IndyCar standout Pato O’Ward expressed his excitement after fellow Mexican driver Daniel Suarez delivered a memorable victory at NASCAR Xfinity’s race in Mexico on Saturday. Suarez, originally from Monterrey, overcame significant challenges, moving from last place to first in a rain-impacted contest to claim the win for JR Motorsports.

Starting the race in 39th position due to an accident during qualifying, Suarez raced in a backup car. Despite his low starting spot, he advanced steadily and was running fourth at the final stage restart. He seized the lead by making a daring move three-wide into Turn 1 and maintained his position until crossing the finish line, only experiencing minor contact with competitor Taylor Gray once during the event.

Pato O’Ward’s Reaction from IndyCar Weekend

While attending the opening day of the IndyCar race weekend at WWT Raceway in Madison, Illinois, O’Ward received the news of Suarez’s victory with enthusiasm and hope for further Mexican success in NASCAR.

“He won? Vamos! I’m super happy for him,” said O’Ward to reporter Christopher DeHarde. “Hopefully, he can win tomorrow in Cup as well.”

Following the race, Suarez expressed deep emotion about winning before his Mexican supporters 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,” Suarez shared via Reuters.

Pato O’Ward’s Views on IndyCar’s Future in Mexico

NASCAR’s announcement in August 2024 of a return to Mexico starting in 2025 sparked a strong reaction from O’Ward—not toward NASCAR, but due to IndyCar being beaten to reestablish racing in Mexico by its closed-wheel rival. Ahead of the 2025 IndyCar season, O’Ward had spoken openly about the possibility of competing in the NASCAR Xfinity race in Mexico City, although his priority remains with IndyCar.

The two events collide in scheduling, as IndyCar’s race weekend in St. Louis overlaps with NASCAR’s Mexico City event, pushing aside hopes for a crossover appearance by O’Ward this year.

Despite these developments, O’Ward remains optimistic about IndyCar’s prospects to return to Mexico, emphasizing ongoing negotiations with race promoters.

“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.

Background on IndyCar’s Presence in Mexico and Upcoming Commitments

IndyCar has not raced in Mexico since 2007, while its last international event outside Canada took place at the São Paulo Indy 300 in 2013. O’Ward’s expanding role in motorsport includes serving as a Formula 1 reserve driver for McLaren, which will see him compete in the first practice session at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix in October.

Meanwhile, O’Ward qualified third for the upcoming Bommarito Automotive Group 500 and aims to secure his first victory of the season in Sunday’s primetime race broadcast on FOX.

The Impact of Suarez’s Victory and What Comes Next

Daniel Suarez’s impressive performance in his home country highlights the growing significance of Mexican drivers in major American racing series and intensifies the anticipation around racing in Mexico, both in IndyCar and NASCAR. O’Ward’s pride in Suarez’s achievement and his faith in IndyCar’s return to Mexico underscore the expanding motorsport enthusiasm in the region. Fans can expect continued developments as IndyCar works toward confirming its Mexico City race, while O’Ward focuses on his upcoming races and commitments in multiple series.