Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward reveals lessons learned from crushing Indy 500 runner-up finish in 2024

IndyCar President Doug Boles speaks with Fox Nation's Abby Hornacek about the start of the race season on 'Fox & Friends Weekend.'

One year ago at this time, Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward had a dream. 

When he closed his eyes at night, O'Ward told Fox News Digital he would dream of crossing the finish line at the Indy 500 before the rest of his competition. 

"I keep racing multiple Indy 500's in my head. It’s crazy," he said last May. "You try and tone it down as much as you can, but this race…it’s unlike anything else."

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Arrow McLaren driver Pato O'Ward, #5, gives a thumbs up to a group of children on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 during a practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (IMAGN)

The dream looked like it was about to come true when "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" saw O'Ward leading with one lap to go until Josef Newgarden came flying from behind and past the McLaren black and orange car to come away with the win.

Instead of celebrating victory at "The Brickyard," O'Ward was slumped over his vehicle as his team tried to console him. For the second time in three years, O'Ward was runner-up. 

ARROW MCLAREN'S PATO O'WARD CONFIDENT AS HE DREAMS OF FIRST INDY 500 VICTORY: ‘WE’VE GOT A SHOT'

"I mean, at that moment, it was a moment that a lot of emotions were kind of exploding out of a bottle, and they truly were uncontrollable," he told Fox News Digital recently before the big race on Memorial Day weekend. "It was a very raw scene of what it’s like to be just right there, but just missing it. It’s been a few times that that’s happened, so that’s why I think it was such a heavy emotion. 

"I dedicate and do everything for this