Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward To Begin 1, 2 At Laguna Seca Amid Championship Battle

MONTEREY, Calif. — Pato O’Ward couldn’t be too upset along with his entrance row beginning spot for Sunday’s INDYCAR race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

But when he seems to be on the driver who’s on the pole, it isn’t the one he would wish to see. 

Or is it?

Pato O’Ward previous to the INDYCAR Collection Java Home Grand Prix of Monterey at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 

Championship chief Alex Palou received the pole — his fifth within the 14 races this 12 months — and earned the purpose that goes with it.

“Now it’s 100,” O’Ward lamented Saturday afternoon.  “It simply makes it that a lot tougher every time the one that you just’re making an attempt to beat is having pretty much as good of days or higher.”

That 100 is the hole within the standings between Palou and second-place O’Ward. The 2 will begin side-by-side on the entrance of the sector for the 95-lap race Sunday (3 p.m. Japanese, FOX). Palou has dominated the season with seven victories, whereas O’Ward is coming off his second win of the season final week at Toronto. 

“You’d a lot fairly be subsequent to one another than not. Often, in the event you’re subsequent to him, it implies that you have been qualifying properly as a result of he appears to be the grasp this 12 months at that, and we appear to be a bit bit extra of a stranger to the Quick Six [final round],” Palou stated.

Alex Palou celebrates his pole profitable qualifying run prior

“Our Quick Six report this 12 months is fairly good. We have solely received two and we have got a pole and a second.”

O’Ward is aware of he has an uphill climb. 

The Arrow McLaren driver reduce 30 factors off Palou’s lead final week by profitable at Toronto. Palou completed twelfth, as his alternative in tire technique didn’t produce outcomes, with extra cautions than the group had predicted.

For Palou, he stated having O’Ward proper subsequent to him truly helps when making an attempt to race for the title. With 4 races remaining, O’Ward is the one driver who has a slightly affordable shot to problem Palou for the championship.

“We’re clearly the one two that may win the championship now,” O’Ward stated. “And I am the one which’s chasing down fairly exhausting.”

The utmost factors a driver can earn in a weekend is 54. Palou can’t clinch on Sunday however might put himself able to clinch on the subsequent race in two weeks at Portland Worldwide Raceway.

“It is higher to have your closest competitor shut,” Palou stated. “You wish to be on the identical sort of technique. When you will have anyone beginning, like seventeenth, it would look good on paper. However then instantly, they do a loopy technique they usually cycle to the entrance and you haven’t any likelihood to combat for it on monitor.”

The Ganassi driver, who has received three titles within the final 4 years — together with back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024 — clearly likes his possibilities to combat for it on the monitor. His pole-winning pace was 0.2867 seconds sooner than O’Ward within the ultimate spherical.

“It was not very shut,” O’Ward stated. “We have positively seen nearer ones earlier than. Nevertheless it’s my finest begin right here, so I will take that.”

O’Ward stated he didn’t have a lot for Palou in that ultimate run. The drivers will see if they are going to be neck-and-neck on Sunday.

“It is for certain making it more difficult and extra attention-grabbing for everyone,” Palou stated. “I prefer it. Actually, I prefer it.”

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

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