IndyCar News: The ultimate choker, O'Ward, says Ericsson choked

In the 2024 Indy 500 last year, Pato O’Ward was passed on the last lap and lost the Indy 500 win. Many thought he was the ultimate choker last year.

–by Mark Cipolloni-

This year, O’Ward had the audacity to say Marcus Ericsson choked and lost the Indy 500 win to Alex Palou who gave him a schooling he won’t soon forget.

“I had those lap cars ahead, and I was struggling a little bit in the dirty air,” Ericsson explained in his post-race press conference.

“Alex got kind of a run on me, but I thought he wasn’t going to go for it. And that’s the thing that’s going to keep me up at night for a while, that moment and what I did and didn’t do.”

Marcus Ericsson asleep at the wheel in the 2025 Indy 500

“Pretty crap race, I would say,” said O’Ward on Sunday.

“It just kind of sucks that it just went down to the switcheroo for the last position of the race. And Ericsson kind of choked there and let Palou by and just kind of, he just had to pedal it there. You know, I don’t think it’s the finish that anybody here would have wanted to see”, the Mexican told IndyCar on FOX.

Pato O’Ward shares his thoughts after the race. 👀#Indy500 pic.twitter.com/kbta5RujxC

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 25, 2025