Pato O’Ward Blasts Ericsson for ‘Choking’ in Indy 500 Clash with Palou

Pato O’Ward was one of the key favorites for the Indianapolis 500 but came home fourth at the checkered flag. Driving the No. 5 Arrow McLaren car, O’Ward started on the front row but struggled to match the front-running pace during the race.

The attention quickly shifted when, with just 14 laps to go, Alex Palou moved past Marcus Ericsson in a move that effectively decided the outcome of the 2025 Indy 500. From that moment, Palou—driving for Chip Ganassi Racing—managed to keep the lead as he benefited from running behind the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing cars of Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster, both fighting to stay on the lead lap.

Palou pulled away, finishing first and crossing the finish line in front of a packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ericsson, who lost the lead at a crucial stage, spoke candidly afterward.

“I had those lap cars ahead, and I was struggling a little bit in the dirty air,” Ericsson explained in his post-race press conference. He admitted that he underestimated Palou’s willingness to go for an overtake heading into the late stages, saying, “Alex got kind of a run on me, but I thought he wasn’t going to go for it.

And that’s the thing that’s going to keep me up at night for a while, that moment and what I did and didn’t do.” O’Ward saw things differently and was vocal about his frustration, suggesting Ericsson missed a chance to turn the closing laps into a tighter contest.

After the race, O’Ward said, “Pretty crap race, I would say. It just kind of sucks that it just went down to the switcheroo for the last position of the race.

And Ericsson kind of choked there and let Palou by and just kind of, he just had to pedal it there. You know, it’s, I don’t think it’s the finish that anybody here would have wanted to see.” The Mexican driver also called out the overall standard of racing in the 2025 Indy 500, describing some of the restarts as unacceptable for an event of this status.

He stated, “I just feel like there was a bunch of non-experienced in the front of the restarts. And I think some of those restarts were pathetic. Like, really, those were not up to level of what we should be seeing at the Indy 500.”

He likened the restarts to a game of roulette, saying drivers either gained big or lost many positions depending on the luck of the draw. O’Ward’s finish marked his fifth top-six result in six Indianapolis 500 attempts, showing his consistency at the Brickyard, but he is still waiting for a first win at the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

He fought hard through the closing laps, working his way back after losing ground in the middle of the race, but ultimately was unable to recover enough to challenge Palou. “I fought my way as hard as I could. I really did. So, that’s all you can do sometimes,” he added in his comments to the media.

Palou’s win was built around timely moves and staying out of trouble as competitors stumbled. Ericsson continues to search for answers after reflecting on the mistakes that may have cost him a second Indy 500 win, while O’Ward is left waiting for a breakthrough at Indianapolis.

With another top finish to add to his record, O’Ward will look ahead to the next chance for victory, hoping the race plays out differently next year.

Alex Palou’s Indy 500 win was marked by well-executed strategy and skillful driving.

O’Ward’s struggles during the race have been highlighted as part of his efforts to become tougher at the Brickyard, as discussed in detail in his recent interview.

For a full overview of the finishing order, see the 2025 Indianapolis 500 results.

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.