Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis 500 has damaged the center of Pato O’Ward the previous few years.
And but, O’Ward’s coronary heart nonetheless loves Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
O’Ward ought to hate this place after he was unable to go Marcus Ericsson on the ultimate lap three years in the past and he settled for second.
O’Ward ought to hate this place after shedding the result in Josef Newgarden after which wrecking whereas battling Ericsson for second with eight laps remaining in 2023.
O’Ward ought to hate this place after Newgarden handed him for the lead on the ultimate lap in 2024.
How can O’Ward love a spot that hasn’t cherished him again — at the very least in outcomes?
“I’ve such nice reminiscences right here,” O’Ward mentioned. “And, clearly, there’s additionally some low ones that include it. However that is in the end what’s made the emotion for this place a lot stronger.
“It’s simply so cool, man, the way in which that individuals embrace it. It is the right definition of an occasion the place the athletes, the gladiators, the drivers danger every part.”
The 26-year-old from Monterrey seems able to danger every part as soon as once more as he begins on the surface of the entrance row for the 109th Indianapolis 500. Will 2025 find yourself being the yr he ends his heartbreak?
The Arrow McLaren driver will attempt to use the teachings of earlier oh-so-close makes an attempt to end up the place he believes he belongs. He views the race he misplaced final yr as probably the most painful, partly due to the good transfer Newgarden made and likewise due to the heartbreak of the earlier two seasons.
O’Ward believes he had a successful automotive every of the final two years.
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“It’s clearly been robust to get the timing (of a closing transfer) proper, however that simply makes you recognize the alternatives that you’ve got much more,” O’Ward mentioned.
“And I do know it may make it so particular after I win my Indy 500 as a result of I do not suppose you’ll be able to grasp the that means and the worth of what it’s to win an Indy 500 once you’ve simply executed it on your first yr. … The extra you’ve got seen it, you’ll be able to actually see what that magic that everybody talks about is.”
Discover O’Ward mentioned “after I win” the Indy 500. He has no doubts.
“I imagine that I understand how to position myself into a chance of getting that shot,” O’Ward mentioned. “And I’ve seen myself successful it. I see myself having that probability to expertise that.
“That is simply the aggressive racing driver in me. It’s important to imagine it earlier than you truly accomplish it. I hope it isn’t a foul learn.”
O’Ward’s boss, Arrow McLaren workforce principal Tony Kanaan, wanted 11 begins within the Indy 500 earlier than successful in his twelfth begin.
“Simply being a part of it, it is fairly exceptional,” Kanaan mentioned. “If you’re a part of it, you realize that you’ve got an opportunity to win each time you come right here. It turns into particular and to me, I by no means truly blamed the place for my misfortunes.
“It is one race. You could have one shot yearly, and so long as you are being aggressive, I feel that is all you are able to do. That is why his love of this place is as a result of he’s quick right here. He is aware of he can win.”
Some drivers corresponding to O’Ward who’ve had heartbreak wouldn’t speak about once they win. However O’Ward doesn’t simply speak about it, he already has a plan for a win Sunday on the subject of his future helmets.
His helmet for the Indy 500 depicts the Aztec mythological creature Cipactli, a creature that’s perpetually hungry and eats and eats and eats.
It alerts O’Ward’s starvation for a win at Indianapolis.
“I’ve obtained his eyes right here (on the prime) and I’ll put on these eyes in that place in my helmets the remainder of my profession if I win on Sunday,” O’Ward mentioned.
One would possibly suppose {that a} driver with out a win at Indianapolis (O’Ward has seven INDYCAR wins in his profession) should not fear a lot a few helmet.
However O’Ward does have a barely happy-go-lucky angle in that he appears to genuinely get pleasure from every part Indianapolis has to supply.
“Why are you doing this when you’re not having enjoyable?” O’Ward mentioned. “I am not saying that these guys do not have enjoyable, however we’re so privileged to be on this place and to even have a sure attain to lots of people. And it will probably encourage lots of people, and that is what I’ve all the time strived for.
“We’re additionally right here to make a distinction, not simply with how we carry out in a race automotive. There’s so many extra issues that we will deliver to the group. … We’re right here to entertain. We’re right here to have enjoyable.”
O’Ward is aware of that when he races the 200 laps, he very nicely won’t have enjoyable for each second. However he’s actually trying ahead to the primary few moments of the race.
“I can not wait to get the inexperienced flag, have the perfect view that I’ve ever had beginning an Indy 500,” O’Ward mentioned. “There’s a number of new pleasure that I will be capable to recognize and expertise.”
Whereas he is aware of who would be the favorites, O’Ward admits he would not understand how the race will play out. A few of the prime drivers within the sport have crashed over the past couple of weeks, because the vehicles seem extra sketchy with a further 100 kilos of weight on the rear of the automotive due to the hybrid engine that was launched after the five hundred final yr.
However as he enters his sixth Indianapolis 500, O’Ward is aware of to anticipate the sudden.
“Yearly, I am all the time amazed on simply how an Indy 500 isn’t just like the one previous to that,” O’Ward mentioned. “They’re all the time totally different. All those I have been part of, they’ve all the time been totally different.
“I anticipate folks to be taking dangers. Clearly, persons are going to get caught out (on technique). There’s going to be surprises. It is simply going be gnarly. … There’s been so many accidents (this month). You’ll be able to actually see all people loves this place due to the quantity of danger that you simply’re prepared to take simply to have that shot.”
If he takes the danger, shouldn’t the racing gods smile down on O’ward after the way in which they’ve handled him the previous few years?
If the racing gods had the center that O’Ward has for IMS, he ought to find yourself parking within the winner’s circle and consuming milk on Sunday afternoon.
“That is what everybody says, however to be sincere, simply since you did nicely the earlier yr doesn’t suggest you are going to do nicely the following yr,” O’Ward mentioned. “And, for us, it is simply figuring out that we have had these alternatives — simply not due to luck however as a result of we have proved to be robust round right here.
“And it actually appears like house each single yr. I really like coming again right here. It is actually cool.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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