​WEST ALLIS — Pato O’Ward spoke with unrestrained candor, his remarks making clear how he feels about the reception surrounding Scott Dixon and Arrow McLaren’s plans for the future. Speaking publicly for the first time since the team announced its 2027 lineup, the popular Mexican racer addressed the scrutiny aimed at Dixon and the questions about why Arrow McLaren would hire a 46-year-old as it looks ahead.
“I’ve been shocked by the disrespect he’s received,” O’Ward said July 8 during an NTT IndyCar Series test at the Milwaukee Mile. “For people to talk down somebody like that really is a shame. Talk down on me all you want, I don’t care. But to talk down on somebody like Scott Dixon … sometimes I wish people felt a bit more ashamed, because disrespecting someone of that caliber and that level erases any decency of what an athlete goes through. You won’t always be winning races or championships every year. You’ll go through cycles. I truly believe he’ll be a great addition to this team.”
Arrow McLaren had announced on July 6 that it would not re-sign Christian Lundgaard, a two-time winner this season who sits third in the standings, nor Nolan Siegel for next season, opting instead to pair O’Ward with Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist. Dixon, a six-time IndyCar champion, ranks second on the all-time IndyCar wins list with 59 victories, eight behind A.J. Foyt. A substantial portion of those wins—58, including the 2008 Indianapolis 500—came during his 25-season stint with Chip Ganassi Racing, which began in 2002 while he was still in Champ Car.
Since the start of 2024, Dixon has won just three races, while his teammate Alex Palou has captured 16. Palou has claimed four of the five championships since Dixon’s last title in 2020 and leads the standings after 11 of 18 races this season. “He maybe hasn’t had the best couple of years,” O’Ward said of Dixon. “But players like him don’t forget how to drive. This cycle of racing goes up and down, and I feel that after so many years somewhere, to face some of the backlash he’s received … I really hope when he joins, he has a great run for a championship and wins many races because I believe he deserves it as a person. He deserves it as a champion.”
Rosenqvist, 34, began his IndyCar career with Ganassi in 2019, earning one victory in two seasons. He then drove for McLaren from 2021 to 2023 before moving to Meyer Shank Racing, where he achieved a career best by finishing sixth in the standings. The 2024–25 period has been a time of transition for Dixon and the sport’s landscape as Dixon and his colleagues pursue enduring success amid evolving team dynamics and rising competition.