As raindrops started to fall on Thursday evening of the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, a gaggle of two dozen McLaren supercars gathered surreptitiously outdoors the wall at Flip 12. Fortunate house owners readily available joked about collaborating within the so-called Million Greenback Drive, a possibility to chase final yr’s IndyCar Sequence runner-up, Pato O’Ward, across the wonderful F1 avenue course after Free Observe 2 wound down. McLaren provided me an opportunity to hitch in on the motion, so I fortunately pulled on a helmet and jumped into one among my favourite supercars, a 750S, for a fast stint of simply two 3.853-mile laps.
I pulled as much as Flip 12, very curious to expertise the highest pace and cornering traction on the Vegas strip. The few different F1 circuits – present and former – I’d beforehand pushed all sometimes boasted probably the most pristine tarmac floor of any tracks on earth. However Vegas solely joined the F1 calendar in 2023, and the primary yr proved considerably notorious after a manhole cowl pulled free from the racecars’ downforce and smashed up Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.
Rumors of one other manhole cowl popping up even triggered a short delay in FP2 as I pitted with the McLarens. And as I pulled out, the rain solely began to fall tougher and tougher. Negotiating the climate, the opposite McLaren drivers, making an attempt to control O’Ward in his full-on racecar-spec Artura – all because the sensible neon lights flared up on my more and more raindrop-splattered windshield – required excessive focus.
However the precise street floor at Vegas proved extraordinarily forgiving, surprisingly grippy regardless of the moist, and smoother than clean. Till, that’s, I popped over a curb or two and upset the suspension of my 750S a bit.
Nonetheless, ripping by gears earlier than a crowd of F1 followers, the casinos flying by, the Sphere illuminating the evening sky. Little doubt, one of many drives of my life.
Meet McLaren’s IndyCar Celebrity: Pato O’Ward
Earlier than heading out for such a memorable evening, I caught up with O’Ward, hoping to glean some phrases of knowledge about what to anticipate from the night’s festivities and the upcoming IndyCar season from one of many racing world’s final remaining old school wild males, famed for his ninja-fast fingers on the wheel, and a real fan favourite.
How does the road course for the Vegas F1 circuit evaluate to avenue programs for IndyCar like Lengthy Seaside, St. Petersburg and Toronto?
Much less bumpy for certain; it’s clean. I wouldn’t say it’s the smoothest, as a result of the F1 vehicles are porpoising fairly a bit. However in comparison with an IndyCar avenue course, the F1 automobile’s flooring wouldn’t survive in any respect. But it surely gained’t be bumpy for you in a street automobile. You may really feel some undulations, particularly whenever you’re going super-fast within the again stretch, however you gained’t really feel, like, harsh bumps. I believe you’re going to essentially respect what the automobile can do speed-wise, in the event that they allow us to wring its neck a bit bit within the again stretch.
What in regards to the transitions, with the curbs and the asphalt?
The curbs are aggressive. You’ll undoubtedly really feel the curbs for those who’re using on them. It’s the identical tarmac all of the manner round, so there actually isn’t a concrete-to-asphalt transition; the whole lot is identical. However I’d say the observe itself isn’t as tough as different typical avenue programs, a minimum of out of what I’m used to.
Have you ever ever pushed Monaco?
I’ve not pushed Monaco! However I guess it feels such as you’re going like 300, 400 miles an hour in a System 1 automobile.
Talking of, I do know you’ve executed some free apply classes with McLaren F1. What’s your relationship with the F1 workforce like today?
My full-time job’s in IndyCar, after which my facet hustle is touring without cost within the System 1 world and infrequently leaping within the F1 automobile. It’s not too shabby in any respect. I get to observe, entertain, and generally drive [in free practice].
What are a number of the ways in which you suppose IndyCar is extra thrilling than F1?
There’s a bit extra chaos within the races, I’d say. Weirdly, this yr [2025] was dominated by one driver [Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing], but it surely often by no means is. I imply, this hasn’t been seen in 50 years. However, often, you possibly can by no means say who’s gonna be on the rostrum. And I really feel like in F1, you will get a good suggestion. So, I’d say it’s a bit extra unpredictable and chaotic, and I really feel like that attracts consideration.
However what F1’s obtained that nobody else has is simply the intercourse enchantment. The horny standing, just like the invisible wall, everybody needs to be there simply to be there. Nobody else has been in a position to receive that degree. Clearly, they’re international; you’ve obtained the largest manufacturers on this planet with probably the most cash. But it surely’s became one thing like, ‘Hey, I used to be there.’ Regardless of how little you realize about race vehicles.
For certain, I’m seeing loads of selfies being taken out right here in Vegas. What are your hopes for IndyCar this coming season?
I hope the sequence retains getting greater. I do know FOX [IndyCar’s new-for-2025 TV partner] has been an enormous factor for the sequence, they usually’ve obtained pores and skin within the recreation. And, so, I believe the trajectory it’s taking is in the precise manner. However I believe it’s additionally fairly essential for management to make the precise calls on the place we’re racing, what we’re going to do with the brand new automobile. We nonetheless need to be main as a high sequence worldwide, despite the fact that it’s principally in America.
The vehicles can’t be all spec. We nonetheless obtained to have completely different engines; we nonetheless should have one thing value growing for groups. There’s obtained to be some variations in creativity, you realize, so I actually hope they don’t take that away.
My private aim is I need to end each lap, which was my aim this yr, however sadly, these goals had been crushed in Portland once I had an engine concern. After which I had the tire blowout in Nashville. That wasn’t wonderful. I simply need to end each lap, and I really feel like in doing so, I’ll be sitting fairly on the finish of the yr.
All proper, most essential query: We’ve talked about your kickass automobile assortment earlier than. What are you driving most today?
I’ve obtained my head-turner, which is a [McLaren] 720S in Tokyo Cyan. It’s like a child blue. For my every day driver, I’ve obtained an M3 Comp. I actually prefer it, it’s all-wheel drive, however you are able to do solely rear, like drift mode, if you need.
I’ve obtained the last word of luxurious and in my view, it’s the greatest within the storage: a Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost. I by no means thought I’d take pleasure in such a automobile at such a younger age, however it’s the epitome of not being rushed within the morning. That’s what it looks like. I drive that factor nearly day-after-day I’m dwelling.
And I’ve obtained the loudest automobile, my Shelby Cobra package automobile. I want it was an unique, but it surely’s obtained a 5.0-liter Coyote, 485-horse, fuel-injected, facet pipes, tremendous loud. Then I’ve obtained a Ferrari 458 Italia with a Novitec exhaust, Vorsteiner aero, the factor seems imply, seems badass.
That’s what I’ve obtained proper now, I’m fairly pleased, that’s a very good assortment. However sooner or later, I’d love a [McLaren] W1.
Oh, I do know who you possibly can discuss to about that…
Yeah, I’m going to make a guess with Zak [Brown, McLaren Racing CEO]. He doesn’t find out about it but, however I’m going to make a guess. I win the Indy 500, he will get me a W1. I believe that’s completely truthful!
Photographs: Andrew Hyperlinks, FIA, McLaren Retail
