Pato O'Ward: Dreaming of Indy 500 Victory Despite Heartbreaking Past Attempts

Ahead of the iconic Indianapolis 500, Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward shares his aspirations for victory, reflecting on the near misses of the past two years and his unwavering determination to conquer the prestigious race.

In the quiet solitude of the night, Pato O'Ward's mind races with vibrant dreams of the Indianapolis 500, the hallowed race that has eluded his grasp for years. "Last night, that's all I'm dreaming of," the 25-year-old Mexican driver confided in Fox News Digital, six days before the pinnacle event of the IndyCar season. "I keep racing multiple Indy 500's in my head. It's crazy. You try and tone it down as much as you can, but this race...it's unlike anything else."

For any driver who graces the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis, the Indy 500 holds immense significance, but for O'Ward, the desire for victory burns even brighter due to the heart-wrenching experiences of the past two years. In 2021, he agonizingly finished second despite making astute tactical decisions, and in 2023, his race ended in bitter disappointment just before the finish line.

Leading for a race-high 39 laps, O'Ward attempted an audacious move to the inside on Marcus Ericsson with just eight laps remaining. However, the maneuver proved disastrous as he spun out, crashing into the wall and shattering his hopes of glory. Reflecting on the incident, O'Ward acknowledged the risks inherent in such daring attempts. "You got to take risks, and that's inevitable," he asserted. "That will always be a part of it, and if you want that big reward, you're going to have to take it. You take it as they come."

Undeterred by the setbacks, O'Ward remains optimistic about his chances this year, emphasizing the strength of his Arrow McLaren team. "There's so much expectation from everybody involved," he said. "And everyone puts expectation on themselves for this race. Expectations are a constant battle within yourself. No matter how high you want to set the bar for yourself, you need to realize what the reality is. For us, we've got a shot."

With a solid pole position in the middle of row 3 in eighth place, O'Ward knows he is well-positioned to compete for the win. "I think the team put some very fast race cars together for all of us," he said. "My car didn't quite have the speed that Alex [Rossi] and Kyle [Larson] had, but we're right there. It's all about positioning yourself and running the cleanest race you can, because anything can happen in the Indy 500. It's such a long race, you got to be there. The last stint is where everyone turns up, and well, it's a free-for-all."

Despite the challenging nature of the race, O'Ward remains composed, drawing upon his past experiences to guide his decisions. "You got to make it work and you got to make it happen," he said. "If you want to live life on the couch and drive nice and slow, then you're not going to be at the front. That's how I approach every single day. I want to win."

As the countdown to the green flag approaches, O'Ward's determination is unwavering, his mind visualizing the moment he crosses the finish line in triumph. "I get goosebumps. Like, right now, when I told you I got goosebumps, I got goosebumps," he said, laughing. "You can't help it but not think about it, but you try not to because I don't know what it would feel like. It must be so much more than anything else that I've ever won."

Only the elite few who have conquered the Indy 500 can truly understand the elation and fulfillment it brings, and O'Ward is desperate to join their ranks. "I've dreamt about it," he said. "Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter."