This weekend in North America, while Formula One was on a break, the only event of the NTT IndyCar series occurred outside the USA. After not qualifying strongly in Toronto, McLaren’s leading driver, Pato O’Ward, chose a different strategy by using soft tires for just the first lap of the race.
Championship leader Alex Palou, however, started the race on hard tires. He managed to create a significant pit stop time advantage over his competitors until former F1 driver Alexander Rossi crashed into the wall, prompting a safety car deployment.
The grouping of cars during the caution period benefitted O’Ward and McLaren’s strategy, as front-runners Palou and Dixon found themselves trapped at the front with the pit lane closed. O’Ward ultimately secured the win, narrowing the gap to championship leader Palou, placing himself in P2 for the title with two victories in the last three races.
IndyCar Drivers Rarely Transition to F1
O’Ward has garnered a loyal fanbase in North American single-seater racing, even prompting additional merchandise stands at race weekends due to high demand. However, his success on the track has been overshadowed by the exceptional skills of Palou, who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Palou has claimed three of the last four IndyCar championships and currently holds a 99-point lead over O’Ward with four races remaining. While it is mathematically feasible for O’Ward to surpass him, it seems unlikely.
While several former F1 drivers move on to compete in IndyCar later in their careers, the reverse path is less common. The last driver to make that leap was Sébastien Bourdais, who transitioned after winning four Champ Car series titles to join Toro Rosso in the 2008-09 F1 seasons. In contrast, Palou recently looked like a potential candidate for F1 after achieving remarkable success, but a press release stated that Chip Ganassi would retain his services for 2023 and beyond.
Palou Dismisses McLaren F1 Contract
Shortly after the release, Palou took to social media to clarify that the statement attributed to him was created by the team and not approved by him. He also disclosed that he had informed Chip Ganassi Racing of his intention to leave for McLaren’s driver roster for 2024.
After reconsidering, Palou chose to stay with Ganassi despite McLaren’s allure, ultimately winning two more IndyCar titles since then. While Palou remains unmatched in the IndyCar series, O’Ward boasts a significant fan following. Although McLaren’s F1 lineup is currently secure, O’Ward may eventually make the leap to F1 while still being part of the McLaren racing family.
