IndyCar: Arrow McLaren SP confirm Pato O’Ward for 2021

Pato O’Ward is set to return to Arrow McLaren SP for a second year in the 2021 IndyCar season, the team announced Tuesday.

One day after announcing that rookie Oliver Askew will not be back behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet in the 2021 IndyCar season, Arrow McLaren SP have confirmed that Pato O’Ward is set to return for a second year behind the wheel of the #5 Chevrolet.

O’Ward, who is not technically a rookie this year because of the fact that he competed part-time for Carlin last year, is in the midst of his first full IndyCar season, and it has been quite a successful one, despite the fact that he has not yet managed to find victory lane.

Here is what he had to say about the opportunity to return to Arrow McLaren SP next year in a team release.

"“I am beyond excited to be racing with Arrow McLaren SP next season to build on what we have accomplished so far this year. Such a great group of people who truly have welcomed me like a second family. Given how much change I have seen in my career to this point, it is invaluable to get the opportunity to put down roots and build on a foundation year over year.”"

Here is what team co-owner Sam Schmidt had to add.

"“The entire team and I are thrilled to have Pato back in the car next year. He has shown incredible form this year and has kept himself in the championship hunt all season long. I think he has the potential to compete at the highest level in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for a long time.”"

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Had a few things that didn’t go his way gone his way, O’Ward could have won races at Road America, Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and be sitting in third place in the championship standings.

Through 13 of the 14 races on this year’s schedule, he still sits in a solid fifth place in the standings with top finishes of second place at Road America and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and an additional third place finish at the latter.

O’Ward, who entered the season with just seven career starts and a career-high finish of eighth place at Circuit of the Americas last March, has finished just one race outside of the top 12 this year and has an average finish of 8.0, which ranks fourth among all drivers.

Only three drivers have led more laps than he has, and those three drivers have combined to win nine of the season’s first 13.

O’Ward is set to wrap up his first season of full-time IndyCar competition on Sunday, October 25 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. NBC is set to broadcast this race live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.