The plot twist that gave Arrow McLaren’s Ward his first IndyCar win as team principal
IndyCar took disciplinary action and revoked Josef Newgarden’s season-opening win due to illegally using the push-to-pass system on restarts. Scott McLaughlin, Newgarden’s teammate, was also disqualified for similar actions. Pato O’Ward was then declared as the race winner 45 days later, marking his fifth career victory and his first win since 2022.
Team Penske’s Will Power received a 10-point penalty but retained his finish as his car could use the push-to-pass system without actually using it. He was moved to second place after the disqualifications, with Colton Herta finishing in third place. Pato O’Ward’s victory was his first as the overseer of McLaren’s IndyCar program since 2023, an achievement he hoped to celebrate differently in Victory Lane.
Promoted following a stint at Team Penske, O’Ward began as an intern with Red Bull in Formula 1 before transitioning through various roles, culminating in successful achievements such as Monaco GP wins and multiple championship titles. Although he would have preferred a proper celebration in St. Petersburg, O’Ward remains optimistic about future opportunities in the 2024 season, acknowledging the hard work put in by his team and expressing confidence in their potential for more victories.
