Pato O’Ward frustrated, ‘I don’t know how we f****d that up’ in WWT Raceway qualifying effort

Jeffrey Hrunka - INDYCAR Contributor

Riley Ogle (Motorsports Today, 2026)

Incorrect adjustments plagued Pato O’Ward through Saturday’s qualifying session at World Wide Technology Raceway. After having the fastest car in opening practice, the Mexican will have to settle for a ninth-place starting spot ahead of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500.

“We didn't have to change anything, just freaking leave the car the same,” O’Ward said. "I don't know how we f****d that up.”

Through the frustration, O’Ward lines up ninth (52.349s), far ahead of his teammates, Christian Lundgaard, driver of the No.7 Chevrolet and Nolan Siegel, driver of the No.6 Chevrolet, who timed in 16th (52.645s) and 22nd (53.25s), respectively. A slow 26.241s first lap ruined O'Ward's two-lap average, as his 26.087s second lap was the fifth-fastest second lap time. (Qualifying was timed in two-lap timed runs.)

He also led Arrow-McLaren in the opening practice session at WWT Raceway with a 26.057s lap, fastest of the session. Teammates Siegel and Lundgaard ended practice with sub-20th lap times.

“End of practice was great. Qualifying…it was missed somewhere in the right height," O'Ward said. "It wasn't feeling like it did at the end of practice."

Luckily for O’Ward, history shows that he will be fast regardless of his starting spot. In seven starts at the raceway, he has six podium finishes, with a sole 26th-place finish due to a mechanical failure. Four of his podiums were runner-up finishes.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES action returns on Sunday, June 7, at WWT Raceway for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 on FOX at 9:25 pm EST.