MADISON, Ill. — Pato O’Ward is winless in the NTT IndyCar Series and ranks fifth in the standings through the first eight races of the campaign.
But if there is one thing O’Ward enjoys its nice racing. He’ll get his chance Sunday night as the 10th annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 will run under the lights at World Wide Technology Raceway.
O’Ward, who has six top-five finishes this season, is confident heading into the race at the 1.25-mile oval.
“I love the night race. I mean, that’s, I think, something that every driver looks forward to, because it looks cool, and it is better for the racing, because everything cools down a bit. The cars really do like that,” O’Ward said. “But beyond that, I just think the nature of that circuit is quite helpful to what these Indy cars like when they’re racing up against each other.
“I think it’s so important that these changes that we’ve made to the aero package and what Firestone decides to bring for the weekend is going to be crucial to the racing product,” O’Ward added. “And hopefully that’s been done to, once again, keep improving it, because I feel like every race at this World Wide Technology Raceway circuit keeps getting better and better year after year. Hopefully we can keep that going.”
O’Ward said the layout of the track allows drivers to be aggressive.
“You got to get it done in both corners, because you’ve got opportunities to attack people on both ends of the track,” O’Ward explained. “Whenever you set up to actually pass someone, you know, your chosen end of the track where maybe your car is stronger than the other guy, you still have to have a good run through the other section, because that’s what’s basically going to give you that opportunity to set it up.”
With 10 races remaining, O’Ward believes he and the McLaren team can still contend for the series championship.
“I know we still have plenty of championship to go, and that’s where our full focus is on,” he said. “I mean, this time last year, we’re closer to the lead of the championship versus where we were last year, so that’s a good thing. That’s where we’re going to be trying to catch and to keep on scoring good, strong points.
“I feel like this weekend in World Wide Technology Raceway, that’s going to be a good opportunity for us.”
