O’Ward Secures Career-Best Indy 500 Start Amid Controversy
Pato O’Ward delivered a standout performance at the 2023 Indianapolis 500, clinching a career-best third-place starting position. This marks a significant turnaround from 2019, when the Arrow McLaren driver failed to qualify as a rookie with Carlin Racing.
O’Ward’s achievement was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden and Will Power, who faced disqualification due to illegal modifications on their cars. "They weren’t accidentally doing it," O’Ward commented post-race. "It’s a shame really because they don’t need to be doing that stuff…why are they doing that? It makes no sense."
Following the ruling, Newgarden and Power were relegated from their original 11th and 12th starting positions to the back of the grid at 32nd and 33rd. Meanwhile, Jacob Abel, whose car was deemed legal, was denied entry into the race.
IndyCar President Doug Boles referenced Rule 9.2.1, granting officials discretion to impose penalties based on the violation’s severity. "We have gone one step further and put them in the back," he stated, further clarifying that the integrity of the competition was paramount.
Boles acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for Abel’s team and emphasized that since all cars passed inspection during qualifying, the results should stand, stating, "The facts are that those cars did not meet to qualify in the 12."
This incident highlights ongoing regulatory scrutiny and the importance of compliance in maintaining competitive fairness within the series.
