It was a heady time. As Formula 1's popularity was spiking at the start of the decade, three of North America's top young IndyCar talents were introduced to the world of grand prix racing by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
The odds were long, but as each embarked on bespoke testing programs, there was a reason to hope one of IndyCar's best would eventually get a chance to step onto a global stage and compete at the sport's peak.
The first to cross the F1 testing threshold with McLaren was Pato O'Ward in December 2021.