In a race weekend that left more questions than answers, Arrow McLaren’s performance at the Bitnile.com Grand Prix of Portland was nothing short of a disaster. The team, expected to be a consistent frontrunner in the NTT IndyCar Series, found itself floundering with all three of its drivers finishing outside the top ten. Alexander Rossi, Pato O’Ward, and Nolan Siegel failed to make any significant impact, leaving fans and the team itself scratching their heads.
Disastrous Performance Raises Concerns
Alexander Rossi managed to qualify 17th and finished 12th, while Pato O’Ward, who started from 22nd, could only muster a 15th-place finish. Rookie Nolan Siegel fared no better, starting 23rd and finishing 21st. This underwhelming performance comes at a time when Arrow McLaren desperately needed to close the gap on their rivals, but instead, they fell even further behind.
The team’s recent form has been puzzling, to say the least. Despite showing promise in practice sessions, their performance nosedives when it matters most—during qualifying and race day. This inconsistency has become a hallmark of their recent outings, with powertrain issues, driver errors, and poor setups plaguing their end-of-year results.
O’Ward’s Frustration Boils Over
Pato O’Ward, once considered a strong championship contender, has seen his title hopes evaporate. After the Portland race, the frustration was palpable. “We can forget about the championship,” O’Ward admitted. The 25-year-old driver expressed his deep concern about the direction the team is heading and called for a thorough evaluation of what needs to change.
“I feel like in the past, it hasn’t been this aggressive or this bad, but this will force everyone to look deep at things,” O’Ward said. His frustration is not just with the results, but with the apparent lack of progress. “We’re obviously missing something and quite frankly, we shouldn’t be. We shouldn’t be racing our asses off to be 15th.”
A Team in Need of Urgent Change
O’Ward’s comments highlight a broader issue within Arrow McLaren. The team has the potential, but something fundamental is missing. The inconsistency in performance, particularly in qualifying, is a major concern. O’Ward’s average qualifying position has worsened from 6.29 last year to 9.14 this season, and he has only made three Fast Six appearances compared to nine in 2023.
The lack of pace, combined with mechanical issues and driver mistakes, has left the team struggling to stay competitive. “At Toronto, we were very lucky that other people were making mistakes and we made our way forward, but our true pace was 15th to 18th,” O’Ward said. “We don’t deserve to be in the championship conversation.”
Looking Ahead: Milwaukee and Beyond
With the Milwaukee doubleheader on the horizon, it’s unclear what fate awaits Arrow McLaren. O’Ward’s win on Iowa’s short oval earlier in the year gives some hope, but recent performances suggest that the team needs more than just luck to turn things around.
O’Ward is adamant that the team cannot afford to dismiss their poor results as mere anomalies. He believes that facing these struggles head-on is essential for long-term success. “Something has to be found if we really want to be where we want to be,” he emphasized. “The changes force you to be agile and flexible with things, and I feel like that’s been a bit of a missing piece in our side, collectively. Myself included. To be fairly honest with you, this ass-beating that we’re getting is a must, because something has to change.”
Conclusion: A Critical Crossroads
Arrow McLaren finds itself at a critical crossroads. The team’s recent struggles have exposed deep-seated issues that need immediate attention. Whether they can address these problems and return to being a championship contender remains to be seen. For now, the focus must be on finding the missing pieces and rebuilding confidence—both within the team and among its drivers.
