PORTLAND, Oregon – Patricio O’Ward had been through a battle like this before, going toe to toe with a teammate for a Mazda Road to Indy championship. This time, he wasn’t to be denied.
O’Ward outlasted Andretti Autosport teammate Colton Herta to win the 2018 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires championship to earn the $1 million Mazda scholarship that guarantees the 19-year-old Mexican at least three races in 2019 Verizon IndyCar Series competition, including the 103rd Indianapolis 500.
The accomplishment came two years after O’Ward finished runner-up to teammate Aaron Telitz in the Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires. In 2016, O’Ward won six of the first seven races before Telitz won five of the last nine to overtake O’Ward for the title.
This year was the opposite, with O’Ward winning six of the last eight Indy Lights races to zoom past Herta. O’Ward finished the season with nine poles, nine wins and 13 podiums. Herta, meanwhile, had four wins and seven runner-up results to push O’Ward to the absolute limit.
“I knew with the same car, we were going to battle," O'Ward said. "I've just tried to prepare myself to beat him because that's the only way you can be a champion. We've both been pushing each other so hard, INDYCAR (team) owners have realized. So hopefully, you'll see both of us in INDYCAR next year and a kicking some butt.”
O’Ward drove in four Indy Lights races in 2017 for Team Pelfrey, but spent most of his time in sports cars, driving to the Prototype Challenge title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship that included class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
It was that step back from open-wheel racing that O’Ward believes allowed him to strengthen his race craft and mental approach.
“I've matured over the years and I know IMSA helped me last year. This year, I knew it was a make-or-break, so I didn't have another option then to mature,” O’Ward said. “So I said, 'You know what, get your stuff together and get this championship.'
“I've been pushing myself to the limit. No one has been pressuring me because they know I'm pressuring myself more than anybody they've probably ever met. It's just such a special feeling (to win the championship) and I feel a lot of relief.”
Rob Edwards, chief operating officer of Andretti Autosport, recognized O’Ward’s talent during an offseason test late last year and has seen him grow exponentially since.
“He came in with a lot of confidence, but he needed to sort of apply that and be in an environment to grow and nurture,” Edwards said. “I think the thing being at Andretti would, not just with the Indy Lights team but with the Indy car team, is you're in an environment where you can grow and mature. He's grasped that with both hands.
“He's been involved in Indy car debriefs and sitting in on every opportunity. He has been on the timing stand when he can be on the timing stand. He's really not just what you've seen on the racetrack, but he's grasped the opportunity across the board to develop as a race driver, both on and off the racetrack.”
The next step in O’Ward’s development comes Thursday. He is scheduled to test an Indy car for Harding Racing at Sonoma Raceway as he looks ahead to the Verizon IndyCar Series opportunity in 2019.
“I've had to create my name as a driver, take it out there, make sure it's known by INDYCAR team owners and by people that have been following me for a while,” O’Ward said.
“That's the only way to do it. Winning is the only way to do it.”