On paper, it was a strong weekend for the papaya squad, Arrow McLaren. Christian Lundgaard scored a podium, Pato O’Ward was a strong fourth and Nolan Siegel led his first laps of the 2025 season. However it got here with a disappointing conclusion for Siegel and a championship doubtless misplaced for O’Ward.
Lundgaard was the star of the day for the group. O’Ward rolled off second, however the Dane completed there from seventh after pitting sooner than his rivals to realize floor with an undercut. That led him to 3rd, the place he used a daring overtake to sneak previous Colton Herta for the runner-up spot.
He didn’t have the tempo to problem frontrunner Alex Palou after a pair late cautions, however held onto second to offer the group its eleventh podium on the yr – a brand new excessive mark for the squad.
“I knew that the pit sequences are actually key right here,” Lundgaard stated of his run. “We went into this race not understanding if it was going to be a crimson (tire) race or a major race. It ended up being a crimson race and I simply can’t thank this workforce sufficient.”
O’Ward put collectively an entire weekend, qualifying second and ending fourth on a day the place the technique and velocity didn’t fall his manner. It was a strong outcome that continued a streak of success for the Mexican star. He’s completed seventh or higher in 9 of the previous 10 races, with two wins and 5 podiums.
In a few years, that might be sufficient to problem for his first IndyCar title. However the consistency has are available in a dominant yr for Palou. The Chip Ganassi Racing star’s seven (now eight) wins left O’Ward in want of main positive factors in Laguna Seca to have an opportunity to shut inside attain for the championship. However after Palou’s win, he now holds a 120-point championship benefit with simply three races remaining. The Spaniard might clinch the title subsequent outing at Portland Worldwide Raceway.
Barring an absolute meltdown – and regardless of O’Ward’s greatest efforts – the championship battle doubtless ended Sunday below the California solar.
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren
Picture by: Penske Leisure
Then, there was Siegel. Working in his dwelling state, the Palo Alto native was the one driver not named Palou to guide laps on Sunday. An alternate technique put him out entrance for 11 laps early on earlier than Palou surged previous him in flip 3. Even after that, Siegel was nonetheless positioned to take advantage of a race he’d began sixteenth in.
However that every one fell aside within the closing levels, when Siegel went for a spin on the Corkscrew. He tried to make a cross on Louis Foster, however made contact and briefly looped round earlier than rolling on.
Siegel in the end took the checkered flag in 18th, persevering with a streak of four-straight races with a mean end of 21.75 after he’d scored outcomes of eighth and eleventh at Street America and Mid-Ohio.
In the long run, each driver at Arrow McLaren confirmed promise in Laguna Seca. Two of the workforce’s drivers completed within the top-four spots and the opposite led laps. However with Siegel exhibiting his inexperience and Palou persevering with to dominate, there was little else on supply to be joyous about within the Java Home Grand Prix of Monterey.
On this article
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information electronic mail updates on these subjects
