Pato O’Ward Warns: Indy 500 Will Be Much Tougher This Year

Pato O’Ward is preparing for what he believes will be his toughest Indianapolis 500 yet. The Arrow McLaren driver has made five previous starts at the Indy 500, finishing as the runner-up twice, in 2022 and 2024.

Last year, O’Ward had a strong run before he crashed while fighting for the win. He also placed fourth and sixth in other appearances but is still chasing his first victory at the famous 500-mile race. For more details on the history of the event, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway official page.

For the 109th running of the event, O’Ward will have his highest-ever starting spot, lining up on the outside of the front row next to pole-sitter Robert Shwartzman, a rookie from Prema Racing, and two-time winner Takuma Sato.

O’Ward has made it clear that starting near the front was a goal this year, and he is excited to have accomplished it. In his own words, being on the front row changes the entire outlook at the start of the race.

He thinks it gives him a better view heading into turn one on Sunday and offers more strategic options for the opening stint. O’Ward is looking forward to the advantages that come from not having to slice through as much traffic in those early laps.

He admits that, while starting up front is nice, it’s only one small factor in a race where things change fast over 200 laps and 500 miles.

This year, the race features a new hybrid system, which teams have been working to master throughout May. O’Ward says the addition of the hybrid makes the cars more difficult to drive and less forgiving if a driver makes a small mistake. For a deeper dive into hybrid technology in motorsports, check out SAE International’s resources.

He describes the setup as having shifted about 100 pounds toward the rear of the car, making balance more challenging, especially at high speeds. The new technology is likely to influence both race strategy and the number of accidents, as drivers push harder with less margin for error.

Looking back at previous years, O’Ward remembers he was running fifteenth with 60 laps to go in 2023 before a sequence of cautions and strategy changes shuffled the field. He explains that the Indy 500 often comes down to timing and decision-making late in the race.

The impact of the hybrid unit could be critical in the final laps, either providing a boost to make a pass or allowing another driver to catch up. O’Ward points out that success can depend heavily on what other drivers do and how caution flags fall throughout the afternoon.

When asked about rivals, O’Ward didn’t hesitate to name the Team Penske cars as his main competition, even with Josef Newgarden and Will Power starting from the back. He is confident that Newgarden can charge through two-thirds of the field by the race’s halfway point.

The strength of the Penske team in both clean air and traffic means O’Ward will have to be ready for a hard fight no matter where he is on track, especially given recent Team Penske parts challenges. For more on IndyCar team dynamics, explore IndyCar’s official site.

A win at the Brickyard would be the highlight of O’Ward’s career and a dream come true. He has often pictured himself taking the checkered flag and holding the Borg-Warner Trophy but knows the experience will be more emotional than he can fully imagine if it happens.

O’Ward’s optimism, determination, and respect for the challenge ahead set the stage for another dramatic Indianapolis 500 as he chases his first victory on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.