McLaren test awaits O'Ward after winning bet with boss Brown

Arrow McLaren SP driver Patricio O'Ward has reiterated his "heart's with IndyCar" after earning himself an F1 test with victory in the Texas XPEL 375.

O'Ward had made a bet with McLaren CEO Zak Brown that he would be given a test in F1 machinery at the conclusion of the current season if he could give the associated IndyCar team a maiden race victory.

The Mexican took just four races of the American open-wheel season to earn his winnings after an aggressive drive at the Texas Motor Speedway saw him out-fight series champions Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden.

After taking his first IndyCar win, O'Ward told NBCSN: “My heart’s with IndyCar.

“It’s just great racing and it’s so, so competitive. I think for a driver there is nothing harder in the world. I think many drivers can agree with me that have come from Formula 1 to IndyCar, back to Formula 1.

“Formula 1 is the peak of technology. Everybody wants to go there. If the opportunity ever came by Zak and he said, ‘There’s a seat open, I want you in my team,’ I’d be pretty dumb not to take it because it would just be a crazy opportunity.

"They don’t come often. Right now I’m focused on the job that I have right now in IndyCar. I want to make the best of it.”

Confirming O'Ward's reward, Brown tweeted post-race: "A deal's a deal - what a win! See you in Abu Dhabi later this year!"

A deal’s a deal @patriciooward - what a win! See you in Abu Dhabi later this year! https://t.co/njw2soyZFR

— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) May 2, 2021

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