O'Ward put on a show at the Race Of Champions

JAN 21, 2019

Of the three INDYCAR champs who made the trip to Foro Sol in Mexico City for the 2019 Race of Champions, it was Patricio O'Ward who put on the most impressive show.

The reigning Indy Lights champion tallied two wins in Saturday's Nations Cup, knocking off Mexico's Benito Guerra (Rallycar) and Germany's Mick Schumacher (Formula 3) to advance to the semifinal round. There, he was edged by Sweden's Johan Kristoffersson (Rallycar). Team USA, represented by 2017 NTT IndyCar Series champion Josef Newgarden and 2012 series champ Ryan Hunter-Reay, was eliminated in Pool C.

In the individual Race of Champions, he knocked off retired F1 star David Coulthard and NASCAR Mexico's Abraham Calderon to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. There, he got the best of Kristofferson in a rematch. DTM racer Loic Duval edged O'Ward in the semifinal, but the NTT IndyCar Series rookie had already grabbed the attention of fans around the world.

Primero que nada.. GRACIAS a todos los que vinieron al evento de @RaceOfChampions Mexico!! Les agradesco todo el apoyo! Pata fondo para @indycar 2019🔥💪🏼
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First off.. I want to THANK every single one of you that came out this weekend! Your support was spectacular !! pic.twitter.com/Z5gPsYrpfV
— Patricio O'Ward (@PatricioOWard) January 20, 2019

We see you, @PatricioOWard. Watch the kid upset @therealdcf1 🏎️💨#INDYCAR // 🎥: @RaceOfChampions pic.twitter.com/h7QfOg1Yhe
— NTT IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) January 20, 2019

Not this time 🚫@PatricioOWard found his line and edged the Rallycar star. In a Rallycar. He’s got skills. #INDYCAR // @RaceOfChampions pic.twitter.com/fyIWuka8XH
— NTT IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) January 20, 2019

@PatricioOWard is the FUTURE of @IndyCar and the future of Racing !!
— Ramses (@Ramses_A_Perez) January 19, 2019

Watch out IndyCar - Pato is coming to town! He represented Indycar very well today.
— JLit (@JLit40955054) January 20, 2019

This guy is a delight! 😃

And bloody fast. 🚅

Watch out for @IndyCar rookie @PatricioOWard tomorrow! #ROCMexico pic.twitter.com/h7Zlhpv2V0
— #ROCMexico (@RaceOfChampions) January 20, 2019

🎤 Motorsport Network’s Julia Piquet reports from Mexico, as the 2018 IndyLights champion @PatricioOWard tells her which driver he absolutely wants to beat in this weekend’s @RaceofChampions #ROCMexico 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/oSOqSjz4M2
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) January 20, 2019

Newgarden tallied a win over Duval in the Race of Champions. Ryan Hunter-Reay added a win over Andy Priaulx in the Nations Cup.

Former NTT IndyCar Series regular and three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves tallied a couple wins, too. His best highlight, though, might have been during driver intros. Yeah, he's still got it.