One of Pato O’Ward’s sponsors announced that he would be making an appearance at a Mexico City mall just 20 hours before the event.
They estimated that about 120 people would show up. However, when fans started lining up 12 hours in advance, it became clear they were wrong. More than 3,000 excited fans filled all three levels of the mall, with about 1,000 more outside.
When O’Ward arrived, he had to be dropped off more than a mile from the entrance, and the fans outside created a tunnel for him to run through, giving high-fives along the way. “Man, they really made me feel like a pop star,” O’Ward said.
The fans brought posters calling themselves “Patties,” similar to how Taylor Swift fans are known as “Swifties.” They also had large floating heads and wore merchandise from his online store.
Among the most noticeable items were hats and shirts with the phrase “Pato Who?” This was inspired by IndyCar CEO Mark Miles, who said a few years ago that event promoters believed O’Ward was not as popular as Adrian Fernandez, a Mexican driver who used to race in the series when it was held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
O’Ward was so offended by this that he rented a billboard near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that says “Pato Who?” and is planning to get another one. The situation escalated when NASCAR announced in August that it would race in Mexico City in 2025, leaving O’Ward frustrated that IndyCar was missing out on an event in his home country.
Surprised by the strong reactions from O’Ward and other IndyCar drivers, the series owned by Roger Penske quickly began discussions with Mexico City promoters to secure a race for the 2026 calendar.
The promoters who previously told IndyCar that O’Ward wasn’t a big enough star to bring the series to Mexico saw during the Formula 1 weekend that he might be second in popularity in Mexico only to Red Bull driver Sergio Perez. They realized that his charm and ability to connect with fans could help him become the country’s most beloved race car driver.
Alejandro Soberón, president of Mexico City promoter CIE, mentioned that O’Ward’s “very strong following” in Mexico has encouraged discussions with IndyCar.
“We’ve been in discussions with Indy,” Soberón said. “They want to come. They (raced) before in Mexico. We have set up conversations with IndyCar in January to think about 2026. Of course, Pato is a big factor in all of that.”
O’Ward is also the reserve driver for McLaren’s F1 team, and the organization has joined the conversation. After NASCAR announced its plans, McLaren quickly stated that O’Ward would drive in the first practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Team boss Zak Brown even wore a “Pato Who” hat during the Friday session.
When O’Ward took to the track, the cheers from the crowd were overwhelming. Brown called O’Ward’s performance “mega” as he helped prepare the car for title contender Lando Norris, who finished second in Sunday’s race.
This experience left O’Ward eager for more.
“Turning laps in Mexico, in front of the home crowd, I haven’t had a chance to do it in a professional level yet. This is the closest I’ve ever come to doing that,” O’Ward said. “I know this wasn’t a race, but driving a Formula 1 car in front of the home crowd is really special.”
On Monday, McLaren hinted that there is more planned for O’Ward in Mexico City. He will return in January for the Formula E race and might bring an Indy car for a possible demonstration run and potentially get on track with the Formula E team.
O’Ward, 25, has worked hard to grow his fan base naturally. His energetic and friendly personality attracts people, and even when he is surrounded by excited fans, he tries his best to connect with as many as he can.
“I think a lot of it comes from my family and how close we are; I am very much outgoing like my mother. I think that has made me realize that I need to give the fans more than just a ‘Hey,’ and keep walking.
I need to spend the time with them,” O’Ward said. “My parents told me when I was maybe about 16 that the greatest investment you can ever make is in yourself.”
The evidence shows that his efforts are paying off, including some money-losing projects where O’Ward has given away IndyCar tickets to fans who buy items from his online store.
According to IndyCar, O’Ward’s official merchandise has been the best-selling driver line for the last three seasons and has grown significantly each year. His products consistently sell well at all race locations, with his jersey frequently ranking in the top 10 of purchases.
During the Indianapolis 500 last May, he outperformed NASCAR star Kyle Larson and had both the best-selling driver jersey and the best-selling diecast. He also finished second in the race, which may affect his ability to participate in any of the NASCAR events in Mexico City in June.
He has McLaren’s approval to race in the second-tier Xfinity Series during that weekend but must come back for the IndyCar race in St. Louis, which is on the same day as NASCAR’s main Cup race. O’Ward wants to participate but admitted he might be less motivated if Mexico City is added to the IndyCar schedule for 2026.
There are also early talks about having O’Ward join a NASCAR team for the 2026 Daytona 500.
However, more than anything, he really wants to win both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar championship. While he hopes that McLaren will eventually have a Formula 1 seat for him — which might not happen soon because 24-year-old Norris and 23-year-old Oscar Piastri have long-term contracts — he has a list of goals he wants to achieve in IndyCar.
“I want a Baby Borg, that’s what I want,” said O’Ward, who finished second at Indy this year after being passed by winner Josef Newgarden on the last lap.
“And I want an IndyCar championship. I really want those things, and those are my current priority. That’s where my focus will be next year.”
