O’Ward, who stays firmly within the title hunt with 4 rounds to go, certified fifth within the Arrow McLaren SP-Chevrolet for tomorrow’s race, however mentioned he discovered the gradual sections of the monitor “horrible” as a result of lack of air flow in his cockpit.
Requested to verify what he mentioned on the NBC Peacock broadcast throughout morning observe – that AMSP doesn’t but have the power to run a cool-suit system – the 23-year-old Mexican ace replied: “Yeah, we do not have them. It is horrible within the automobile. It is insufferable.
“Like, I feel that is in all probability going to be the worst race. I can’t clarify how horrendous it’s inside the automobile.
“Like, tomorrow they will in all probability mandate the roof scoops [mounted on top of the aeroscreen]. However, yeah, each braking zone, I am having to clear my sweat as a result of there is not any air flow within the automobile.
“Each braking zone, even with me making an attempt to clear it out, I am nonetheless like splatting sweat throughout my visor. It is horrible.”
Commenting on why the workforce doesn’t run cool-suits, O’Ward mentioned: “I feel initially we do not have the programs. Two, I feel as a workforce we simply have not seemed into it. Now we have type of, however, yeah, we do not have ’em right here. Perhaps one thing to look into subsequent yr for certain.
“I did not assume it was going to be this dangerous. It is worse than what I bear in mind final yr [in Nashville]. It is actually, actually dangerous.”
Crew Penske’s pole-winner McLaughlin agreed that “it is fairly heat. The most important drawback is the humidity, I feel. If you decelerate and are available into the pits, the warmth soak simply builds so rapidly.” However he says he stays opposed to chill fits.
“Ever since my Supercars days, I’ve at all times been a man that does not put on a cool swimsuit as a result of I feel it is worse when you have one fail. It is simply boiling water rolling round your physique. I am really okay with working the highest duct and the helmet fan, or the helmet air.
“However it will be a sizzling race. Like Pato mentioned, it will be the most well liked race that we have had. Hopefully all of the coaching all season goes to set us up properly for that and we’ll be all proper.”