On paper, it was a solid weekend for the papaya squad, Arrow McLaren. Christian Lundgaard scored a podium, Pato O’Ward was a solid fourth and Nolan Siegel led his first laps of the 2025 season. But it came with a disappointing conclusion for Siegel and a championship likely lost for O’Ward.
Lundgaard was the star of the day for the group. O’Ward rolled off second, but the Dane finished there from seventh after pitting earlier than his rivals to gain ground with an undercut. That led him to third, where he used a bold overtake to sneak past Colton Herta for the runner-up spot.
He didn’t have the pace to challenge frontrunnerAlex Palou after a couple late cautions, but held onto second to give the organization its 11th podium on the year – a new high mark for the squad.
“I knew that the pit sequences are really key here,” Lundgaard said of his run. “We went into this race not knowing if it was going to be a red (tire) race or a prime race. It ended up being a red race and I just can’t thank this team enough.”
O’Ward put together a complete weekend, qualifying second and finishing fourth on a day where the strategy and speed didn’t fall his way. It was a solid result that continued a streak of success for the Mexican star. He’s finished seventh or better in nine of the past 10 races, with two wins and five podiums.
In many years, that would be enough to challenge for his first IndyCar title. But the consistency has come in a dominant year for Palou. The Chip Ganassi Racing star’s seven (now eight) wins left O’Ward in need of major gains in Laguna Seca to have a chance to close within reach for the championship. But after Palou’s win, he now holds a 120-point championship advantage with just three races remaining. The Spaniard could clinch the title next time out at Portland International Raceway.
Barring an absolute meltdown – and despite O’Ward’s best efforts – the championship battle likely ended Sunday under the California sun.
Nolan Siegel, Arrow McLaren
Then, there was Siegel. Running in his home state, the Palo Alto native was the only driver not named Palou to lead laps on Sunday. An alternate strategy put him out front for 11 laps early on before Palou surged past him in turn 3. Even after that, Siegel was still positioned to make the most of a race he’d started 16th in.
But that all fell apart in the closing stages, when Siegel went for a spin at the Corkscrew. He attempted to make a pass on Louis Foster, but made contact and briefly looped around before rolling on.
Siegel ultimately took the checkered flag in 18th, continuing a streak of four-straight races with an average finish of 21.75 after he’d scored results of eighth and 11th at Road America and Mid-Ohio.
In the end, every driver at Arrow McLaren showed promise in Laguna Seca. Two of the team’s drivers finished in the top-four spots and the other led laps. But with Siegel showing his inexperience and Palou continuing to dominate, there was little else on offer to be joyous about in the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey.
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