O’Ward Blasts Dixon Critics, Praises ‘27 Arrow McLaren Driver Lineup
Photo: James Black/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
Easily, the biggest news in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES silly season is the move by six-time series champion Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing after 25 years with the team to Arrow McLaren beginning in 2027 and McLaren’s re-hiring of Felix Rosenqvist, this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner.
While some have questioned and criticized Arrow McLaren’s move to sign the nearly 46-year-old Dixon to a multi-year agreement, his future teammate, Pato O’Ward is not one of them.
“Honestly, excitement just to have a chance to learn from Scott Dixon is one of the luckiest positions anybody in racing can have,” O’Ward said of his reaction when he first got wind of Dixon’s move, “because you're learning from, in my opinion, the best one of the best the series has ever seen. Somebody that not only embodies what I believe a great champion is in the car, but also somebody that embodies that outside of it.
“I've never been teammates with Scott before,” the driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet said, “but he was my guy when I was growing up, and still is someone that I look up to. He's set an example of what a great champion is, and obviously Felix being the reigning Indy 500 champion, coming back to McLaren is a pretty unexpected move. I would say that a lot of people weren't expecting to read and see, but it's important to build and have people around that really match where this team wants to go and what our main focuses are, and what they will be, and I feel I feel like they're gonna be the perfect fit.”
Photo: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment
While Dixon has been over-shadowed by his Ganassi teammate, Alex Palou, the last couple of years, the criticism of the driver with the second most wins, 59, in the history of the sport has O’Ward fired up.
“I don't think anybody's missed what's been said the last few days, and I've been shocked at the disrespect that he's received, because maybe he hasn't had some of the best years the last couple, but guys like him don't forget how to drive. Guys like him, this cycle of racing goes up and down, and I feel like for someone like him to make a change after so many years somewhere, and to receive some of the backlash that he's received, I really hope when he joins, he has, you know, the great run for a championship and wins many races, because I believe he deserves it as a person. He deserves it as a champion. He's achieved way more than a lot of other drivers have ever achieved ever in IndyCar, and for people to talk down on somebody like that really is a shame.
“Talk down on me as much as you want, like I don't care, but to talk down on somebody like Scott Dixon, yeah, sometimes I really wish people felt shame a little bit more, because to disrespect somebody from that caliber and that level, it just erases any decency of what an athlete goes through. You won't always be winning races and winning every championship every year. You will always go through cycles and I truly believe he is. He's going to be such a great addition to this team.”
Photo: Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
Over the years, Rosenqvist and O’Ward have become close friends and the 27-year-old Mexican is eager to have him back in the team.
“Obviously Felix, he's had multiple experiences, not just outside of IndyCar, but in IndyCar as well, and somebody that's seen the team three years ago coming back after being in another team, winning the Indy 500, having other experiences. All of that wealth of knowledge is going to be so valuable for me to keep on learning, and also for our whole team.
“I'm on board 100% and I cannot wait to learn from people that I aspire to be like.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute.