Pato O’Ward blasts IndyCar for delayed response in Toronto

Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward has praised IndyCar’s aero screen after his terrifying crash in Toronto, Canada whilst slamming the sport for their late response to the incident. 

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

IndyCar was in Canada last weekend for the 85-lap grand prix, Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, in downtown Toronto. 

The race was red-flagged with 13 laps left to go after a terrifying multi-car pile-up. O’Ward lost control at a blind right-hander and slid into the wall on the corner exit, facing back where he came from. 

Marcus Ericsson tapped the rear of the Arrow McLaren as the Swiss tried his best to avoid the stranded McLaren. However, the trio of Pietro Fittipaldi, Santino Ferrucci and – O’Ward’s teammate – Nolan Siegel couldn’t avoid O’Ward and all of them ran over the front nose of the McLaren. 

The contact launched Ferrucci up into the air and the fencing before coming to a stop upside down, alongside Fittipaldi – who was right-side up. Siegel, on the other hand, was sent across the track towards the inside line on the corner exit. 

Despite having some time to react to the incident, the sport didn’t throw a caution out until after the other cars had collided with O’Ward’s stranded car.

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A post shared by Pato O’Ward (@patriciooward)

O’Ward went to Instagram to praise IndyCar’s innovation with the aeroscreen, claiming he wouldn’t have been able to write his post otherwise whilst apologising to his team. At the same time, O’Ward slammed IndyCar for their inaction. He said:

“Thankful for the Aero screen or else I wouldn’t be writing this right now. Sorry to my team and all involved by no fault of their own. As for the incident… maybe next time at least throw a local yellow when a car is in the most dangerous spot possible @indycar? Just a thought.”

Despite being crashed into by four cars, O’Ward was sent to medical after the incident where he was seen, released and cleared by the medical team.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.