IndyCar president Doug Boles recently provided an update on the ongoing efforts to add a Mexico City race to the IndyCar calendar—a race that has been a long-standing dream of Mexican driver Pato O’Ward. Since 2021, O’Ward, who races for Arrow McLaren, has been actively pushing for the series to secure a race in his home country. However, in August 2024, NASCAR preempted IndyCar by announcing a Mexico City race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez starting in 2025, marking NASCAR’s first international race in its modern history. This announcement frustrated O’Ward, who publicly expressed his disappointment.

In an interview with Blackbook Motorsport, Doug Boles acknowledged the significant market that O’Ward has helped create for IndyCar in Mexico and how NASCAR’s move accelerated pressure on IndyCar to finalize their own deal. Boles, who is also president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, emphasized the cooperative relationship between IndyCar and NASCAR. He mentioned that NASCAR has been a great partner, sharing information and working together to grow motorsports overall. While NASCAR’s announcement created urgency, Boles stated that it did not cause frustration but rather motivated IndyCar to push harder to secure the race. He also stressed that he does not see NASCAR as a competitor but as an “open book” from which IndyCar can learn to grow.

Although IndyCar has not yet finalized a race in Mexico, significant progress has been made in negotiations, as confirmed by IndyCar CEO Mark Miles earlier in 2024. Ahead of the 2025 season, there was positive momentum regarding the Mexico City race, with promoters who had initially doubted IndyCar’s ability to attract fans reportedly becoming more optimistic. O’Ward himself expressed optimism on the Pit Pass Indy podcast in February 2025, suggesting that the race could happen as soon as 2026. He also speculated that the Mexico City race might be scheduled close to the Arlington Grand Prix, possibly even back-to-back, given the logistical proximity to Mexico.

The Arlington Grand Prix was officially announced for March 13-15, 2026, marking a new event on the IndyCar calendar. Until the Mexico City race is finalized, O’Ward continues to live part of his dream through his role in Formula 1. He serves as a reserve driver for McLaren’s F1 team and will again participate in Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, as he did in 2024. This opportunity allows him to gain valuable experience and maintain a connection to his home race weekend, driving the McLaren MCL39 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. McLaren’s F1 team principal Andrea Stella praised O’Ward’s contributions and his dual role in both IndyCar and F1, highlighting his value to the team and his continued development as a driver.

In summary, while NASCAR has taken the lead in bringing top-level stock car racing to Mexico City starting in 2025, IndyCar is actively working to establish its own race there, driven in large part by Pato O’Ward’s advocacy and market influence. The negotiations are progressing well, with hopes to debut the race in 2026, and O’Ward remains a central figure in this effort both on and off the track. Meanwhile, his involvement with McLaren’s F1 team at the Mexico City Grand Prix keeps him connected to his home country’s motorsport scene at the highest level.