Pato O'Ward reacts to Mexican compatriot Daniel Suarez's heroic NASCAR win on home soil
IndyCar star Pato O'Ward has shared his reaction to compatriot Daniel Suarez securing a legendary win at NASCAR Xfinity's return to Mexico on Saturday. The Monterrey native, against all odds, went from last to first in a rain-affected race to triumph with JR Motorsports.
Suarez started the Xfinity race in 39th position in a backup car after crashing during qualifying practice. The home hero, who was fourth on the restart in the final stage, took the lead by going three-wide into Turn 1. Thereon, he kept it clean, except for clashing with Taylor Gray once, to cross the finish line as the winner.
Pato O'Ward, who was in Madison, Illinois, for day one of IndyCar's race weekend at WWT Raceway, was ecstatic to hear the news.
"He won? Vamos! I'm super happy for him," the Arrow McLaren driver told reporter Christopher DeHarde. "Hopefully, he can win tomorrow in Cup as well."
After the race, Daniel Suarez got emotional about winning in front of his home fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
"I left my country 10 years ago to follow my dreams and pursue a career in NASCAR. I have never felt anything like this," he said, via Reuters.
When NASCAR announced in August 2024 that it would race in Mexico from 2025 onwards, Pato O'Ward was furious, not with NASCAR, but with IndyCar for getting beaten by its closed-wheel competitor to step into Mexico.
Ahead of the 2025 IndyCar season, O'Ward had spoken about potentially racing in the NASCAR Xfinity race in Mexico City this weekend. Though racing in front of his home fans was a big dream, the 26-year-old emphasized how IndyCar remained his focus. Moreover, IndyCar's race weekend in St. Louis is clashing with NASCAR's Mexico weekend, removing remnant hopes.
Pato O'Ward has 'faith' in IndyCar for racing in Mexico
IndyCar has made considerable progress in its negotiations with the Mexico City race promoters. It is expected for the series to race at the Autodromos Hermanos Rodriguez as early as 2026, as Pato O'Ward affirmed before the season started.
After commenting on Daniel Suarez's recent win, the Arrow McLaren driver spoke about IndyCar's progress in adding Mexico to its calendar.
"I think it's super close to happening. I mean, that question is above...I am just a racing driver. I think it's gonna happen, I really hope it happens. I think talks are going on, so I'm being faithful that it's gonna happen," he told DeHarde.
IndyCar hasn't stepped foot in Mexico since 2007, and its last international race, except for Canada, was the Sao Paulo Indy 300 in 2013. As for Pato O'Ward, his F1 reserve driver duties for McLaren will see him participating in FP1 at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix in October.
The No. 5 Chevy driver qualified third for this weekend's Bommarito Automotive Group 500. He will look for his first win of the season on Sunday's primetime race on FOX.