Arrow McLAREN Bommarito Automotive Group 500: Race Preview
"We’re aiming to rack up more than just ribs but also more trophies this weekend"
Guess what? We're back!
The Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES makes its return following the Olympic break for a 260-lap race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis, Mo.
The 14th race on the 2024 calendar is the fourth oval race of the year, a short 1.25-mile oval where pole speed was under 25 seconds.
Pato O'Ward comes into the championship fifth in the standings, looking to gain momentum with four of the final five events being on ovals.
Alexander Rossi returns to the team after suffering a broken thumb during the event weekend in Toronto, and Nolan Siegel will make his third start on an oval for Arrow McLaren on Saturday.
Read what Pato O'Ward, Nolan Siegel, Alexander Rossi and Team Principal Gavin Ward are saying before this weekend's two-day event begins.
| Race Date | Saturday, August 17 |
| Rounds | 14 of 17 |
| Total Laps | 260 Laps |
| Total Race Distance | 325 miles / 522.6 km |
| Length | 1.25 miles / 2.01 km |
| Number of Turns | 4 |
| Championship Position | 5th | 340 points |
| Average Starting Position | 7.9 | |
| Average Finishing Position | 8.7 | |
| Best Starting Position | P2 | Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio |
| Best Finishing Position | P1 | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg & Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio |
| 2023 WWT Raceway Result | P2 |
"I'm looking forward to get going with this last stretch of the season. St. Louis is always an exciting race, and I've had some success here in the past. Hopefully we can kick off this last stretch with a bang and fight our way closer to the top of the championship."
| Championship Position | 25th | 88 points |
| Average Starting Position | 16.8 | |
| Average Finishing Position | 15.8 | |
| Best Starting Position | P11 | Iowa 250 Race 2 |
| Best Finishing Position | P12 | Grand Prix of Monterey & Iowa 250 Race 1 |
"I'm looking forward to racing at World Wide Technology Raceway. It's a track I've been to before, and it'll be the first time I'll be racing in this series on a track that I've tested previously. The Iowa doubleheader was a very positive weekend for us, so I think we're continuing the lay a good base to build on. This weekend is another good opportunity to produce a solid result."
| Championship Position | 9th | 265 points |
| Average Starting Position | 9.5 | |
| Average Finishing Position | 9.8 | |
| Best Starting Position | P4 | 108th Indianapolis 500 |
| Best Finishing Position | P3 | Grand Prix of Monterey |
| 2023 WWT Raceway Results | P4 |
"It's been a long summer break, but it obviously came at just the right time for me after the injury in Toronto. I'm thrilled to be back in the car for St. Louis and looking forward to kicking off this final stretch in a positive way at one of our best tracks."
Gavin Ward, Team Principal, Arrow McLaren, said:
"We’re heading to St. Louis having beat the blues with a rejuvenating Olympic break. We’re elated that Alexander was given the thumbs up to return to racing this weekend. Let’s hope this turn of good fortune is the gateway to further success. Pato has finished on the podium four out of the five times he’s raced at this track, so we’re aiming to rack up more than just ribs but also more trophies this weekend."
Session Times
| Practice 1 | Friday, August 16 | 12:45 - 1:45 p.m. ET | Peacock |
| Qualifying | Friday, August 16 | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET | Peacock |
| Final Practice | Friday, August 16 | 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. ET | Peacock |
| Tune In | Sunday, August 17 | 6:00 p.m. ET | USA Network |
| Green Flag | Sunday, August 17 | 6:30 p.m. ET | USA Network |