Pato O’Ward broke down in tears after narrowly missing out on victory at the 108th Indianapolis 500, but offered a confident promise for the Indy 500 in a crucial year for Arrow McLaren.

The roar of the engines had barely faded from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when the raw emotion of the moment hit Pato O’Ward hardest. Having led in the closing stages of the 108th Indianapolis 500 in May 2024, the Arrow McLaren driver came agonizingly close to claiming the biggest prize in open-wheel racing, only to be overtaken by Josef Newgarden on the final lap in a dramatic pass through Turn 3. As he pulled into the pits and climbed from his No. 5 Chevrolet, O’Ward rested his helmeted head on the cockpit for several long seconds before the tears came.

The disappointment was palpable, a mix of heartbreak and frustration after pushing his car and team to the absolute limit over 200 grueling laps.

That emotional scene from the 2024 race has lingered as a defining image in O’Ward’s career. The Mexican driver, already a fan favorite for his aggressive style and charismatic personality, had positioned himself perfectly for victory. Starting from a strong spot and navigating traffic, restarts, and strategy calls with precision, O’Ward held the lead heading into the white-flag lap. But Newgarden, the defending champion from Team Penske, executed a masterful move to reclaim the top spot and secure back-to-back wins at the Brickyard.

For O’Ward, finishing second marked another near-miss in what has become a pattern of strong but unfulfilled performances at Indy.

The tears were not just about one race; they reflected the mounting pressure and the dream that has eluded him despite consistent excellence. O’Ward has now finished in the top six in four of his first five Indianapolis 500 starts, including podiums and near-wins that have cemented his status as one of the series’ top talents. Yet the coveted Borg-Warner Trophy has remained just out of reach. In post-race interviews, he described the defeat as “hard to put into words,” admitting that he had given everything and still come up short.

“Damn, this really hurts,” he said at the time, encapsulating the sentiment shared by his entire Arrow McLaren crew.

Fast-forward to early 2026, and the narrative has shifted toward redemption and resolve. Coming off a career-best 2025 NTT IndyCar Series season, where O’Ward finished runner-up in the championship standings behind the dominant Álex Palou, the Arrow McLaren driver enters what many view as a pivotal year for the team. His 2025 campaign included six podium finishes, victories at Iowa and Toronto, and a third-place result at the 109th Indianapolis 500—his third podium in the event.

While he was not in contention for the win in the closing laps of that race, the consistency highlighted the progress Arrow McLaren has made since joining the series as a full-time entrant.

Arrow McLaren, backed by the storied Formula 1 team, has evolved into a genuine contender in IndyCar. With O’Ward leading the charge in the No. 5 entry, the squad has benefited from improved engineering, better race strategy, and a driver who combines raw speed with tactical acumen. The 2025 runner-up championship finish—63 points ahead of third-place Scott Dixon—demonstrated that the team can challenge at the front week in and week out. Yet the Indianapolis 500 remains the ultimate benchmark, the race that defines legacies in American open-wheel racing.

For O’Ward and Arrow McLaren, 2026 represents a critical juncture: a chance to convert near-misses into breakthroughs and to prove they can dethrone the established powers like Chip Ganassi Racing and Team Penske.

In recent interviews ahead of the new season, O’Ward has spoken with unshakeable confidence about his Indy 500 aspirations. Reflecting on the heartbreaks of 2024 and the solid but non-victorious run in 2025, he delivered a bold promise: “I’m going to get it.” He emphasized lessons learned from those close calls—better management of late-race scenarios, sharper focus on minimizing mistakes, and the need to limit off weekends that have occasionally hampered momentum. O’Ward pointed out that while his highs have been spectacular, consistency across the full schedule will be key to contending for both the championship and the 500.

“Our bad weekends are pretty freaking bad,” he noted candidly, underscoring his plan to tighten up performance in every condition.

This optimism is not unfounded. At 26, O’Ward is entering his prime, with nine seasons of IndyCar experience and six years embedded in the Arrow McLaren program. His role as a McLaren Formula 1 reserve driver adds another layer of prestige and technical insight, though his primary focus remains on conquering IndyCar’s crown jewels. The team has retained a stable lineup and continues to invest in development, positioning itself to capitalize on Chevrolet power and the Dallara chassis package.

The Indianapolis 500 has always been about more than speed—it’s a test of nerve, strategy, and resilience. O’Ward’s emotional response in 2024 showed how deeply he cares about winning it, and his recent statements reveal a driver who has channeled that disappointment into fuel for future success. As Arrow McLaren prepares for what could be its defining season, the spotlight will fall squarely on O’Ward. Fans, pundits, and rivals alike sense that the pieces are aligning for a breakthrough.

Whether 2026 finally delivers the Indianapolis 500 victory that has eluded him remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Pato O’Ward is not done trying. His tears in 2024 were a moment of vulnerability; his promise now is one of determination. In a sport where margins are razor-thin and history is made in the final corners, that blend of passion and confidence could be the difference when the green flag drops once more at the Brickyard.