Inside The Garage: Did Pato O’Ward Need A Statement Victory?

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage:

• Pato O’Ward has eyes set on catching Alex Palou
• Alex Bowman’s uncertain future at Hendrick
• Special guest at upcoming Freedom 250 INDYCAR race

Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automobile Course (Lexington, Ohio) — Pato O’Ward didn’t appear to hold an excessive amount of angst about not successful this 12 months, taking part in his streak of non-podium finishes as one thing that was simply a part of racing.

However it’s laborious to disclaim the notion of O’Ward at Arrow McLaren. 

He’s the driving force who has been there the longest. He’s the one who can also be a Formulation 1 reserve driver for McLaren. He’s a competitor who has come second within the Indianapolis 500 and second within the season level standings, and group choices seem like made to elevate him to the highest.

Pato O’Ward poses after getting his first win of the season.

So the truth that he had not gained in 2026, and his teammate Christian Lundgaard (who, based mostly on rumblings, won’t be his teammate for for much longer if his contract does not get renewed) had already gained twice this 12 months couldn’t be ignored going into the eleventh race of the season.

“I knew my win was coming,” O’Ward mentioned at his post-race information convention Sunday after celebrating in Victory Lane. “Whether or not it was going to be within the final couple races or within the center, I do not know.

“However clearly I made it occur [at Mid-Ohio]. …. I do not assume it is a purpose to lose motivation, lose starvation. I do know it was only a matter of time for issues to form of click on, or not less than not go towards us.”

O’Ward wanted a press release win, and he obtained one Sunday. He used a Lundgaard mistake to make a wonderful side-by-side go about midway via the occasion after which managed the race the remainder of the best way.

Christian Lundgaard secured the pole, however O’Ward capitalized off his mistake to take the lead and the win.

“I do not actually get rattled,” O’Ward famous. “There’s been a lot noise, individuals writing me off already. However the individuals that really watch — and so they really know what they’re watching — they honestly know what is going on on. They usually actually do see that a number of the occasions, it may be one thing that is out of your management.

“Truthfully, this 12 months there’s been fairly a little bit of that. That is the character of this sport.”

It’s additionally the character of a fan base that calls for wins.

“It is not going to be the final time, and it isn’t going to be the primary time,” O’Ward mentioned concerning the podium stoop, which lasted 14 races since his final win at Toronto final summer season. “I’ve had loads of years right here the place they have been up and down, up and down.

“However an important half was everyone was writing me off, ‘Oh, what a horrible 12 months.’ I am nonetheless fifth within the championship, and that is my first podium. Rack up two or three extra, and I am preventing for the championship.”

The 29-year-old from Mexico now has 10 wins, and he sits fifth within the standings, 94 factors behind four-time sequence champion Alex Palou.

Palou believes O’Ward might be an element. If he’s going to be an element, he’ll need to carry out properly at Nashville in two weeks, the place he appeared to have the sector coated final 12 months till a blown tire ended his race.

Reigning INDYCAR champion Alex Palous believes that Pato might be an element for the 2026 title.

“You possibly can see how a lot a win provides you. And never solely on factors — motivation, and confidence as properly,” Palou informed me and different reporters after the race. “I have been there. Hopefully not [for O’Ward], hopefully that does not occur, however yeah, I see that.”

O’Ward thinks he could make a run at Palou.

“Clearly, it is doable,” O’Ward mentioned. “I feel at this level final 12 months I used to be someplace [around there. And if it’s not first in the championship, a repeat of a second would be great. It’s not the end of the world. We’re obviously still working hard. We’re still getting better.”

As a driver who gets disappointed in the moment, he seems to enjoy the battle and enjoy the competition. And yet there is a feeling that maybe he was frustrated, that he saw Lundgaard win and he just didn’t seem to have things go right.

“For me, obviously papaya is a second family, and they will remain to be,” O’Ward said about the famed color of the organization. “I always try and give the best I’ve got.

“There’s not once where [team principal] Tony [Kanaan] has come to me and he is like, ‘I want you to attempt tougher’ as a result of I do know he is aware of precisely how a lot I count on from myself and the way good I wish to be. And that is how I do all the pieces — jobs, investments. It does not matter what I am doing. That’s what you wish to do.”

Pato O’Ward is targeted on successful and having fun with life exterior of racing.

As they are saying, you create your alternatives. However O’Ward has been very adamant that he’s centered on what he’s doing. And he’s additionally centered on doing it his manner.

“I preserve working laborious,” O’Ward mentioned. “I clearly take pleasure in my life exterior of racing, as properly, which is essential, and together with that, you have to take pleasure in it together with your guys.

“You need to. You by no means know when it is your final time, your final win collectively. You by no means know. It is so essential to try this as a result of that is really why we do that. We do that to win and to compete. What makes it a lot sweeter is definitely the people who we get to share it with after making these sturdy relationships throughout the group.”

Bowman’s Outlook

Alex Bowman doesn’t have a deal but for 2027 to stay at Hendrick Motorsports. After a tough begin to the 12 months, together with lacking 4 races due to vertigo, he has had back-to-back high 10s.

“I am simply making an attempt to do my half to attempt to assist HMS be one of the best it may be proper now and clearly making an attempt to get issues turned again round on the 48 facet of issues,” Bowman mentioned on a digital information convention final week. “I do not really feel like I am racing for my job or something like that by any means. So yeah, actually simply form of week to week centered on making an attempt to get pointed again in the suitable course.”

Alex Bowman’s destiny for 2027 remains to be in limbo.

Bowman want to get his 2027 plans solidified soon.

“We have had a number of totally different conversations and form of making an attempt to determine what one of the best factor to do is,” Bowman mentioned. “So I’d say [I’d like to know] sooner fairly than later,

“t hasn’t been like the very first thing on my thoughts by any means. I’ve actually simply been working laborious at making an attempt to get issues pointed in the suitable course.”

In The Information

— FOX Sports activities CEO Eric Shanks, talking on The Varsity podcast, indicated that President Donald Trump would wave the inexperienced flag for the Freedom 250 INDYCAR race in Washington, D.C., subsequent month. Shanks: “With the President there waving the inexperienced flag and the way we will have a good time America … goes to be one thing that persons are going to speak about for generations. …It will be an unimaginable two-day present.”

“[My crew chief] stays on me and makes me be good each lap and does an ideal job of conserving me trustworthy. He informed me if I win right this moment, I can get some chocolate, so I am fairly fired up about that. — Chase Briscoe after winning Sunday’s NASCAR race at Chicagoland.