Arrow McLaren performed admirably in qualifying ahead of the BitNile.com Grand Prix of Portland as Christian Lundgaard and Pato O’Ward locked out the front row. Still, the Mexican can’t explain where the blistering speed came from.
McLaren has been winning races and scoring podiums throughout 2025, but they have drastically improved at Portland, as their best qualifier in 2024 was Alexander Rossi in 18th.
This upturn in form on the west coast has come at the perfect time for O’Ward, who will lead the field to the green flag as Lundgaard takes a six-place grip drop after an engine penalty.
The 26-year-old is clinging to his championship hopes as he is 121 points behind Alex Palou, who can wrap up his fourth championship this weekend with a top-four finish.
Arrow McLaren were blisteringly fast, but O’Ward couldn’t explain where the pace came from after only managing P19 in final practice, despite being the quickest in the team.
He said via the official IndyCar website: “It’s a bit of a surprising qualifying considering where we were in practice. We were still kind of inching away at trying to make it better. So many changes where we were last year to where we are. Christian, great job getting the fastest lap time there.
“The car just came alive. I don’t really have an explanation for it. We didn’t really change anything from practice, but sometimes that’s just the story with these Firestone tyres.” This effort from O’Ward has given him the perfect opportunity to keep his title hopes alive, as Palou will start in seventh place.
Palou frustrated after Firestone Fast Six incident
Palou has been almost faultless this season, and the reigning champion is on the verge of a fourth championship and took his first Indy 500 win this year.
The Spaniard will start from fifth today at Portland and made an uncharacteristic error when it mattered most, hitting the wall at Turn 11.
Despite qualifying behind O’Ward, Palou has the opportunity to win the championship this weekend as he is 121 points ahead and needs to leave Portland with a 108-point advantage to clinch the title.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver added: “Happy that we had pace. Obviously not happy that I went looking for mushrooms there in the Fast Six.”
Image credit: Penske Entertainment: Chris Owens
