The NASCAR Cup Series travels to Mexico City for the very first time this Father’s Day weekend; but even before leaving home, the teams encountered some major travel issues when there was engine issue with the plane. After a late arrival in Mexico City, NASCAR has made some changes in the schedule and only the Cup Series drivers will get some Friday practice.
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a 2.4 mile 15 turn road course race but the track isn’t going to be the only issue for the crews – Mexico City sits over seven thousand feet above sea level and as a result the air is much thinner. There is less downforce, drag, and horsepower in the cars. And the brakes don’t cool so the drivers have to learn to manage their brakes.
After his wicked hit into the wall last week at Michigan, Alex Bowman has been cleared to race and is in Mexico City; but Anthony Alfredo has been tapped as a backup if needed.
Some two weeks after the due date, Baby Boy Hamlin finally a arrived on Wednesday and Denny Hamlin is spending his first Father’s Day as the father of three at home with the family. Ryan Truex is taking over the driving duties in the Joe Gibbs Racing number eleven car. JGR and Hamlin have requested and been granted a waiver for not being at the race. Hamlin is a three race winner this season and will qualify for the playoffs.
The request for the waiver has been made and NASCAR has granted the waiver. Missing the race ends a consecutive race start streak of 406 races for Hamlin.
A new track for the cup Series drivers, and there is no SMT data available due to some technical issues – SMT is the data crews use on how the cars operate.
Noah Gragson gets into the wall with a flat tire.
Cody Ware spun out on the track with a flat tire and needs a tow back to pit road.
Thinner air is not just a problem for the drivers and crews; it is also an issue in the cars – thinner air means the cars are having trouble “breathing” too.
Carson Hocevar brought out the caution flag when he got loose and backed into the barrier.
Ross Chastain’s spotter Brandon McReynolds is not at the track; Trackhouse Racing has tapped development driver and Xfinity Series regular Connor Zilisch to fill in. Each driver will have at least three spotters but there are a number of areas on the track that cannot be seen by the spotters.
There are few track limits on the course but if a driver does violate the track limits, he must come to a complete stop in the designated area or serve a passthrough penalty.
The teams have been given three sets of tires for two practice sessions.
The top 30 cars are within one second on the track during practice.
Michael McDowell topped the leaderboard with the fastest lap in practice session number one.
Part of the road course goes directly through the grand stands!
After his crash in practice, Noah Gragson has moved to a backup car.
Todd Gilliland tops the leaderboard in the second practice session.
The drivers will go through the inspection process prior to group qualifying on Saturday afternoon.
For qualifying, all 37 of the drivers will make a single group qualifying run in a 45 minute session. There is some bad weather in the area.
Alex Bowman leads the Cup Series drivers as qualifying begins.
After crashing during practice on Friday, Noah Gragson had to go to a backup car and is looking to use part of the qualifying time as a little practice. Gragson jumped in and helped the crew get the backup car prepared for the race.
Not surprising, Shane van Gisbergen jumps to the top of the leaderboard early with a time of 92.776 seconds.
Katherine Legge got loose and spun out in turn four and ended up in the grass. She gets the car moving again and the track stays green.
Ryan Preece spins out after he put his number 60 car in second.
The issues with the SMT data feeds has been worked out and the crews have their data back today.
Reports are that there are some rain drops at the track; however, there is not enough rain to affect the track conditions yet.
The rain has now picked up and NASCAR has displayed the red flag with 17 minutes remaining in the qualifying time. All of the drivers have made a qualifying run.
A road course, Goodyear has brought wet weather tires to Mexico City.
When the Trackhouse Racing drivers took to the track for practice, there were less than half a dozen crew members across the three teams at the track. On Saturday, as qualifying begins, all of the crew members have made it to Mexico City…and the track.
NASCAR has called qualifying official as the rain begins putting Shane van Gisbergen on the pole.
Getting in the car, Shane van Gisbergen said that he had a fifth to tenth place car. With a time of 92.824 seconds, he put his number 88 Trackhouse Racing car on the pole. Ryan Preece will start alongside on the front row.
The starting lineup for the road course race in Mexico City:
Shane van Gisbergen
Ryan Preece
Ross Chastain
Ty Gibbs
Michael McDowell
Kyle Larson
Todd Gilliland
AJ Allmendinger
Joey Logano
Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Josh Berry
Erik Jones
Riley Herbst
Chris Buescher
Justin Haley
Ryan Blaney
Chase Briscoe
Austin Cindric
Austin Dillon
Tyler Reddick
Carson Hocevar
Zane Smith
Bubba Wallace
Cole Custer
William Byron
Ty Dillon
Alex Bowman
Brad Keselowski
Christopher Bell
John Hunter Nemechek
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Cody Ware
Noah Gragson
Ryan Truex
Katherine Legge
The pole sitter in both races is the number 88 car.
Stage one is 20 laps, stage two is 25 laps, and stage three will last 55 laps for a total of 100 laps around the 2.42 mile track. The drivers can run 30 laps on a single load of fuel.
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gorden gave the command today with, “Pilotos start your engines!”
There are a few rain drops as the drivers work their way around the track with the pace laps. Wet weather tires are available to keep the race going.
For the second time this weekend, the number 88 car brings the field down for the green flag start of the race; this time driven by New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen with Ryan Preece starting alongside. SVG reports that he is NOT feeling well at all. Van Gisbergen but Ross Chastain comes up on the inside to challenge for the lead. Drivers are getting three wide across the track. Carson Hocevar looks for a short cut off the course.
The caution flag comes out on lap one for rain.
NASCAR officials have mandated that the drivers turn on the red rear visibility lights and the option and pit road will open for crews to make tires changes if they wish. Shane van Gisbergen brings the field down pit road. Ross Chastain wins the race off of pit road. The drivers also have rain flaps to reduce spray, a windshield wiper, and a defogger inside the car.
There were some close encounters on pit road with small pit boxes and drivers trying to get out of their pit stalls.
Chris Buescher and Austin Cindric stayed out on the track and are running racing slicks. Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap five with Austin Cindric alongside. Austin Cindric has the lead but Ty Gibbs takes the lead in turn one.
The top five are Ty Gibbs, Austin Cindric, Shane van Gisbergen, Ryan Preece, and Ross Chastain.
Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen battle for second.
Slipping and sliding the drivers are getting all over the course including non racing surfaces.
Lap six, Ty Gibbs has a two second lead on Ross Shane van Gisbergen; Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap eight for a crash that sends Kyle Busch spinning, getting into other drivers, and into the grass. AJ Allmendinger, Justin Haley, Chase Briscoe, Zane Smith, and Kyle Larson were also involved.
Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch have taken their cars to the garage for repairs.
Chris Buescher came down pit road to change to wet weather tires.
William Byron reports that turn four is starting to “lock up the rears”.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 10 with Shane van Gisbergen alongside. Gibbs gets out in front with van Gisbergen on his bumper.
Shane van Gisbergen takes the lead with Ty Gibbs in second; Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Justin Haley’s car is smoking.
After starting the race in 31st place, Christopher Bell is in the top 10.
Lap eleven, Shane van Gisbergen has a second and a half lead on Ty Gibbs; Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Ryan Preece round out the top five.
Zane Smith has taken his car to the garage for repairs; once he returns to the course, he will have to serve a stop and go penalty.
Noah Gragson spins out but the track stays green.
Lap 12, Shane van Gisbergen has increased his lead to over two seconds on Ty Gibbs.
Lap 13, Shane van Gisbergen continues to increase his lead and is now over three seconds out in front.
Prior to the race, Shane van Gisbergen was texting with Formula One champion Max Verstappen for some tips on running the course. F1 runs races in Mexico City, but SVG has never run on the track.
Lap 14, Shane van Gisbergen has pulled out to a four plus second lead on Ty Gibbs; Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Zane Smith is back in the race.
Lap 16, pulling out to a five second lead, Shane van Gisbergen is working on a “driving like he stole moment” as the end of stage one is just five laps away.
The rain has stopped and leader Shane van Gisbergen is now over six and a half seconds out in front.
The top five are Shane van Gisbergen, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Preece, Ross Chastain, and Ryan Blaney.
Christopher Bell is the first driver to short pit the end of stage one and changes to racing slicks.
Reports are that the track is drying quickly but there are reports that more rain is on the way.
Lap 17, Shane van Gisbergen is running away from field with a lead of over seven seconds.
More drivers come down pit road to short pit the end of stage one.
With two laps remaining in stage one, leader Shane van Gisbergen comes down pit road; Ryan Preece is the new leader.
Ryan Preece wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ryan Preece
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Michael McDowell
Todd Gilliland
Erik Jones
Carson Hocevar
Bubba Wallace
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez
Chase Briscoe is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers who have not short pitted the end of stage one come down pit road for service. Ryan Preece wins the race off of pit road.
Most of the field is now back on the racing slicks.
NASCAR has called the 19 of Chase Briscoe to pit road for coming down pit road to fuel the car improperly.
Staying out on the track Michael McDowell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Carson Hocevar alongside. Drivers are three and four wide going into turn one. Daniel Suarez domes up on the outside to take the lead.
Lap 26, Ty Gibbs comes up one the inside to take the lead.
Lap 26, the top five are Ty Gibbs, Daniel Suarez, Shane van Gisbergen, Michael McDowell, and Austin Cindric.
John Hunter Nemechek gets turned around but the track stays green.
Austin Cindric passes Michael McDowell for fourth.
Lap 27, Austin Cindric passes Daniel Suarez for third.
Lap 28, Christopher Bell passes Daniel Suarez for fourth.
Todd Gilliland spins out but the track stays green.
Carson Hocevar comes down pit road for a tire change to racing slicks.
Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell also come down pit road for a tire change to slicks.
The top five are ty Gibbs, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell, and Cole Custer.
Lap 31, Ty Gibbs has a near two second lead on Shane van Gisbergen; Christopher Bell, Austin Cindric, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 32 when Ryan Truex gets loose and goes around.
Chase Briscoe is the “lucky dog” after having to give his lap back after the last caution.
A few drivers come down pit road for service.
Kyle Busch is out of the race.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Shane van Gisbergen alongside on lap 35. Drives are three wide in a battle for the lead with Ty Gibbs edging out for the lead.
The top five are Ty Gibbs, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Cindric, Christopher Bell, and William Byron.
Joey Logano gets off in the grass but gets moving again and the track stays green.
Lap 37, Austin Cindric has yet to make a pit stop and is still in the top five!
Lap 41, Austin Dillon finally makes his pit stop.
Erik Jones comes down pit road with a flat tire.
Kyle Larson returns to the race 37 laps down.
Shane van Gisbergen wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Shane van Gisbergen
Christopher Bell
Alex Bowman
Ryan Blaney
Michael McDowell
Austin Dillon
Chris Buescher
Riley Herbst
Carson Hocevar
Daniel Suarez
Justin Haley is the “lucky dog”.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service.
Shane van Gisbergen brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 50, halfway, with Chrisotpher Bell alongside. Drivers are three and four wide going into turn one with Christopher Bell in the lead.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, Michael McDowell, and Chris Buescher.
Ross Chastain gets turned around and off the track but the track stays green.
Lap 52, Christopher Bell leads the race with Shane van Gisbergen in second by a third of a second.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr gets turned around; the track stays green.
Shane van Gisbergen passes Christopher Bell for the lead.
Lap 53, Shane van Gisbergen has pulled out to nearly a one second lead on Christopher Bell; Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Lap 53, Ryan Truex spins out but the track stays green when he gets moving once again.
Carson Hocevar misses a turn and into the grass.
Lap 56, Shane van Gisbergen has a near two second lead on Christopher Bell; Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
In the middle of the field, drivers are doing a great deal of beating and banging for position with Ryan Preece getting off the course.
Ty Gibbs passes Alex Bowman for fourth.
Lap 58, Shane van Gisbergen has pulled out to a two and a half second lead on Christopher Bell.
Lap 59 leader Shane van Gisbergen now has a lead of over thre and a half seconds on second place driver Christopher Bell.
Erik Jones, Noah Gragson, Ryan Blaney , and Chase Briscoe are in a fierce battle for position.
Lap 61, the window is not open for drivers to come down pit road and make it to the end of the race.
Shane van Gisbergen has pulled out to a near five second lead on Christopher Bell; Ty Gibbs passes Michael McDowell for third.
Lap 62, Christopher Bell comes down pit road for service.
Ty Gibbs is now in second place nearly six seconds behind leader Shane van Gisbergen.
Fuel consumption is much better in the higher elevations.
Lap 63, Shane van Gisbergen comes down pit road for his pit stop and gives the lead over to Ty Gibbs. He returns to the track in 19th place.
Ryan Preece was charged with driving through too many pit boxes.
The caution flag comes out on lap 64 when Carson Hocevar spins out and is stopped across the middle of the track. Prior to the caution flag, eleven cars had made their pit stops.
Zane Smith is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ty Gibbs winning the race off of pit road. Nine drivers stayed out on the track.
Shane van Gisbergen leads the race, but he reports that something “doesn’t feel right”; he thought a tire was loose but checking the video showed all were tight.
Shane van Gisbergen brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 69. Drivers are three and four wide going into turn one with SVG taking the lead. Drivers were spread out all over the place going into turn one.
The top five are Shane van Gisbergen, Alex bowman, Christohpher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer.
Zane Smith has a tire issue and gets out into the grass.
Lap 71, Shane van Gisbergen has a one second lead on Alex Bowman. After his vicious crash last week in Michigan, Bowman wasn’t sure if he could make the whole race and had a standby driver; but he has soldiered through the pain to bring his number 48 car to second place.
Ty Gibbs battles with Ross Chastain for eighth.
Oey Logano and Austin Dillon make contact sending Dillon around – Josh Berry comes to a stop right at the right hand door of the car.
Riley Herbst gets turned around after contact form William Byron and barely miss hitting Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Lap 74, Shane van Gisbergen pulls out to a lead of over a second on Alex Bowman; Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer round out the top five.
Christopher Bell moves up to battle with Alex Bowman for second.
Twenty-five laps remain in the race with Shane van Gisbergen nearly two seconds out in front.
With 23 laps to go, Shane van Gisbergen’s lead is down to under a second and a half over Alex Bowman; Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
With 22 laps to go, Ty Gibbs continues to battle with Ross Chastain for eighth place with Michael McDowell on their bumper.
Chase Elliott passes John Hunter Nemechek for fourth place.
Twenty to go! Shane van Gisbergen has a lead of over a second and a half on Alex Bowman.
Eighteen to go, Shane van Gisbergen has a two second lead on Alex Bowman; Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott, and John Hunter Nemechek round out the top five. Ty Gibbs is mired back in ninth 12 seconds back.
Zane Smith takes his car to the garage with mechanical issues.
Thirty-nine laps down, Kyle Larson ran the fastest lap of the race.
Sixteen laps to go, Shane van Gisbergen has pulled out to a two and a half second lead on Alex Bowman.
Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell battle for second.
Fifteen to go, Shane van Gisbergen has “left the field in his wake” five seconds back.
Christopher Bell passes Alex Bowman for second.
Chase Briscoe passes Ty Gibbs for ninth.
Michael McDowell passes Ty Gibbs for 10th.
Just 13 laps to go, Shane van Gisbergen has a six second lead on Christopher Bell.
Ten to go! Shane van Gisbergen has a near six second lead on Christopher Bell.
Carson Hocevar gets off the track but the track stays green
Ross Chastain gets pushed off the course but there is no penalty.
Shane van Gisbergen has a lead of over seven and a half seconds on Christopher Bell.
Chase Elliott passes teammate Alex Bowman for third.
Nine to go, Shane van Gisbergen is now nearly nine seconds out in front of the field.
Shane van Gisbergen’s crew chief was trying to rein his driver in and SVG told him to stop telling him to slow down. SVG has a 10 second lead on the field with seven laps remaining in the race.
Five to go, Shane van Gisbergen has an eleven second lead on the field.
Chase Briscoe passes Chris Buescher for eighth. William Byron passes Ty Gibbs for 12th. Gibbs reports that he has no rear grip.
Three to go, Ross Chastain has lost his rear grip; Bubba Wallace passes Chastain for 14th.
With a lead of nearly 16 seconds, Shane van Gisbergen takes the white flag.
Shane van Gisbergen wins the race for his first points winning Cup Series race! Gisbergen was so far ahead of the field that he was encountering slower traffic! He becomes the 10th different race winner this season.
And has smoke flying everywhere with his burout. And the football makes it into the stands!!!
Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Carson Hocevar have another confrontation.
Unofficial results at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez;
Shane van Gisbergen
Christopher Bell
Chase Elliott
Alex Bowman
Michael McDowell
John Hunter Nemechek
Chase Briscoe
Cole Custer
William Byron
Chris Buescher
Ty Gibbs
Bubba Wallace
AJ Allmendinger
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Preece
Ross Chastain
Erik Jones
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suare
Tyler Reddick
Joey Logano
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Truex
Justin Haley
Brad Keselowski
Josh Berry
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Austin Dillon
Riley Herbst
Noah Gragson
Cody Ware
Katherine Legge
Ty Dillon
Carson Hocevar
Zane Smith
Kyle Larson
Kyle Busch
Following the traditions of IndyCar and Formula One, the top three drivers will stand on the podium.