Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward openly criticized Team Penske after two of its three entries were disqualified from the Indy 500 on May 18th due to regulatory violations surrounding the race. Addressing the Team Penske Indy 500 controversy and organization, O’Ward was direct, emphasizing that the rule breaches were not accidental, and voiced his concern for competitors such as Jacob Abel who were impacted by the outcome. O’Ward made clear that the cars involved failed to meet compliance requirements.
He additionally noted that the issue should have been dealt with sooner, referencing suspicions about the team‘s vehicle setup prior to the disqualifications. According to O’Ward, someone missed an opportunity to identify the infraction earlier, and he felt Team Penske should have faced disqualification at that time.
O’Ward Acknowledges Team Penske’s Event Organization Despite Scandal
Despite his criticism during the fallout of the cheating scandal, O’Ward later recognized Team Penske for delivering an impeccably managed Indy 500, highlighting the event’s sold-out status. The feat was significant, as the sellout was a first in O’Ward’s experience racing at the iconic event.
“I always come back here with a big smile It’s what an unbelievable event congratulations to the Penske organization for another very successful Indy500 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,”
said O’Ward. —Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Driver
Looking ahead, O’Ward is set to compete in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, scheduled for June 1st, bringing fresh momentum from a dramatic Indy 500 week.
Alex Palou’s Breakout Win and Marcus Ericsson’s Costly Mistake
The 109th iteration of the Indianapolis 500 saw Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou claim victory, marking his inaugural win at what is often called the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” As the championship leader, Palou capitalized on a critical error from Andretti Global’s Marcus Ericsson in the closing laps of the event.
When only 13 laps remained, Palou, who was able to leverage his advantage in fuel strategy, started to close the gap on Ericsson. Navigating past slower cars including Devlin DeFrancesco and Louis Foster, Ericsson drifted wide at Turn 1, allowing Palou to make an aggressive overtake and seize the lead.
Speaking afterward to FOX’s Bob Pockrass, O’Ward commented on the commanding form Palou displayed throughout the race and didn’t hold back regarding Ericsson’s late 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,”
he said. —Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Driver
“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,”
said Pato about Ericsson’s blunder. —Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Driver
O’Ward’s consistent performances have positioned him second in the championship chase with 194 points, keeping him within striking distance of Palou and maintaining attention on every strategic and competitive development in the series.
Significance and Next Steps Following Indy 500 Events
The events of this year’s Indy 500 have intensified scrutiny around technical compliance, with Team Penske facing criticism but also receiving recognition for top-tier race organization. For drivers such as Pato O’Ward, the incident spotlights the necessity of early intervention when regulations are breached and the importance of fairness for all teams. Meanwhile, Alex Palou’s triumph strengthens his lead and adds another layer to the rivalry among top contenders as the focus now shifts to the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, ensuring both competition and controversy will remain central themes this season.
