Bob Pockrass
Fox Motorsports Insider
Mexico City – The Hermanos Rodriguez Autodrome circuit in Mexico City has hosted Formula 1 races for a number of years. This 12 months, the Nascar Cup sequence made its debut on the construction.
Indycar might finally be part of the enjoyable in 2026 since each Nascar and Indycar appear to extend their bases as North American followers.
Fans of the Nascar look in the course of the pre-gara ceremonies earlier than the Nascar Cup Viva Mexico 250 sequence to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
If the Nascar returns are decided within the subsequent two months. The Nascar and the promoter Ocesa should consider the primary self -driver journey Hermanos Rodriguez and the primary go to south of the border of any National Series Nascar in 17 years.
67 years had handed because the Nascar had staged a race of cup factors outdoors the United States.
“We consider that our communities share a spirit of optimism and need to enhance the lifetime of our folks via collaboration and connection,” mentioned Commissioner Nasting Steve Phelps to drivers earlier than the race. “We consider that that is significantly true via sport and, in our case, motor sports activities. We have the glory and accountability to excite, entertain and be part of via our sport, and I understand how a lot it places on stage an excellent present means for all of you.
“We hope that the Nascar will proceed to encourage important relationships right here in Mexico for a few years to return.”
Both Nasar and Indycar have Mexican drivers competing on the highest ranges. Daniel Suarez was a favourite by followers final weekend. The Indyscar Pato O’Ward-Ci pilot, like Suarez, is from Monterrey-Ha a sequel that’s in all probability double or extra of Suarez whereas Mexican followers are likely to observe the open-wheel races.
“We wish to go there,” mentioned O’ward after his second place Indycar Sunday on the World Wide Technology Raceway outdoors St. Louis. “I feel it might be improbable to have Indycar there, and we’re positive that hell will strive the suitcases.”
The Indycar star and the Mexican pilot Pato O’ward would love for the sequence of working a race in Mexico.
The major function of the chief vice -president of the Ben Kennedy Nascar is to information the enlargement of this system in new locations. He mentioned that discovering the best place on the calendar would be the key to return to the place, which can host a Formula 1 race yearly and most definitely an Indycar race subsequent season.
The most possible date of Indycar would have arrived within the spring, the place there are fewer races and there are questions on a return to the thermal. Nascar is maybe nearer to the summer season, even when the 2026 World Cup may have video games in Mexico City from 11 to five July, which might probably affect when the Nascar might or wish to run there.
Formula 1 has already introduced its 2026 program and can run on 1 November in Mexico City, whose motor sports activities calendar additionally included a Formula E occasion (which this 12 months was in January).
Kennedy has indicated that the settlement with Ocesa to advertise the race is a multi -year settlement, however has choices from 12 months to 12 months on the chance to proceed.
“We are very assured of returning right here sooner or later,” mentioned Kennedy. “We have mentioned this time and several other occasions, … we had been daring and we had been modern. We did issues just like the races within the heart of Los Angeles and constructing a brief (monitor) (within the Colosseum of the La Memorial of La), the primary highway race in our sporting historical past within the heart of Chicago and this was the subsequent milestone for us-Porto a world stage.
“We are very daring in persevering with to deliver our Nascar Cup sequence internationally. Mexico is a superb place to do it.”
Sunday’s race was not a sale, however it was an enthusiastic crowd. Kennedy mentioned that 90 p.c of followers got here from Mexico and 44 p.c from Mexico City.
“We had been proud of (the presence),” mentioned Kennedy. “The part of the stadium was full … what’s necessary for us as the quantity of individuals is the very fact that there have been followers of followers who had been right here, there have been random followers who had been right here and there have been quite a lot of new followers who had by no means been to a Nascar race.”
A normal imaginative and prescient of a led efficiency of the pilot of the Nascar Cup sequence of Mexican origin Daniel Suarez to Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
If the occasion has carried out cash, it might in all probability not be an issue concerning the choice of the Nascar to return.
“For us, that is extra a strategic transfer as a sport to increase our imprint on a worldwide and worldwide stage and a brand new large fan base,” mentioned Kennedy.
“Just being in a rustic with 90 million folks and over 20 million folks within the largest subway within the Mexico City, which, in itself, is successful … which entails far more weight than the economic system or financials of the occasion.”
The Nascar had some challenges, particularly with the planes he rented to deliver groups and different employees within the sector. A aircraft apparently exploded one engine and one other was rooted by nationwide security because of a waste drawback.
This led to the Nascar to have to vary the hours of Friday and Saturday, because the groups on these planes needed to look forward to the planes for the subsequent day or two or scramble for business flights.
“There are worldwide challenges which can be totally different,” mentioned Brad Keselowski, proprietor and rfk racing pilot, who competed in one in every of Mexico’s races when the Xfinity sequence ran there from 2005 to 2008.
“I believe that the trade once more will happen a few of these classes of a decade plus in the past and is provided to handle it higher subsequent time.”
The drivers appeared to embrace the environment and tradition. Several had arrived within the space within the final two months to attempt to create consciousness for the race.
“It was actually particular for us to have the ability to come right here and do that,” mentioned the preferred pilot of the Nascar, Chase Elliott. “I believed it was rather well carried out. I did not have unhealthy experiences throughout one in every of my journeys to Mexico City.
“I believed the weekend was general.”
Winner Shane Van Gisbergen and different interviews posts from Viva Mexico 250
The Nascar appeared to have realized from a few of his experiences in new highway programs and appeared to discover a resolution with pneumatic packages positioned strategically to keep away from drivers making an attempt to chop curves.
“It’s all the time good to go to totally different locations,” mentioned the winner of the Shane Van Gisbergen race. “But I’ve no say.
“I feel everybody appears to have enjoyable. The races had been stunning. I wish to return.”
Some could not assume that the races had been cool like Van Gisbergen, who gained for 16,567 seconds on Christopher Bell. While the second half of the race offered a small drama, Saturday’s runs within the XFinity sequence definitely delivered, since that sequence can sometimes develop into a little bit chaotic.
Emerging from the chaos was Daniel Suarez, the lonely Nascar cup pilot and the one Mexican to win a cup race and the one worldwide pilot to win a nationwide sequence championship.
The followers roar for Suarez, who had made a number of journeys to Mexico City to advertise the occasion.
“Every single factor about this weekend has handed my expectations. People, followers, sponsors, pleasure, vitality,” mentioned Suarez. “I’ve had expectations for this weekend. Not for the outcomes however for the occasion and I can inform you that it has personally overcome these expectations.
“Very, very completely satisfied for this. Very blessed. I hope I can do it many occasions.”
Daniel Suarez spent a profitable weekend in Mexico whereas profitable the Xfinity sequence race.
We will see if this occurs.
“The races right here in Mexico City amongst these lovers lovers in such a powerful place, for the primary time within the historical past of the Nascar Cup sequence is, in a spectacular phrase,” mentioned Phelps in his tackle to the drivers.
“Together, we’re doing one thing that can be remembered within the historical past of our nice sport.”
Bob Pockrass covers Nascar and Indycar for Fox Sports. He spent a long time to cowl motor sports activities, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with Espn intervals, Sporting News, Nascar Scene Magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow it on Twitter @Bobpockrass.
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