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At every IndyCar autograph session, Pato O’Ward draws massive crowds that stretch around corners, block access for other drivers, and overshadow his competitors. Even during team meetings, the 25-year-old Mexican driver’s fans gather outside the Arrow McLaren Racing transporter, causing such a commotion that teammate Alexander Rossi says the discussions often have to pause.
So when NASCAR announced plans to race in Mexico City in 2025, many IndyCar drivers were taken aback. They were surprised that another American racing series had beaten them to a prime market eager to see its favorite driver in action. “That’s a huge miss,” said six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, reflecting the disbelief among his peers.
O’Ward, a native of Monterrey, has built a passionate fanbase in Mexico during his five full seasons in IndyCar, likely second only to Formula 1’s Sergio Perez. Yet, it’s NASCAR—with Mexican driver Daniel Suarez—that secured the opportunity to race next season at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. O’Ward, who serves as the reserve Formula 1 driver for McLaren, requires security at the track, not because of any threat, but due to the sheer number of fans eager to meet him. He experienced this firsthand in 2022 when a visit to the stadium with a GoPro turned into a frenzy.
O’Ward expressed his disappointment, saying, “They beat us to the cake.” He fears that with NASCAR’s multiyear deal in Mexico City, IndyCar may have lost its chance to race there. He believes that fans in Mexico, who save up money to attend such events, may no longer have room for another major race.
Other drivers sympathized with O’Ward, who has even dipped into his own pocket to help his fans attend IndyCar races. Championship leader Alex Palou couldn’t understand how IndyCar missed the opportunity, lamenting, “We should have been in Mexico City. We’re five years too late, and now NASCAR has overtaken us.”
O’Ward believes that for IndyCar to race in Mexico, they’ll need to find a new venue. The series previously raced in Monterrey from 2001 through 2006, but the track there would need significant upgrades. Salvador de Alba, the reigning NASCAR Mexico champion who also races in Indy NXT, disagrees with O’Ward’s assessment that Mexico City can’t support another international race, but acknowledges that no other suitable venues are ready for IndyCar.
Former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Michel Jourdain Jr., who promotes races in Mexico, says it might be cheaper to rebuild the Monterrey track from scratch rather than upgrade it. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles confirmed that the series has ongoing discussions about returning to Mexico and believes an IndyCar race there could happen soon. A letter from Miles in July, reviewed by The Associated Press, shows that IndyCar is actively negotiating for potential race dates in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Miles emphasized that O’Ward is crucial to making an IndyCar race in Mexico a reality, calling him a “superstar” with tremendous popularity. O’Ward’s following has grown steadily, especially after his second-place finish in the Indianapolis 500. But he believes the push to bring IndyCar back to Mexico should have started in 2021, when he secured his first career victory and was a title contender.
O’Ward regrets that the series didn’t act sooner, saying, “If I had all the money in the world, it would already be on the calendar.” Although he isn’t involved in the discussions, he wishes he could be and would even fund a race himself if he had the resources.
Miles said that while there are ongoing international discussions about holding IndyCar exhibitions outside the regular season, any race in Mexico would be part of the championship and not just an exhibition. O’Ward agrees, but believes the series has moved too slowly. “We’re already three years late,” he said.
