IndyCar: Patricio O’Ward to drive for Carlin in 13 races in 2019
By Asher Fair
After a crazy last few weeks, Patricio O’Ward is set to drive in 13 of the 17 races of the 2019 IndyCar season, and he is set to do so for Carlin.
An announcement regarding the 2019 IndyCar season of 2018 Indy Lights champion Patricio O’Ward was expected to be made tomorrow, but it ended up being made one day early.
The 19-year-old Mexican is set to drive in 13 of the season’s 17 races for Carlin as a teammate to full-time driver Max Chilton, who drives the #59 Chevrolet. In 12 of these races, he is set to drive the #23 Chevrolet.
O’Ward announced this news on Twitter, as did Carlin.
🚨ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
— Rodin Carlin (@RodinCarlin) March 7, 2019
Big news coming out from our @IndyCar team! We're thrilled to announce that the 2018 @IndyLights Champion @PatricioOWard will join Carlin for 12 events this season including the #Indy500. You'll see him for the first time on-track at @cota_official! #INDYCAR pic.twitter.com/7R51Pu1F4v
🚨¡Me uniré a @carlinracing para la temporada IndyCar 2019! Estaré ausente de la primer fecha del campeonato debido al tiempo, ¡pero comenzaré en Austin TX @cota_official a finales de Marzo!
— Pato O'Ward (@PatricioOWard) March 7, 2019
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Joining @CarlinRacing this 2019 @IndyCar season!! Starting @COTA late March!! pic.twitter.com/nvJEXTKZUk
Here is what O’Ward had to say about the opportunity to drive for Carlin in 13 of the 17 races on the 2019 schedule, according to IndyCar.
"“I’m so excited to get this 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season underway and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Trevor Carlin has given me to drive for his Indy car team and Team Chevy. I’m just thankful that he and the whole Carlin team really believe in me, and I’ll give it my all to show them that I’m ready to tackle any challenges ahead of us starting in a few weeks at COTA.“I just don’t think I can properly express how excited I am for this opportunity. It’s been a very stressful past few weeks given my circumstances, and it’s been a bit of a hustle trying to find a new home in the NTT IndyCar Series for myself, but I couldn’t be happier about landing at Carlin.”"
Here is what Carlin team principal Trevor Carlin had to say about adding O’Ward to his team’s driver lineup for these 13 races, according to IndyCar.
"“I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented drivers over the years, many of whom now race in the NTT IndyCar Series, Formula One and Formula E to name a few, and in Pato I really see a spark similar to some of our highest achieving alumn. He’s a hugely promising talent who deserves this opportunity and has a massive amount of potential. As a young Chevy team, we are incredibly driven and excited to help him achieve his goals in this 2019 program.”"
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Charlie Kimball has already been confirmed as the driver of the #23 Chevrolet for five of the season’s 17 races, including the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Memorial Day Sunday. O’Ward is still set to drive in this year’s Indy 500, but he is set to do so as the driver of the team’s third car.
Aside of the Indy 500, O’Ward is set to compete in the 12 races that Kimball is not throughout the season. As a result, he is set to make his season debut in the season’s second race at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, March 24, as Kimball is set to drive in this Sunday’s season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
Here is a list of the 13 races in which O’Ward is set to compete throughout the 2019 season.
Race # - Race - Location - Date 2 - IndyCar Classic - Circuit of the Americas - Sunday, March 24 3 - Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama - Barber Motorsports Park - Sunday, April 7 4 - Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - Streets of Long Beach - Sunday, April 14 5 - IndyCar Grand Prix - Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Saturday, May 11 6 - 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge - Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Sunday, May 26 7 - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race 1 - The Raceway at Belle Isle Park - Saturday, June 1 8 - Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Race 2 - The Raceway at Belle Isle Park - Sunday, June 2 10 - REV Group Road America Grand Prix - Road America - Sunday, June 23 11 - Honda Indy Toronto - Streets of Toronto - Sunday, July 14 12 - Iowa 300 - Iowa Speedway - Saturday, July 20 13 - Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Sunday, July 28 15 - Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline- Gateway Motorsports Park - Saturday, August 24 16 - Grand Prix of Portland - Portland International Raceway - Sunday, September 1
O’Ward has one career IndyCar start under his belt, as he competed in the 2018 season finale at Sonoma Raceway. He drove the #8 Harding Racing Chevrolet in this race, and after starting the race in fifth place, he finished in ninth.
He competed in this race after securing the 2018 Indy Lights championship with nine victories, 13 podium finishes, 15 top four finishes and 17 top seven finishes throughout the 17-race season and thus securing him a $1 million scholarship to compete in at least three races, including the Indy 500, throughout the 2019 IndyCar season.
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How will Patricio O’Ward perform driving for Carlin throughout the 2019 IndyCar season? His season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, March 24 with the IndyCar Classic at Circuit of the Americas, so be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network at 1:00 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of this race.