Pato O'Ward takes Mexico City by storm, proving the IndyCar driver can carry series in home country
IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward dazzled in Mexico City during the Formula 1 weekend and proved he's a big enough star to carry IndyCar into his native country for its own race
By JENNA FRYER
Published - Oct 28, 2024, 02:51 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:56 PM EST
MEXICO CITY (AP) — One of Pato O'Ward's sponsors announced an appearance for the IndyCar driver just 20 hours before the event at a Mexico City mall.
They told him to expect about 120 people. But when fans began lining up 12 hours early, it was clear they underestimated.
More than 3,000 screaming fans packed all three levels of the mall, with 1,000 or so more stuck outside. When the Arrow McLaren driver arrived at the mall, getting dropped off more than a mile from the entrance, the fans outside formed a tunnel that O'Ward had to run through, high-fiving as many as he could.
“Man, they really made me feel like a pop star,” O'Ward said.
