the very least attempt to take pleasure in my time with my teammates.
“Scott has been [a friend. They’re] two which can be actually, actually stand out by way of being fulfilling to work with for certain.”
Palou additionally shall be getting a brand new teammate, which has been public information since July 2, earlier than the latest race weekend.
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Palou doesn’t anticipate to have any enter into the choice. A very powerful elements, he mentioned, are that whoever drives Ganassi’s No. 9 automobile is quick sufficient to push him and the crew tradition stays the identical.
“I’ve had somewhat little bit of every part all through my profession of getting very shut associates or having some teammates the place there’s friction,” Palou mentioned. “Hopefully there’s no friction.
“Even for those who get beat by your teammate on the finish of the day, you have got all of the [same] instruments as your teammate to try to make the identical [result] or try to rebound and do the identical subsequent weekend.”
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