AUSTIN, Texas — Patricio O’Ward’s first NTT IndyCar Series race for Carlin had enough highlight material to make anyone watching Sunday’s INDYCAR Classic take note of the Mexican standout.

In his 2019 debut and just the second series race of his career, the 19-year-old qualified and finished an impressive eighth in the No. 31 Carlin Chevrolet. O’Ward ran as high as sixth place and was embroiled in a sensational early race battle with Graham Rahal on the 3.41-mile permanent road course that still has fans talking about his bold maneuver.

After setting up Rahal in Turns 15 and 16 on the 15th of 60 laps, O’Ward hung his car around the outside of Rahal’s in Turns 17 and 18 before completing the overtake for 10th place.

“He proved a lot to me today, which was nice,” said Rahal, who finished fourth in the No. 15 TOTAL Honda. “He was very fair and actually I want to go see him and tell him that. I can’t say that I had that perception of him before, and so I thought he did a great job, he was very clean and it was good racing.”

Rahal wasn’t alone in praise for the 2018 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires champion. O’Ward’s race strategist, Matt Greasley, was also impressed with the move.

“I must admit, the stand went up (with a cheer), it was a good move,” said Greasley. “We’re going to watch that one back a few times, I think. It was good, clean racing (and) shows how professional (O’Ward) is.”

As the race progressed, O’Ward had to come to grips with trying to save fuel. While he did complete the final 19 laps (64.8 miles) on a single tank of Speedway E85 ethanol, he was forced to surrender three positions in the final 10 laps to wind up in eighth. Only race winner Colton Herta finished better among the NTT IndyCar Series rookie crop.

“I think he’s done an awesome job,” said Colin Hale, Carlin team manager. “I’ve been very impressed with him since the first day he walked through the door and how he’s worked with the team and how he’s adapted to having such little running compared to everybody else.

“It’s pretty surprising how well he’s adapted to everything. I’m not surprised how well he raced because that’s what I expected him to do. But it’s good to see him take him some ballsy passes on some of the veteran drivers, and just bringing it home in one piece and giving us some solid points for a good start to the season.”

The blisters on his right hand after the race were a visual sign of how intense the race was for O’Ward and the effort he put into his drive. While pleased with the result, he had mixed emotions.

“I’m so bummed I had to save fuel in the end because I know I had a podium or a top-five car,” O’Ward said. “I had the pace, I had the experience to know where I had the speed to pass. It’s just impossible to attack or even defend whenever you’re saving so much fuel, but I’m super happy for the team.

“We did a really good job, I think, for a first solid time out and, we’re looking forward to the next time. We just need to learn to manage the race a little bit better and we’re going to be right on pace next time.”

A native of Monterrey, Mexico, who also lives in San Antonio, Texas, the event at Circuit of The Americas was O’Ward’s home race. He received some of the loudest cheers during driver introductions.

“I think it’s really cool that my family and friends were here,” he said. “I would’ve loved to have given them a little more because I know we had it in us, but that gives us more fuel for the next one.”

Team owner Trevor Carlin was pleased with O’Ward’s performance as well. O’Ward is scheduled to drive in 13 races for the team – 12 in a second team car alongside Max Chilton and as a third team entry in the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge with Chilton and Charlie Kimball.

“I was glad he finished eighth,” Carlin said of his rookie. “He could’ve been much worse but really, speed-wise, he should’ve comfortably been P5. He was racing and obviously he was overtaking after overtaking and unfortunately that sucks the gas out of it. But the speed is there, so if we teach him a bit of fuel saving, then he’ll be up there with Colton winning races.

“I’m so happy that what I hoped would happen has happened,” Carlin added, “and the great thing is, we’re really upset that we’re P8.”

The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season continues with the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama from April 5-7 at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham.