The plot twist that gave Arrow McLaren’s Ward his first win as team principal
IndyCar took disciplinary action and revoked Josef Newgarden’s season-opening win due to evidence of illegal push-to-pass system use on restarts. His teammate Scott McLaughlin, who finished third, was also disqualified for similar infractions. Pato O’Ward was declared the winner of the race 45 days later, marking his fifth career victory and first win since 2022.
Will Power from Team Penske received a 10-point penalty but kept his finish position as he did not use the illegal system. He moved up to second place after the disqualifications, with Colton Herta moving to third. O’Ward’s victory as McLaren’s team principal in 2023 was his first while overseeing the team.
Despite wishing to celebrate the win differently, O’Ward acknowledged the hard work of his team and looks forward to more success in his role. The victory marked a significant achievement for the team and O’Ward, who sees it as the beginning of more successes throughout the 2024 season.
