IndyCar recently made headlines with disciplinary actions against Josef Newgarden and his teammate Scott McLaughlin, stripping Newgarden of his season-opening win due to evidence of illegal use of the push-to-pass system on restarts. McLaughlin faced a similar fate, resulting in Pato O’Ward being declared the race winner 45 days after the event. This marked O’Ward’s fifth career victory and first since 2022, adding another milestone to his racing career.
The penalty also affected Will Power, who received a 10-point penalty but retained his finish since his car was capable of using the push-to-pass system at starts and restarts, though he chose not to. Consequently, Power was elevated to second place after the disqualifications, with Colton Herta from Andretti Global moving up to third.
For O’Ward, the victory holds special significance as it is the first since he began overseeing McLaren’s IndyCar program in 2023, transitioning from his former role as racing director. Reflecting on the win, O’Ward expressed his satisfaction despite not being able to celebrate in Victory Lane as he had hoped, emphasizing the importance of cherishing every win regardless of the circumstances.
Pato O’Ward’s journey to his current role saw him serving in various capacities within the racing world, from his beginnings as an intern with Red Bull Racing to his tenure with Team Penske before joining McLaren. His extensive experience, including roles in Formula 1 and IndyCar, underscores his expertise in the sport and his ability to lead a team to success.
Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding his latest victory, O’Ward remains optimistic about the future, believing that it is just the beginning of many successes for him and his team. He attributes the win to the hard work and dedication of the team, expressing gratitude for their efforts and highlighting their collective determination to achieve more in the ongoing 2024 season.
