At the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 held at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR), Kyle Kirkwood emerged victorious after a significant error by Nolan Siegel jeopardized Pato O’Ward’s chance of winning. On the race’s final restart at lap 206 of 260, Siegel, a lapped driver, was running second with O’Ward close behind in third, while Kirkwood was positioned fourth.
Instead of allowing O’Ward, his teammate running for the win, a clear path to challenge for the lead at Turn 1, Siegel attempted to unlap himself. This led to a risky three-wide situation involving Siegel, O’Ward in the middle, and Kirkwood on the high side. Forced to avoid a collision, O’Ward had to back off, enabling Kirkwood to pass and secure second place behind race leader Scott Dixon.
O’Ward openly expressed frustration over what he saw as Siegel’s inexperience negatively affecting his race outcome. Reflecting on the incident in a post-race interview, O’Ward stated:
“In that last restart, I think good ol’ Nolan was sleeping a little bit.”
Further clarifying his standpoint on Conor Daly’s Speed Street podcast, O’Ward acknowledged Siegel’s rookie status but emphasized the critical timing of the incident:
“I didn’t want to say too much online or on the broadcast because you know, he’s (Nolan) 20 years old. It’s his first full season in IndyCar (but) like he’s got some experience already. What I told him is, ‘Look, man, I know you didn’t do that on purpose. I know you’re trying to unlap yourself.”
“If that’s the first restart of the race, I get (you’re) trying to unlap yourself. But it’s the last restart (and) your teammate is trying to win the race. It’s important to be aware that if you didn’t have a great jump, the chances are that people behind you are on you or beside you.”
Siegel’s Earlier Incident and Team Response
Siegel’s difficulties extended beyond the final restart. Earlier in the race, he nearly forced Scott McLaughlin, the race leader from Team Penske, off the track while trying to avoid getting lapped. For that incident, IndyCar issued Siegel a drive-through penalty, which triggered an angry outburst over the team radio from the 20-year-old driver.
O’Ward described the impact of Siegel’s rough night, suggesting it contributed to the costly mistake on the restart:
“I think it was just a combination of just having a very messy night, which then led to this very important moment. And I just think at that point, he just didn’t know what to do. I don’t think it’s an opinion, it’s a fact. He definitely made that a lot harder for us going into Turn 1.”
Following Siegel’s profane remarks over team radio directed at McLaughlin and Team Penske, Arrow McLaren took disciplinary action by publicly condemning the outburst. The young driver subsequently apologized through an Instagram story.
Pato O’Ward Anticipates Breakthrough to Challenge Alex Palou for 2025 Championship
As the 2025 IndyCar season advances, reigning champion Alex Palou has dominated by winning five of the first six races, including his first Indy 500 victory. Meanwhile, Pato O’Ward ranks second in the championship standings, trailing Palou by 73 points, after securing another podium finish at WWTR.
O’Ward reflected on the current championship landscape and his own quest for wins during an interview following the eighth race of the year:
“The guy has been on a run. He has five wins or something. I’ve got zero wins,” the No. 5 Arrow McLaren driver said via ASAP Sports. “I’ve just got a handful of podiums. We need to start racking up some wins, and that’ll make that points count come down a lot faster than what you’re seeing now.
“I feel like we’re just sitting at bay right there just waiting for our run to come, so hopefully that does come to life, and yeah, I think it’s going to be a tight end to the championship.”
Despite finishing eighth at WWTR, Palou’s result allowed O’Ward and Kyle Kirkwood to gain ground slightly in the driver standings, intensifying the battle for the championship.
Implications for Arrow McLaren and the Championship Race
Kyle Kirkwood benefited directly from Nolan Siegel’s error, which ultimately altered the outcome of the race and allowed Kirkwood to finish strongly behind Scott Dixon. O’Ward’s frustration highlights the tensions that can develop within teams when inexperienced drivers unintentionally affect results in high-stakes scenarios.
Arrow McLaren faces the challenge of managing Siegel’s rookie learning curve while supporting O’Ward’s ambition to break through with wins and mount a serious bid for the 2025 title. As the season progresses, how the team balances development and performance will play a critical role in maintaining momentum against dominant figures like Palou and Dixon.
The ongoing rivalry sets the stage for a fiercely contested championship, with O’Ward hoping that both his and Kirkwood’s improved performances can close the gap and keep pressure on Palou in the coming races.
