2023-04-30 22:31:00
Follow the mission of Patricio O’Ward to be IndyCar Series champion. Aboard his number 5 Arrow McLaren, the Mexican finished fourth in the Alabama Grand Prix, in which Scott McLaughlin achieved his first victory in the most important single-seater series in the United States.
The man from Penske snatched what might have been the first victory in the category from Romain Grosjean, despite the fact that the former Formula 1 defended well for a good part of the race. Will Power closed the podium.
With this result, Pato continues to close the gap in the fight for the title, since he is only three points behind Marcus Ericsson, who finished tenth in the race. This result provisionally leaves the Monterrey player with 127 units, three less than the Swede.
Good performance
He might not repeat his victory harvested in 2022, but the Mexican also had a good race, despite not reaching the lead. O’Ward started aggressively and wanted to go for the lead from the start, but Grosjean fought back and Álex Palou regained his second place. For the third turn, the Spaniard wanted to attack the Frenchman, but he also managed a successful defense and stayed in front.
The first pit stops began on lap 11, with the man from Monterrey stopping for lap 29 alongside with Dixon, Kirkwood, Pagenaud, Armstrong, DeFrancesco and Castroneves. Almost immediately, Grosjean and Palou entered the pits, with which Pato came out ahead of Álex, placing eighth and ninth.
But Robb was stranded at the exit of Turn 9 and, following the alternate strategy group made their pit stop, the pits closed and the caution came out on Lap 39, reopening for Lap 41.
The race restarted in rotation 43 and Grosjean was still in the lead, escorted by Scott McLaughlin by five tenths behind. In third position, Pato was 3.6 seconds behind, under pressure from Lundgaard. Pato along with Grosjean, Lundgaard, Pagenaud and Harvey made a pit stop on lap 60.
Grosjean made a big mistake on lap 72, going wide at Turn 5 allowing McLaughlin to take the lead. Will Power was third and O’Ward in fourth. Through the radio, they asked Pato to keep fuel, to ensure the result and in turn keep Palou behind.
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