At the 2024 Mid-Ohio race, Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward delivered a commanding performance, winning his first on-track race of the season by leading 24 laps. This victory marks a notable achievement following a prior win awarded under unusual circumstances at the 2024 St. Petersburg Grand Prix, where Josef Newgarden of Team Penske was disqualified for race manipulation.
Starting from second place, O’Ward managed to overtake key competitors, including battling closely with Palou. A critical moment occurred during a pit stop when Palou stalled his car, allowing O’Ward to seize the lead. From that point forward, the #5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet car held the front, with O’Ward maintaining control until the finish.
Reflecting on the race in an ESPN interview, O’Ward expressed his satisfaction with the hard-earned win, saying,
“We really pushed today. I was pushing so long and watching him pull out kind of trying to run away with it in the first stint, I said ‘no way, no way.’ As soon as we got the reds on, that was my chance to close the gap and ultimately beat him. … We earned it. No one gave it to us. This feels really good.”
— Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren driver
O’Ward’s Intense Duel with Conor Daly at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500
Beyond Mid-Ohio, Pato O’Ward also spoke about his gripping battle with Conor Daly during the Bommarito Automotive Group 500. O’Ward, who drives the #5 Chevrolet-powered Arrow McLaren car, described the contest as one of the most exciting struggles of the season, comparing it to a fierce 2023 race with Josef Newgarden in Texas.
The competition between O’Ward and Daly reached a peak around lap 149 as both drivers fought fiercely for the lead. On the podcast SpeedStreet, hosted by Daly and Chase Holden, O’Ward emphasized the intensity and mutual respect in their battle, stating,
“Really good race. And I have to say it’s been a while since I’ve had such good battles like that. It reminded me of Josef and I in Texas 2023. Like, you know, like you and I going side by side, by just pure racing, pure, like, you know, just getting after it like just getting on the limit.”
— Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren driver
He continued,
“Yeah, yes, right on the limit, giving each other exactly what you need in order to be able to do that, like that, that is what people want to see, like. If I had a child, I would have told him that’s the ending to the Indy 500. Yeah, you know, I thought that was phenomenal, and it was just amazing to be a part of it.”
— Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren driver
Current Standing and Prospects in the Drivers’ Championship
O’Ward’s recent strong performances have positioned him third in the 2024 drivers‘ championship standings, holding 275 points as the season progresses. His ability to win races on merit and engage in thrilling head-to-head battles demonstrates his growing competitiveness within the IndyCar series. Maintaining this momentum will be key as he aims for further victories and a higher championship placement in the coming events.
