Pato O’Ward back at home in Texas but still dreaming of an IndyCar race in Mexico

FORT WORTH, Texas — The face of Pato O’Ward can be seen on billboards all around Mexico City, and the young driver so much wants to have an IndyCar race in his native country.

“It doesn’t matter where it is,” O’Ward said. “The place would be packed.”

Nearly a month after O’Ward came oh-so-close to winning the season opener, IndyCar’s second race is Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.

It’s the closest track for the series to Mexico and San Antonio, the Texas city where he grew up after his parents sought a safer childhood for O’Ward and his sister.

Texas Motor Speedway is also where O’Ward earned his first IndyCar victory in 2021, just a few days shy of his 22nd birthday.

With his energetic presence and unwavering confidence, O’Ward already has become a favorite in his home country. He also is a rising star in the open-wheel series in his fourth season with Arrow McLaren.

He has four career wins in 48 races for the team, winning twice in both 2021 and 2022. He came within a “plenum event” of winning the March 5 season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, and is atop the IndyCar on NBC Sports’ power rankings heading into Texas.

You know where we’ll be.