Tensions within Arrow McLaren have erupted ahead of the IndyCar season finale at Laguna Seca as Pato O’Ward fired back at Christian Lundgaard over claims that the team’s oval setup was tailored for the Dane.
Team Friction Surfaces Before the Finale
During a pre‑race interview for Fox Sports, Lundgaard criticized the team’s oval program, suggesting that only he was challenged by the setup and that the partnership between cars it needed was missing due to O’Ward’s differing approach.
“In my time with the team, the oval performance has only gone in one direction for whatever reason,” Lundgaard told host Will Buxton.
He cited Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist as teammates who might struggle under the same system that O’Ward operates, adding that their cars run in a direction O’Ward defines.
O’Ward’s Rebuttal to Oval Accusations
In a subsequent interview with ESPN Deportes, O’Ward dismissed the allegations as “pure smoke and mirrors,” stressing that each driver applies distinct setups per track.
“On most tracks, we are always on opposite sides of the setup,” O’Ward said. “If one is struggling, you switch to the other’s setup and you do better.”
O’Ward highlighted his mixed oval results—fourth at the Indianapolis 500, 11th at World Wide Technology Raceway, seventh in Nashville, and two wins at Milwaukee—to counter Lundgaard’s narrative.
Milwaukee Sweep Boosts Championship Standings
After driving the #7 Arrow‑McLaren Chevrolet to victory in both Milwaukee races on August 30, Lundgaard climbed to second in the points, 11 behind pole‑sitter Álex Palou.
O’Ward, with 503 points, sits just two points behind Kyle Kirkwood and four behind Lundgaard, while Palou has already secured the title.
O’Ward’s Focus on Personal Performance
When asked whether he would target a rival’s finish, O’Ward stressed that his aim is “to finish as high as possible,” regardless of his teammate’s placement.
“I want to finish second in the championship because it’s the best we can do this weekend,” O’Ward explained. “Having a very good Milwaukee opened up that opportunity for me, and that’s what has happened.”
With the season nearly over, both drivers will drive into Laguna Seca with distinct objectives: Lundgaard aiming for a runner‑up lock‑in, O’Ward chasing a personal best in the standings without overtly targeting his teammate.
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