Pato O’Ward Clarifies His Feelings After Team Penske Indy 500 Controversy: Calls Indy 500 an “Unbelievable Feat”

Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward made headlines recently for his harsh criticism of Team Penske following the disqualification of two of their three cars on Sunday, May 18th, due to rule violations. However, just days after the controversy, O’Ward shifted his tone, expressing admiration for the Penske organization’s successful running of the Indy 500.

Addressing the Disqualification Controversy

O’Ward did not hold back when discussing the disqualifications. He stated that the infractions were not accidental and that the cars in question clearly failed to comply with regulations. O’Ward expressed sympathy for Jacob Abel and other drivers affected by the situation, but insisted that the rules needed to be enforced strictly.

He further commented that the issue should have been addressed sooner, noting that the team had a questionable setup the previous day as well. According to O’Ward, someone should have pointed out the irregularities earlier, and the team should have faced disqualification then.

Praising Penske’s Organization of the Indy 500

Despite his initial criticism, O’Ward was quick to praise Team Penske for their role in organizing the Indy 500, which saw a total sellout for the first time in his experience. Speaking about the event, O’Ward said:

“I always come back here with a big smile. It’s what an unbelievable event—congratulations to the Penske organization for another very successful Indy 500. I mean, total sellout. That’s the first one I’ve ever been a part of that’s been a total sellout. It was insane. Really was. So we’ve talked with other people about how tricky this year’s race was.”

O’Ward is set to compete next at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, scheduled for June 1st.

O’Ward Reacts to Alex Palou’s Indy 500 Win and Marcus Ericsson’s Error

The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 saw Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou secure his first win at the storied event, known as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Meanwhile, Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global made a critical mistake in the closing laps that cost him dearly.

With just 13 laps to go, Palou, who had a strategic fuel advantage, was quickly closing in on Ericsson, the 2022 Indy 500 champion. As Ericsson ran slightly wide entering Turn 1 while trying to navigate around lapped cars Devlin DeFrancesco and rookie Louis Foster, Palou seized the opportunity with a bold overtake.

Speaking to FOX’s Bob Pockrass, O’Ward commented on Palou’s dominance and Ericsson’s costly error:

“I gotta find out what this guy is eating, apparently not frozen blueberries. We gotta get on what this guy’s on. It’s unbelievable. Nothing can go bad for him. I am surprised Ericsson screwed up. He just gave him the win there. It’s a strong points day for us, but obviously, when we come back to Indy, we have just about got every single spot at least in the top five besides the win. So, better luck next year.”

After the Indy 500, O’Ward now sits second in the championship standings with 194 points.