Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward has voiced strong support for expanding the IndyCar series beyond the Americas, notably advocating for races in Mexico, Japan, and Europe. His comments, made before qualifying at Mid-Ohio in 2026, directly challenge the stance of his team principal Zak Brown, who favors focusing on building the series within the United States before considering international growth.
While IndyCar CEO Mark Miles has been exploring opportunities for the series abroad, including discussions about hosting a race in Australia with the Supercars championship, Brown expressed reservations about this expansion path. Brown said:
“I’m not a fan of IndyCar going outside of the Americas.”
He further elaborated on his position:
“IndyCar needs to grow its own market before it starts going international outside of America.”
Pato O’Ward’s Vision for New International Racing Venues
Despite the leadership’s cautious approach, O’Ward is eager to see IndyCar broaden its global footprint. Asked which race he would like to be added to the 2026 schedule, he unhesitatingly replied “Mexico,” highlighting his ambition to bring the sport to his native country. When prompted on additional potential locations, he outlined a diverse list:
“I’d like to go to Motegi in Japan, that would be badass. I feel like we’ll have a successful race in Europe, in the UK, Brands Hatch or something. Seems like a track where the IndyCar would be pretty cool.”
He expressed further interest in expanding beyond North America with:
“Yeah, in Japan, maybe one in the UK, maybe in Latin America, Argentina, Brazil. I think there’s some way around there but I’m getting ahead of myself. We need to get Mexico then we can start thinking about the rest.”
Progress Toward an IndyCar Race in Mexico
O’Ward has been a significant advocate for adding a race in Mexico, pushing the series to secure this important international event. The process has faced competition, notably when NASCAR added a Mexican race before IndyCar could finalize plans, leaving O’Ward notably frustrated. However, ongoing discussions between IndyCar, Penske Entertainment officials, and Mexican race organizers suggest positive momentum.
On the Pit Pass Indy podcast, O’Ward provided an update on the Mexico race prospects, revealing optimism about its inclusion as soon as 2026. He stated:
“I think we can see it as soon as 2026. That’s definitely what I’ve been pushing for and what I know IndyCar is pushing for.”
“So yeah, we’ll see, but I’m definitely a huge part of that Mexican event and excited to help IndyCar get there and make sure (we) knock it out of the park,” he added.
Balancing Domestic Growth with International Ambitions
The contrast between Zak Brown’s America-first philosophy and Pato O’Ward’s global vision highlights an ongoing debate within IndyCar’s leadership about how to best grow the sport. Brown believes solidifying the domestic fan base is essential before venturing overseas, while O’Ward argues that carefully chosen international venues could energize the series and attract a broader audience.
This internal dialogue unfolds as IndyCar explores new territories, with the potential Mexico race acting as a gateway to further international expansion. If successful, additional races in Japan, Europe, and Latin America could follow, diversifying the calendar and raising the sport’s international profile.
How IndyCar navigates these differing perspectives will influence its strategic direction in the coming years and could redefine the scope of the series beyond North America’s borders.