Last on the Grid, First in Class at Indianapolis
We came to Indy fighting for the Pro-Am championship. Two races, two hits in the same corner, and a car broken beyond repair ended that fight. Then, in a borrowed McLaren from the very back of the grid, we finished the season on the top step.
Indianapolis, you really know how to test our limits.
We arrived at the final round of the season with something real on the line. The #47 Copart McLaren I share with Spencer Schmidt and the RaceWerkz team came into the weekend leading the Pro-Am championship. It was a triple-header, three races to close out the year, and we knew we'd have to fight hard and get a little lucky to wrap it up.
We had the fight. We had the pace. Luck was a different story.
Races 1 and 2: the same corner, twice
Within the first five laps of Race 1, Spencer was taken out. We were still in the championship fight after that, until Race 2, when I was taken out in the same corner, in exactly the same way. Contact, damage, a punctured tire. That ended our championship hopes, and it broke the #47 beyond repair for the final race.
It was one of the lowest points of the season for all of us. This definitely wasn't how we imagined the final weekend of the year.
“We came to Indy to fight for a championship. Racing had other plans, but we weren't going home without a fight.”
— Alex PollardRace 3: from P21 to the top step
McLaren Customer Racing found us a rental car so we could take the start of the final race, and McLaren Newport Beach helped make it possible for me to be in it. Switching to a new car came with a price: we had to start from dead last on the grid, P21.
Spencer started the race, picked his way through the field, passed car after car and handed it over to me in 4th in Pro-Am. From there, it was my job to bring it home. I crossed the line P2 in class, and after post-race disqualifications we were promoted to P1 in class. Last on the grid to first in Pro-Am, on the podium at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A few special thank-yous
The entire RWE Motorsport team, for the incredible support throughout the season, the long hours, the hard work, and never giving up, no matter what the weekend threw at us. Daniel, Eric, Garry, Jeff and everyone on the team, you guys rock.
Casey, for always finding a way to make things happen, solving problems and keeping us racing even when the odds were stacked against us.
McLaren Newport Beach, for helping make this final race possible for me. Your support means a lot, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity.
Spencer, for sharing the car, the battles, the frustrations and the podiums this season. It's been one hell of a ride.
Ren, my coach, for all the time, effort and dedication you've put into me this year. Your guidance, patience and constant push to be a better driver have made a huge difference. The progress I've made and the results we've achieved this season wouldn't have been possible without you.
The media team, for capturing all the incredible moments of the season and bringing our racing to life.
Not the weekend we planned, but we ended the McLaren Trophy season standing on the podium at Indy. One more to go: the Zenith season finale at Daytona.