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O'Ward To Make Indianapolis 500 Debut with Carlin

March 07, 2019 | By INDYCAR

Reigning Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion Patricio O’Ward will compete in 13 NTT IndyCar Series races this season for Carlin. The 19-year-old from Monterrey, Mexico, will be in the team’s second car for 12 races and in a third entry at the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with many talented drivers over the years, many of whom now race in the NTT IndyCar Series, Formula One and Formula E to name a few, and in Pato I really see a spark similar to some of our highest achieving alumni,” said Trevor Carlin, the team principal. “He’s a hugely promising talent who deserves this opportunity and has a massive amount of potential. As a young Chevy team, we are incredibly driven and excited to help him achieve his goals in this 2019 program.”

O’Ward captured the 2018 Indy Lights crown by winning nine races, earning a $1.1 scholarship to advance to the NTT IndyCar Series this year with three guaranteed races including the Indianapolis 500. He made his NTT IndyCar Series debut in the 2018 season finale, reaching the Firestone Fast Six when he qualified fifth and finished the race an impressive ninth for Harding Racing.

O’Ward’s first race with Carlin will be at the INDYCAR Classic, March 22-24 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. He will team with Max Chilton at all 13 races, as well as with Charlie Kimball at the Indy 500. Kimball is scheduled to drive the second Carlin entry in the races where O'Ward will not compete.

“I’m so excited to get this 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season underway and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Trevor Carlin has given me to drive for his Indy car team and Team Chevy,” O’Ward said. “I’m just thankful that he and the whole Carlin team really believe in me, and I’ll give it my all to show them that I’m ready to tackle any challenges ahead of us starting in a few weeks at COTA."

In addition to the race at Austin, O’Ward will compete in the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Indianapolis 500 on the 2.5-mile IMS oval, Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear doubleheader, REV Group Grand Prix at Road America, Honda Indy Toronto, Iowa 300 at Iowa Speedway, Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at Gateway Motorsports Park and Grand Prix of Portland.

“I just don’t think I can properly express how excited I am for this opportunity,” O’Ward said. “It’s been a very stressful past few weeks given my circumstances, and it’s been a bit of a hustle trying to find a new home in the NTT IndyCar Series for myself, but I couldn’t be happier about landing at Carlin.”