Pato O’Ward never started in the front row for the Indianapolis 500.
Until this year.
The Arrow McLaren driver booked a place in the Firestone Fast Six with a strong run during Soundy on Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and although he could not catch Robert Shwartzman or Takuma Sato, O’Ward finished third in the Firestone Fastolis on the outside.
That is exactly where he would be.
“I’ve never been in the front row for an Indy 500, so this is great.” Yesterday I got my AWD family that my goal was to start in the front row. It was clear that I had loved pole, but it is a long task. You just never know here, it’s always a surprise.
O Shwartzman became the first Rookie to take the pole position since Teo Fabi back on the Indianapolis 500 from 1983, and the young driver did this in an oval during his first race weekend.
This is also Prema’s first year in Indycar.
“I think it is phenomenal what Prema and Shwartzman have done, it’s an incredible story.”
However, O’Ward believes that he and the number 5 team ‘there’ are in the mix for next Sunday.
“As far as we are concerned, we are there. We have had a fast car all month and we will continue to have it in the race. We continue to work on it and see what we can make,” O’Ward added.
He will not be the only Arrow McLaren driver in the first three rows when the 109th Indianapolis 500 starts next Sunday. Teammate Christian Lundgaard was in Fast 12 with O’ward on Sunday, and while he went on the night to the Firestone Fast 6, he will be the 500 in P8 Satart.
His previous best start was 28th, who came last year.
That was a pretty good day. We went to the Top 12 -Run and did not know what we could expect with the balance, and we became much more intrusive than we were this morning, ”Lundgaard told the number 5 team. At the end of the day, the No. 7 Velo Arrow McLaren Chevrolet will start eighth, which is much better than I have done before.
“Too much good to eat.”
Arrow McLaren Team Main Tony Kanaan paid tribute to the entire team.
“It has been a solid month so far and qualifying all cars in the field is the goal. If you look at our qualifying results last year, we had three cars in the top twelve, and today we have placed two, but we are in the front row. Several years, different circumstances,” Kanaan began. “But you have Nolan [Siegel] As Rookie in the race because he was not eligible last year. With Kyle [Larson]We went a bit conservative the circumstances last week.
“Christian is new to the team that is doing great work for us; could deliver to us.
Canaan made his comments with a prediction for the 500.
“I am proud of everyone in this Arrow McLaren team. We set the tone this month with our campaign with the White Cars, and your team will enjoy.
“We will win the race next week.”