Why Pato O’Ward says “It will be lots more durable” on this 12 months’s Indy 500

Make no mistake, Pato O’Ward has excelled on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway many instances. 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 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 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 principle rivals although two of their automobiles will begin from the again of the pack, and the way he cannot absolutely grasp what successful 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 huge 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 will probably be my sixth [race]. I used to be so targeted 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 fascinated about the place I wished to be. Clearly, pole would have been magical, however you attempt to not take too huge of steps.

“As a result of I’ve by no means actually been within the state of affairs the place we have been actually having a shot for pole. So, this 12 months was actually cool to simply to have that chance to be on the entrance row. After which, I imply, that simply offers you a greater, to begin with, higher view into flip one. Being behind there’s clearly a bit little bit of a unique method that you need to take, no less than within the begin of the race. As a result of you need to be simply so conscious of everybody round you. Not that you do not have to remember while you’re up there. But it surely does make a distinction while you’re behind two automobiles versus behind 12. The automotive behaves otherwise. And that first stint often goes a bit bit completely 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 begin going when he begins to go. I feel I am in a really prime place to essentially sort of select, decide 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.”

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 easy month. I imply, simply clearly Indy 500 month is rarely not disturbing. Like there’s positively been conditions the place it has gotten a bit intense. But it surely’s been an excellent month, very good month, very easy when it comes to, you realize, how qualifying went. You recognize, the automotive has been behaving good in qualifying trim. Now in race trim, we have some work to do. I might be mendacity if I mentioned we’re, you realize, we’re good as a result of clearly we’re not. I do not suppose we’re the place the automotive must be for the race. So now we have some work to do there.

“However man, it is such a protracted race. It is 200 laps. It is 500 miles. You recognize, because the race goes on, persons are like, you realize, ‘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 12 months. So many issues change with the restarts and also you depend upon different individuals’s choices as nicely. When the yellows come out and, you realize, 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 greatest to be there on the finish.”

What affect do you suppose the hybrid can have through the race?

“It has been a really gnarly month when it comes to accidents, as everybody has seen. The automobiles are simply a lot extra on the restrict. The window of with the ability to make or having a bit wiggle or a little bit of playroom to see the place the automotive desires to go is a lot smaller. It actually bites while you get it just a bit bit incorrect, when perhaps final 12 months you possibly can have saved it.

”Contemplating that, I feel that is going to have a big effect on how the racing goes to be within the race. I feel that is going to have a big effect on what occurs with individuals coming collectively and having accidents. It will be lots more durable and tougher for the drivers to remain on prime of the stability due to how a lot shift there was to the rear of the automotive. It is like 100 kilos to the rear of the automotive, which is the final place you need it.”

When you make it to the ultimate lap competing for the win, how you utilize this hybrid unit may very well be the deciding issue within the race?

“Yeah, I imply, it might positively enable you to get a greater run or get any person a bit bit simpler than what it has been previously simply due to a bit additional enhance. However that additionally offers them the prospect to get you a bit bit simpler in the event you’re not absolutely 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 12 months in the event you have been in the identical state of affairs once more?

“It is all in regards to 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 feel you simply have to learn what automotive you are racing in opposition to and seeing the place he is weak, the place you are sturdy 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 automotive perhaps is not sturdy 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

Picture by: Penske Leisure

Who do you see as your essential rivals for the victory?

“The Penske automobiles 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 via 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 instances. I’ve put myself in that state of affairs. What should it really feel like? I visualized it and I might like to carry it to life. As a lot as I do know it may really feel magical, I do not suppose I am going to have the ability to actually get the grasp of what it may imply.”