Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward has shared his disappointment at one other missed opportunity to race in front of a house crowd that has not seen an IndyCar race in Mexico since 2007, when the Champ Car event was held.
Other drivers expressed similar sentiments to O'Ward, including six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, who simply said, “I think it's a huge mistake. I don't know how it happened.”
Penske Entertainment Chairman and CEO Mark Miles shared his observations with a small group of reporters last Friday afternoon at The Milwaukee Mile, which included the Associated Press, Indianapolis Star and NBC Sports. Among the points Miles made was that Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) – the promoter of the Formula One race in Mexico – told Penske Entertainment representatives, “You’re not well-known enough to be in Mexico City” in 2021, while offering to rent the track with out a partner.
Management error
Miles really got into it when he tried to check O’Ward, arguably IndyCar’s hottest driver, to Adrian Fernandez, one other of Mexico’s favorite sons. Fernandez raced IndyCar, mostly under the CART banner, from 1993 to 2005.
“I will say that it’s clear that Pato isn’t as famous as the previous famous Mexican driver, Adrian Fernandez — but he’s really gaining popularity and is now on a few billboards,” Miles said. “He’ll probably complain that I didn’t get him involved and that he must have are available and made the deal.
“I think Pato is a natural star and I think it will happen, but in 2021 I'm sure they didn't think it was time. But this time there was a lot of talk. It wasn't a matter of passing by.”
The comments enraged the paddock and fans alike, with everyone from rivals to current and former teammates coming to O'Ward's aid, sharing similar stories of assorted events where seas of fans would turn up simply to get an autograph and/or a photograph with the 25-year-old Mexican.
Less than 24 hours passed before Miles walked back those comments, issuing a press release that read as follows:
“As I said yesterday, Pato is a natural star and his popularity is large and growing. Unfortunately, my few additional comments didn’t convey anything beyond that time. He is the star of our series and an awesome partner in our marketing and promotional efforts. We proceed to speculate in our drivers and Pato continues to be the first person we direct resources and support.
“In conclusion, Mexico remains a market of great interest and we believe that sooner or later there will be an incredible IndyCar race weekend there. Pato is a superstar and his popularity and talent will be key to making it happen.”
Patricio O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, winner of the victory circle
Photo: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images
By then, nevertheless, the damage had already been done. The reality that should be acknowledged is that Miles’ initial comments about O’Ward’s popularity – or lack thereof – are more of an indictment of IndyCar’s inability to advertise drivers than the rest.
It’s surprising that Miles would discuss with a driver who last raced within the series twenty years ago, with a greater influence than the present one. By that measure, the game has regressed.
I'm stuck prior to now
Is the game still a prisoner of the past? It's been 16 years and 6 months since Champ Car and the Indy Racing League united to form the IndyCar Series, and yet the game still can't get off its neutral track.
Everyone says this era of racing in North America’s premier open-wheel championship is essentially the most competitive, so why are the drivers from the CART era of the late Nineteen Nineties remembered essentially the most fondly? Sure, it was a group of talent, different chassis and engine mixtures, and money from alcohol and tobacco that now not exists in the game.
But I can’t help but think that even within the midst of its own storms, NASCAR has found a strategy to get to the opposite side. So even when Cup Series driver Daniel Saurez has fewer followers than longtime friend and fellow Monterrey, Mexico, native O’Ward, NASCAR can enterprise south of the Rio Grande to present the driving force a great weekend on home soil. It’s pretty amazing that while NASCAR’s account on X, the social media platform formerly generally known as Twitter, has 3.6 million followers in comparison with IndyCar’s 497,000, Suarez has 110,000 followers in comparison with O’Ward’s 232,000.
Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Mexico announcement
Photo: NASCAR Media
The hard truth, which even I hate to confess, is that NASCAR has a monopoly on racing in North America, which provides a platform to show almost any prospective Late Model driver with a modicum of talent right into a star. It's not only in regards to the numbers on TV, the interactions with sponsors or the brawls on the track, however the incontrovertible fact that they're within the highlight 38 weekends a 12 months, which makes every race look like it matters.
One can only imagine what an enormous star O'Ward or Scott McLaughlin, each gifted with enormous charisma, could have grow to be in such an attractive environment.
Building Prestige Beyond Indianapolis
In the IndyCar Series, it really does feel just like the sooner or later of the 12 months where drivers are treated like bona fide rock stars is the Indianapolis 500. Sure, it's the largest race on this planet and may stand out, but something's missing when the opposite 16 (or 17, should you count the non-points exhibition at The Thermal Club) races combined don't even come near matching the impact of “The Greatest Show in Racing.”
Honest query: How does any IndyCar driver grow to be a household name on the size of Andretti, Foyt, Mears and Unser if he races at a random club track in the midst of BFE with little to no fans in attendance?
These drivers literally defy death each time they hit the race track, and we must always rejoice them just like the rock stars they’re.
While it probably means nothing to him, the incontrovertible fact that Dixon, despite all of the accomplishments which have cemented his repute as one among the best competitors within the history of the game, can walk right into a food market unnoticed is a travesty — and that is someone who used to race Fernandez wheel-to-wheel.
Making drivers household names
During the race weekend at Mid-Ohio, I went into Walmart to purchase a number of things and bumped into Colton Herta, who was literally buying all of the essentials for the weekend. There was nobody else with him, and nobody else looked as if it would notice him—and yet he ran lower than seven miles on the sidewalk for the following three days.
Miles has been in his current role since January 2013, either under the Hulman & Company regime or since Roger Penske bought him — and IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway with him — in January 2020. There’s been loads of time to listen to commentary, take notes and see ways to maneuver the game forward. In fairness, he’s done that in some ways. But the one area that continues to be essentially the most difficult is getting the drivers to grow to be household names.
I actually have long since found that if something is honest and true, then you definitely can discover with it.
There are a variety of relatable personalities on the IndyCar team, however it could also be hard for management to see that when the one place they wish to thrive is within the I-465 bubble.
This situation that erupted on the Milwaukee Mile gave IndyCar a probability to take a tough have a look at itself. Does it wish to proceed to be a giant fish in a small pond, or does it really need to exit into the world and stretch its legs and have a probability to do some magical and historic things?
There are people on an IndyCar team with the personalities to make magical, historic things occur — but only when management actually sees what they’ve.
