Background on IndyCar Series and Pato O’Ward
IndyCar Series, while not as globally recognized as Formula 1, is one of the longest-standing and prestigious motorsport competitions in North America. It takes place exclusively within the United States and Canada.
Pato O’Ward, a 26-year-old Mexican driver, has been making waves in the IndyCar Series since his debut in 2018 with Harding Racing. He managed to secure the second-place position in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, an unprecedented achievement for both him and his team.
O’Ward’s Journey to Arrow McLaren SP
O’Ward began racing with Harding Racing, competing in just one race and finishing 31st in the Drivers’ Championship. In 2019, he joined Carlin and raced in seven events, finishing 26th. His big break came in 2020 when he moved to Arrow McLaren SP, a team with a rich history in Formula 1 that was undergoing transformation to improve its performance in IndyCar.
Arrow McLaren SP debuted in the IndyCar Series in 2001 as Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM) and later partnered with McLaren in 2020, adopting its current name. The team has seen steady improvement, finishing 4th in the Teams’ Championship in 2020, 3rd in 2021, 7th in 2022, 4th in 2023, and now 2nd in 2025 thanks to O’Ward’s efforts.
O’Ward’s 2025 Season: A Year to Remember
O’Ward’s best Drivers’ Championship finish prior to 2025 was third place in 2021, with 487 points and two victories. This year, he surpassed those numbers with two more wins and four additional podium finishes. He finished in the top 10 in 12 out of 16 races.
Securing second place in the Drivers’ Championship allows O’Ward to aim for a strong finish in the final race of the season.
Quotes from Pato O’Ward and Team Director Tony Kanaan
“We’re on the podium, and it’s our best result so far this season—both for me and the team. I’m really looking forward to Nashville next week. We’ll aim for a win; we were close last year.” – Pato O’Ward
“It was a fantastic weekend. Pato secured second place in the championship, and we’re thrilled with that result. All in all, it was a great weekend for us, and we’re heading straight to Nashville.” – Team Director Tony Kanaan
Historical Context and Future Prospects
This marked the 30th season of IndyCar Series, with only one Latin American driver—Brazilian Tony Kanaan in 2004—winning the Drivers’ Championship. Now, one of Kanaan’s protégés, Pato O’Ward, has secured the second-place position.
O’Ward is not only excelling in IndyCar but also serves as a reserve driver for McLaren in Formula 1, allowing him to participate in some F1 practice sessions. Despite uncertainty about his future beyond IndyCar, O’Ward celebrates this weekend’s historic second-place finish.
His achievement echoes another Mexican driver, Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez, who finished second in the 2023 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship behind his Red Bull Racing teammate Max Verstappen.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pato O’Ward? Pato O’Ward is a 26-year-old Mexican driver competing in the IndyCar Series since 2018.
- What is the significance of his 2025 season? O’Ward secured the second-place position in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, which is his best-ever finish and Arrow McLaren SP’s second-place team finish.
- What is Arrow McLaren SP? Arrow McLaren SP is an IndyCar team with a history in Formula 1, formed by the partnership between Sam Schmidt Motorsports and McLaren Racing.
- What are O’Ward’s future prospects? While O’Ward’s future in motorsport remains uncertain beyond IndyCar, his recent achievements have opened doors for potential opportunities in other racing series.
