Pato O’Ward Slams Indy 500 Restarts, Ericsson’s Choke After Fourth-Place Finish
Sarah Johnson
May 26, 2025
Brief
IndyCar’s Pato O’Ward slams Indy 500 restarts and Ericsson’s late-race choke after finishing fourth, as Alex Palou claims first victory.
IndyCar’s Pato O’Ward didn’t hold back after finishing fourth at the Indianapolis 500, where Alex Palou clinched his first-ever victory by overtaking Marcus Ericsson with just 14 laps left. The Arrow McLaren driver was visibly frustrated, calling out Ericsson for not putting up a fight when Palou made his move. “He just kinda choked there and let Palou by,” O’Ward told reporters, lamenting the lackluster finish to a race that promised high stakes.
O’Ward also took aim at the race’s restarts, describing them as a chaotic gamble. “It felt like we were playing roulette in a casino,” he said, criticizing the inexperience at the front that led to sloppy restarts unbefitting the Indy 500’s prestige. Despite starting third and battling through multiple setbacks—including 44 laps under caution due to rain and early crashes, like Marco Andretti’s wall-smack on the first green-flag lap—O’Ward fought hard to secure his top-five spot.
The race wasn’t short on drama, with 22 lead changes among 14 drivers, keeping fans on edge. Yet, O’Ward’s post-race comments reflect a deeper disappointment with how the final moments unfolded, leaving him and many fans wanting more from the iconic event.
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Editor's Comments
Pato O’Ward’s post-race rant was spicier than a pit lane chili cook-off! Calling Ericsson’s pass a choke is one thing, but comparing Indy 500 restarts to casino roulette? That’s a bold lap. Maybe next year, Pato can steer clear of the ‘spin-the-wheel’ restarts and take the checkered flag himself!
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