Pato O’Ward is a name which is generating major interest for IndyCar and is forcing them to look into hosting a race in Mexico.
The McLaren driver is a front-runner in the series and a regular contender for race victories, competing against the likes of reigning champion Alex Palou.
It will only be so long before he competes for championships, but first, he needs his team to find a more consistent baseline to work with at race weekends.
Tyre issues plagued their season, and prevented them from finishing higher than the fifth in the drivers’ standings that they ended up – so the sky could be the limit if they can fix that.
Pato O’Ward has IndyCar ‘star power’
Before moving to North America, O’Ward was a part of Red Bull’s driver academy in Europe, and even once competed in Formula 2.
However, he has found a home with IndyCar and a true reflection of that was his popularity in Mexico over the past weekend.
Appearing in a Free Practice session for McLaren at the Mexico City Grand Prix, he had lots of support and it’s sparking a debate as to whether the country needs to host an IndyCar race.
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A Penske Entertainment spokesperson informed RACER that there are discussions being had about a race in Mexico and that interest in O’Ward shows there is a demand for it.
“Discussions regarding an IndyCar race in Mexico City have been positive and we look forward to continuing the conversation,” a Penske Entertainment spokesperson told RACER.
“Pato’s presence this past weekend underscores the intense interest from fans and the massive and still growing star power he brings forward.”
Why Mexico deserves an IndyCar race
NASCAR managed to beat IndyCar to secure a race in Mexico not long ago, awarding Daniel Suarez with a home race.
With Formula 1’s Sergio Perez, they have always had a single-seater driver with a home race to cheer on – but his career may be coming to an end.
That leaves O’Ward the next man in line, and his popularity in Mexico last week was clear for everyone to see.
Packing out the grandstands would be a remarkable sight to see, and it should also be noted that it would be a big marketing coup for the series.
They need an injection of support from a new fanbase, and this could be exactly what IndyCar needs to take off.