Grand Prix of Long Beach: Mexico’s Pato O’Ward becoming quite the popular guy, by design

LONG BEACH — Two-time Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Alexander Rossi on Friday was asked about the rising popularity of fellow driver Pato O’Ward. Rossi drives 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 at the correct age group and he’s fast,” said Rossi, of Auburn, Calif. “Colton (Herta) is in the same age group, but Colton doesn’t lean into the social side of things. He doesn’t want to, which is totally fine.