What many IndyCar fans had hoped would be a triumphant return to Mexico in 2026, has been derailed thanks to the FIFA world cup according to IndyCar officials.
In a statement today, Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said, “For more than a year, we have been working diligently to bring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, While extensive progress was made alongside the venue’s operating group and our potential promoter, ultimately the significant impact of next year’s World Cup proved too challenging to ensure a successful event given the available summer dates.”
With a population of over 22 million people, Mexico City would be the largest city to host an IndyCar race by a wide margin. Not only that, it’s a metropolis that is known for its passionate race fans. The F1 Mexican Grand Prix has been a sell-out every year since it rejoined the calendar in 2015. In addition, they support Mexican drivers. Checo Perez fans not only showed up in droves when he was Red Bull’s #2 driver, they supported him with their wallets. The Milton Keynes based team estimated that 65% of all Red Bull F1 merchandise was sold in Mexico while Checo was driving for the team. There’s no reason to believe this passion wouldn’t be showed to the Mexican-born IndyCar superstar, Pato O’Ward as well.
“No one wants a race to take place in Mexico more than I do.” O’Ward said, “But we want to create an incredible event that is built to last. This requires finding the right date and year for fans and sponsors to fully support our sport. I am motivated to continue this effort and participate in a future race in my home country.”
The last time IndyCar (then Champ Car) raced in Mexico City, officials estimated more than 350,000 people attended the event over the three-day weekend. NASCAR held what most consider to be a highly-successful race in Mexico City in June this year, with the grandstands and other major viewing areas mostly full.
This announcement is especially disappointing as many had expected the Mexico City race to replace Iowa Speedway, which drew about 6,000 fans to each of the two races this year.
We’ll have more on the 2026 IndyCar schedule as information becomes available. For our thoughts on the 2025 season, please listen to our podcast, Rides & Drives Team Radio. It’s available on most major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.
