Pato O’Ward got here into Barber Motorsports Park driving a wave of three consecutive prime 5 finishes, however that momentum got here to an abrupt halt after ending seventeenth on Sunday.
It was an uncharacteristic weekend contemplating the Mexican’s success across the 2.3-mile, 17-turn pure terrain highway course, which is highlighted by one win (2022), two extra prime fives and a sixth-place lead to six earlier begins.
After beginning twelfth within the #5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, O’Ward by no means got here near breaking into the highest 10. Actually, he went the other way moments after taking the inexperienced flag. Whereas he sputtered to a season-worst consequence, teammate Christian Lundgaard placed on a cost from tenth to second, solely shedding out on a possible win attributable to a pit miscue on the ultimate cease.
The outing for O’Ward relegated him from third to sixth within the championship standings after 4 races, 50 factors behind general chief Kyle Kirkwood (156-106).
“It was a very tough day for us right here at Barber,” mentioned O’Ward, 26. “I haven’t got a solution proper now as to why we struggled. I am glad to see the 7 with Christian get a podium; I do know they have been combating there for the win. There are issues we have to work on as a staff, however I am glad one of many vehicles from the staff was sturdy.”
A big motive why O’Ward is puzzled by the efficiency is the similarities in setup between his automobile and the one Lundgaard drove to a runner-up end.
“We have to see the place we went flawed, however we weren’t all that totally different than their automobile, so it was a really complicated day and a kind of weekends the place I felt helpless within the race automobile,” O’Ward mentioned.
And O’Ward went additional, expressing this lowly consequence offered motivation shifting ahead.
“The benefit of getting beat like that is you kick it into a unique gear,” he mentioned. “We’ll be pushing exhausting to verify we do not let one thing like this occur once more.”
Pictures from Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Barber Motorsports Park – Sunday, in photographs
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Group
