O’ward alters focus, nabs Indycar win in Alabama
LEEDS, Ala. — Pato O’ward made a decision to stop worrying about his Indycar contract and Formula One aspirations and focus on his job.
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The effort first earned him a pending contract extension, and on Sunday, O’ward picked up his first win of the Indycar season in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.
The popular 22-year-old Mexican used a strong outside pass of pole-sitter Rinus Veekay after both pitted for fresh tires to take the lead then drive away for the victory at Barber Motorsports Park. It is the third win of O’ward’s career and broke a Team Penske stranglehold on the Indycar results.
Penske drivers Scott Mclaughlin and Josef Newgarden swept the season’s first three races, all while O’ward was pouting over his team-friendly contract with Arrow Mclaren SP. O’ward wanted more money and more assurances Mclaren has him in its F1 pipeline, and his frustration spilled over onto the track.
But on the eve of the Long Beach Grand Prix two weeks ago, O’ward decided he didn’t want to throw his season away over hurt feelings. He dug deep for a fifth-place finish at Long Beach, huddled with Mclaren head Zak Brown on the terms of extension and then showed up in Barber ready to win races.
His shot came after a pit stop with 28 laps to go when Veekay and O’ward pitted at the same time. Veekay came out ahead, but O’ward hunted him through the first four turns and then used a brave move — and his push-to-pass — around the Dutchman to seize control.
The win made Chevrolet 4-for-4 this season as Indycar heads next to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“Man, it sucks to be at war within your own team, right? So I’m glad there’s been more positive talks for the future,” said O’ward, who has agreed with Mclaren on principle on an extension. “And I wanted to do it for these guys, for Arrow Mclaren SP, for Chevy — they’ve swept this year so far, so great for them.”
■ NASCAR Cup: At Dover, Del., rain prompted the DURAMAX Drydene 400 to be rescheduled for 9 a.m. PT Monday, with Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott starting 1-2. The race was red-flagged after 78 laps.
Ryan Blaney will start third, Martin Truex Jr. fourth and William Byron fifth. Dover will hold a Monday race for the fourth time in 104 Cup events. Truex has won twice at Dover on Mondays.
■ NHRA: At Concord, N.C., 72-year-old John Force won at the Circle K Four-wide Nationals with a 3.914-second run at 328.66 mph for his 155th Funny Car victory. Mike Salinas notched his fifth Top Fuel win and second this season, and Steve Johnson won in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the second straight event.