Remember the wild month of May this season? Kyle Larson, arguably the finest racer in US motorsport, heralded a NASCAR-IndyCar crossover. Investing millions of dollars in the Indy 500 race, Rick Hendrick united with Arrow McLaren for Larson’s double attempt. Although that gigantic effort spanning 16 months was dampened by the rain, another opportunity has sprung up.

This time, the effort will not revolve around Larson but Mexican IndyCar star Pato O’Ward, who raced alongside Hendrick’s driver at Indy. O’Ward made the headlines recently about professing a wish to race in his home country. Although IndyCar shrugged its shoulders, NASCAR showed interest in it. And Hendrick can actually make it happen.

Rick Hendrick may open doors for IndyCar star

NASCAR set off ripples of conflict in its open-wheel neighbor after announcing a New Mexico race for 2025. After Pato O’Ward demanded IndyCar enter Mexico, the series CEO made some shortsighted comments about the Mexican driver. Although a huge controversy erupted, one thing was clear: Pato O’Ward would need to look outside IndyCar for his Mexican racing aspirations. Some fans even called for Rick Hendrick’s assistance in this dilemma, excited about another crossover after Larson’s Double.

And now, this wish may be turning into reality. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has indicated that he would support Pato O’Ward’s desire to compete in the NASCAR Cup event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Even NASCAR expressed interest, as Jenna Fryer joked about a Larson-O’Ward swap.

Given McLaren’s prior alliance with Chevrolet and Rick Hendrick, Pato O’Ward may wheel an Xfinity car in Mexico, even at the expense of missing his IndyCar race on the same date. Fryer updated on X, as he wrote, “Zak Brown says if Pato O’Ward can get an Xfinity ride for Mexico City he’d allow him to miss Saturday at Gateway. Gateway, meanwhile, is not moving off that June 15 date.”

“I would love to,” O’Ward responded as peeps into his 2025 Mexico plan appeared.

Initially, the clash of dates disappointed him, as he prioritized his career in IndyCar. Yet now it may not be an obstacle if Fryer’s suspicions are true. Given fellow Mexican racer Daniel Suarez would also grace the occasion, NASCAR would have an easy time marketing the race.

O’Ward is excited about this chance to run with Suarez, and also to work under Rick Hendrick. He said, “Me and Daniel racing together would be the best situation. I got to meet Rick Hendrick, got to work with Kyle Larson, and I think he’d be really excited about the idea.” Evidently, he is pumped about this endeavor for another reason. He can prove his star power to the IndyCar CEO and leave no crumbs.

Challenge accepted?

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When IndyCar CEO Mike Miles declared that O’Ward was not popular enough to pull a big fanbase to Mexico, the driver rolled up his sleeves. He started off by adding another trophy immediately after at the Milwaukee Mile. Then he followed it up with a savage jibe at Miles with his ‘Pato who?’ comment.

But it seems like O’Ward is not done just yet. As the possibility of McLaren and Rick Hendrick accommodating his desire emerged, O’Ward is clear about one thing. He wants to take the entire initiative of this project.

O’Ward said he wants to shave off some of the responsibility from Brown’s shoulders. “I don’t want to lay this on Zak’s shoulders. I have enough authority where I can make it happen myself; I don’t want him to do all the work. It’d be a really good thing for Hendrick and for Chevy to hear from me, because that’s obviously where the very big interest comes from, going to the event, being part of it, driving the car. As soon as it was announced, my first thought was, ‘I need to as Zak if I can have Rick Hendrick’s number.’”

Clearly, individual power is how O’Ward plans to put himself in a Mexican ride. Yet with Hendrick’s invaluable support, he can make big strides in 2025.