Long Beach – The double acura Grand Prix of the Long Beach winner, Alexander Rossi, was asked about the growing popularity of his colleague Pato O’Ward. Rossi led for Ed Carpenter Racing and O’Ward is with Arrow McLaren, but the two were teammates with Arrow in 2023 and 2024.
“I think he is in the right age group and he is fast,” said Rossi, Auburn, California. “Colton (Herta) is in the same age group, but Colton does not look at the social side of things. He does not want, which is quite very well.
“Pato understands how, like, moving the needle of an online presence. It is fast and it is important for him and he wants to offer fans a good experience with his commodity line. He wants to be a brand and you therefore have the combination of all these things.”
O’Ward, who will run this weekend at the 50th Acura Grand Prix in Long Beach, appreciates the popularity that he has become popular. He gathered much over a million followers on Instagram and Tiktok, combined.
“Of course, I kiss her,” said O’Ward du Mexico, who, like Herta de Santa Clarita, is 25 years old. “I mean, we are in entertainment. This is what we want to see growing, we want to do something and we just have to continue to push.”
Now, if O’Ward cannot win this race. Since it is considered the second jewel of the crown of the NTT Indycar series behind Indianapolis 500, this would apparently increase its audience.
In five tests, the best finish of O’Ward here is fifth.
“Qualifying in the six fasts and having a good racing car – that’s what it will take,” said O’Ward. “I think we have qualified in the past, but we have never really had a problem without problem, so yes, that’s what we need.”
Friday, O’Ward experienced the fastest 13th time of 1: 07,9477 in the first official training of the event. Qualifications are Saturday at 11:30 am
O’Ward is currently second in series behind the course before Alex Palou after two races. Palou has 102, O’Ward 63.
Double winner
Rossi won here in 2018 and 2019 with Andretti Autosport. He is the last driver to go consecutive to the streets of Long Beach, and he arrives with eight races here to his credit. However, he does not believe that familiarity with the course is a big problem.
“Not really,” said Rossi, 33. “I think you get enough laps and, I mean, a pilot at this level should be at the limit in about five laps. I don’t think it really plays a huge role, the experience here. I think this year’s recruits have just a chance to win like anyone else.”
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