Though O’Ward, 24, did not put his No. 5 Chevrolet in Victory Lane, he nonetheless managed to seize a career-high seven podiums on the yr, together with 14 high 10s by 17 rounds to complete fourth within the championship standings. It marked the third consecutive season he was the best ranked driver not affiliated with Chip Ganassi Racing or Crew Penske.
Ward, who joined the group in July 2022 after the earlier 4 years at Penske that included engineering Josef Newgarden to the 2019 title, shared what he noticed out of O’Ward final season.
“Yeah, first, I believe Pato had a really sturdy yr and a yr of private progress,” Ward instructed Motorsport.com.
“You understand, I beloved his consistency. I beloved his psychological method. He was actually a pleasure to work with. I believe everybody’s sort of seen that in him. He is pushing the group to be higher, and we’d like that.
“I believe there’s room for an additional step for him once more to essentially to get high, high stage. He is obtained all of the expertise, for certain. I simply see an awesome focus out of him proper now.”
The addition of David Malukas, who replaces Felix Rosenqvist after the earlier two years with Dale Coyne Racing, alongside Alexander Rossi, coming into his second season with Arrow Mclaren, and O’Ward, has Ward filled with anticipation.
“I am excited with the entire lineup going into subsequent yr,” Ward mentioned. “What I might say when it comes to what we’d like, we had been simply lacking somewhat bit in race day efficiency. We have been working fairly onerous on our facet and dealing with Chevy, which is an superior accomplice, to search out that step to get us up on the highest step subsequent yr.
“It is somewhat little bit of race day efficiency. I believe that we get a just a bit bit higher executing on race day we’ll be there. With out stepping into too many specifics, I really feel fairly good with what we have coming right here.”
Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
Gavin Ward, Arrow McLaren
When pressed for particular areas of enchancment, Ward supplied a large smile and amusing earlier than obliging.
“I believe we have to be higher on the gasoline financial system sport,” Ward mentioned. “I believe we obtained beat a number of instances by the Ganassis and gasoline technique. We’re taking a look at every part that we are able to do to maximise that.
“We need to be somewhat higher in pit lane. We expect we are the third finest group in pit lane. We need to be one of the best there; not far off. I believe it is doable, however we’re up towards some actually sturdy opponents which have been doing this for a very long time. And simply minimizing errors. I do not assume we had so much, however we had a number of.
“The opposite space for the group usually, though I might say the No. 5 automotive wasn’t on the brunt of that maybe as a lot as a few our different group automobiles, however we’ve an actual concentrate on reliability.
“Bettering our processes as a group to work with this three-car setup, extra folks does require a bit extra course of. So, this offseason, that is been an enormous focus for us, buttoning up all our procedures. Frankly, I need all people to come back in right here daily and assume, ‘What am I right here to do immediately?’ It is like, ‘Construct a greater race automobiles; how are we gonna try this?’ Throughout the board.”
