Nascar and others to Mexico City?

[Snrub]

"Adding just one road course would likely be financially impractical for Busch or Trucks, but NASCAR has made clear its desire to race in Mexico, where the Mexico City track would also be a road course. Two road course events would make much more sense financially."

From a link in the IRL forum. Whole article is a good link:
http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=53729

I'm more than a little worried about this. CART may be the only big series with Mexican drivers, but there are a lot of series with a lot of muscle. It makes complete sense for Nascar to go to Mexico, they've been making moves towards Canada as well. CART's monster Mexican races had to open some eyes in all the major series. WRC was already there this year and F1 is expanding to all sorts of debatable destinations (so why not go to a real one like Mexico?). Now Nascar and IRL may move there too. Without Mexico CART might not be have existed in 2004.

The article also makes mention of the IRL not racing at Nazerth. Maybe a future opportunity for CART?

[camcartfan]

Doesn't Penske own Nazareth? If so, don't bet on it!

[Snrub]

That's what I thought too, seeing as PT has more laps there than any other open wheel driver. The article seems to indicate otherwise.

[Mags]

From what I've been told about The Glen, it's unsafe and IRL/Champ cars can no longer run there.

[jjspierx]

One of the keys to Champcars success in Mexico is that the series has several Mexican drivers. How many Mexican drivers are in F1 or Nascar? None that I know of, although admittedly I don't much in the way of Nascar drivers except for the top 15 or so Cup drivers.

[Amar7605]

Here in California, most of the Mexicans who I know don't care much for NASCAR. They generally like Open wheel and rally racing there. And yes, it would only work for NASCAR if there are Mexican drivers in the series. But they did get a Japanese driver a couple of years ago (possibly to get Toyota's interest?), so I am sure that they could get a Mexican driver or two.

I remember that in Japan NASCAR had an exhibition race in Suzuka, and no one came (at least not nearly as much as F1/CART races there). So, it could be a case that NASCAR isn't cared for much in the world, except in the minds of NASCAR.

[KC]

Don't be surprised if NASCAR does prove to be more popular in non-typical demographics that many might expect. Do you know what the hottest gear for young blacks males is right now in the US? The Dale Jr. Budweiser NASCAR team jacket. That does not necessarily make them NASCAR fans as much as fans of the look of the clothing and maybe its a flash fad that will fade just as quickly as it came.

The real test will be to see if Tecate or Corona or another major Mexican product brand name appears on the side of a stock car or on the banners above a racetrack. If it does, this could drive the promotion of a Mexican driver and a race south of the Border.

[Mags]

I highly doubt you will see a Mexican driver in a NASCAR. And I don't think you will get Mexican fans out to see a race if they don't have a local to cheer for. I honestly don't, but, hey, I've been wrong before (just ask my ex!)

[JohnSSC]

NASCAR is reaching out to that demographic and has, I believe, several Hispanic drivers in their various ladder series.

Felix Sabates, a long term team owner, is Hispanic.

NASCAR knows that they do not appeal across all ethnic groups and has been moving to address that. Should they be succesful there is no telling how far that could push that series.

The Glen, by the way is not inherently dangerous in layout. It is the runoff areas that are the problem which is also exacerbated by the renovation limitations (IIRC) brought by the track's historic landmark status.

[Net-Ranger]

Maybe we can see a Mexican Driver in NASCAR soon...

Rumors in mexican motorsport that have been around since 2 weeks ago say that maybe Carlos Contreras (Former Mexican Driver with Petty Enterprises in NASCAR Trucks) is about to return to NASCAR in the Bush series...also Carlos Contreras brother, Enrique Contreras is about to begin a NASCAR sanctioned series in Mexico, along with Michel Jourdain Sr. (father of Michel), also involved they say is Televisa, competitor (or enemy in better words) of TV Azteca that broadcast Champcars live in Mexico

This new series is also making the same IRL tactics to the Roshfrans Mustang Cup (Mexican Trans-Am), many teams from the mustang cup leave the series guided for the money that the mexican "NASCAR GUYS" are offering

this worries me about...

NASCAR wants to bring Mexico their artificial way of race...

[Mags]

Originally posted by Net-Ranger
Maybe we can see a Mexican Driver in NASCAR soon...

Rumors in mexican motorsport that have been around since 2 weeks ago say that maybe Carlos Contreras (Former Mexican Driver with Petty Enterprises in NASCAR Trucks) is about to return to NASCAR in the Bush series...also Carlos Contreras brother, Enrique Contreras is about to begin a NASCAR sanctioned series in Mexico, along with Michel Jourdain Sr. (father of Michel), also involved they say is Televisa, competitor (or enemy in better words) of TV Azteca that broadcast Champcars live in Mexico

This new series is also making the same IRL tactics to the Roshfrans Mustang Cup (Mexican Trans-Am), many teams from the mustang cup leave the series guided for the money that the mexican "NASCAR GUYS" are offering

this worries me about...

NASCAR wants to bring Mexico their artificial way of race...

I'm sorry, but there is NO WAY, IMO, NA$CAR will ship thier entire series down to Mexico for a race no-one will attend.

They do not want to see empty stands. If they thought there was a profitable race to be run down there, they would already BE there, and would have been YEARS ago. When the series was super-strong, and viable, like in 2001.

[jjspierx]

Hmmm...interesting point Mags, but I tend to disagree a little with you. I agree Nascar wouldn't ship their series down to Mexico for a race no-one would attend. However, it is my understanding that up until recently NASCAR has been operated under the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. I really don't think NASCAR even spent too much time looking into expanding into other areas. Things in NASCAR didn't start changing until ownership switched hands from father to son last year.

[Mags]

Originally posted by jjspierx
Hmmm...interesting point Mags, but I tend to disagree a little with you. I agree Nascar wouldn't ship their series down to Mexico for a race no-one would attend. However, it is my understanding that up until recently NASCAR has been operated under the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. I really don't think NASCAR even spent too much time looking into expanding into other areas. Things in NASCAR didn't start changing until ownership switched hands from father to son last year.

Very True! But, just changing the points system sent them into fits! It's a "good ole boy" series, plain and simple. I highly doubt Mexicans would flock to see a series that they wouldn't be able to identify with. They don't drive Chevs or Pontiac's or Chryslers.

NOW before you go off on me - I KNOW no-one drives those Champ Cars, but they never WILL. They don't have to identify with THOSE! But they have Mexican drivers to cheer for. I don't think NA$CAR will ever make it there, because it appeals (or it reaches out to) a type of fan the Mexican market doesn't reach.

[cartpix]

They do drive Chevys, Fords & Chryslers, in Mexico. In fact, they build a lot of them there.

Jeff

[Mags]

Originally posted by cartpix
They do drive Chevys, Fords & Chryslers, in Mexico. In fact, they build a lot of them there.

Jeff

I totally disagree! They BUILD them there (and I am well aware of that as I work for the auto industry) but by and large, Mexicans drive Imports. Like VW's, etc. Those type of cars stand up better, and if you have visited Mexico, you know they drive rust buckets... old cars, and the old imports are all I saw on the streets when I was down there a few years ago. But, I've been wrong before... ask my ex!!

[jjspierx]

Originally posted by Mags
Very True! But, just changing the points system sent them into fits! It's a "good ole boy" series, plain and simple. I highly doubt Mexicans would flock to see a series that they wouldn't be able to identify with. They don't drive Chevs or Pontiac's or Chryslers.

I agree completely. Even things like switching dates at certain tracks, or getting rid of one of the two races held at the same track in the same year seem to become huge contreversies. Let alone internationalizing the series. I don't see NASCAR going to Mexico anytime soon, and if they did, I'd expect it to be at a financial loss for at least the first few years.

[JohnSSC]

If you are assuming that NASCAR is just a "good ole boy" series then you better re-examine things. NASCAR did not get to be as big as it is simply by being that. Do they play up their "down home" image? Sure do. But this is a very sophisticated series with very sophisticated owners and a growing fan base. One needs to look only at the number of drivers who arrive in their own aircraft to get a sense for the $$ involved.

Make no mistake: NASCAR wants that market.

You know, once upon a time it was said that NASCAR would never survive outside of it's "home" in the deep South. Now you have tracks all across the country fighting to get (and keep) dates.

Open Wheel racing in North America has a long, uphill battle in front of it if it wants to be consider in the same league as NASCAR.

[Liz]

Why are we talking about NA$CAR on a Champ Car board again?

Watkins Glen has been designated as Historic and no real alteration can be made in it; that is the big problem with bringing modern cars (or Another Series) to that track. Not to mention the fact that it's another track way out in the boondocks of course. As far as I am aware, the Glen does not meet FIA standards and can't be upgraded to them due to aforesaid historic designation.

As for Mexicans in NA$CAR, I get the idea that Mexican fans are like American fans -- they don't want a token driver trailing around the back of the field for half an hour before he crashes or is driven into a wall -- they want competitive drivers at the front of the pack with a realistic chance to win. IMO this will not happen in NA$CAR any more than it has happened that Canadians reach the front half of the grid. (If they can find a Mexican-American with three generations of family in West Virginia, though ... )

[Snrub]

There clearly is a reason to talk about Nascar, Mexico and how it will effect CART. At the very least we have to admit that sponsorship could be taken away and while the attendance is massive at the CART races, some of those people would go to a Nascar race and may not have the funds or motivation to continue attending the CART race.

Nascar is clearly a genious of marketing. If the southern US image doesn't fly in Mexico they could very easily market it differently there.

[rustyfan]

Originally posted by Snrub
Nascar is clearly a genious of marketing. If the southern US image doesn't fly in Mexico they could very easily market it differently there.

NASCAR has been trying to move away from their southern roots/image for years now, with this year being no different with Rockingham losing one of its races to Fontana.

[JohnSSC]

Well since the subject came up in reference to why NASCAR is popular and interested in expanding their territory, along with how that impacts OWRS/IRL then it can and should be discussed.

NASCAR and it's influence is the 500lb gorilla that is not acknowledged here. NASCAR's success has come at the expense of open wheel racing here - period. If open wheel is to survive it has to create a need and fill it in the minds of racing fans here. A large obstacle to that process is NASCAR. There are also some good lessons that NASCAR can teach both series'.

The subject is very, very topical.

[Omega99]

How come so many threads seem to end up becoming discussions about how relevant a thread is?

Doesn't Forsythe own something to do with the Mexico City Race? Didn't he dump a bunch of money into the track? I know he's got a huge stake in Monterrey, but I'm pretty sure he was heavily involved in both. If he does, then I'd say the champ car race is relatively safe. And even if Forsythe owns the track I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a NASCAR race there if they pay up.

[Mags]

Indeed. I start a thread about a car leaving the Indy 500 and an owner stating he is coming to CART and am told it's not relevant..... which I happen to think is DARN relevant... however.. Jerry is indeed involved in both Mexican tracks. But if NASCAR where to come, I'm sure he'd welcome the income.

[macdaddy]

The results were never released...

[macdaddy]

Mags...
"NASCAR-to-Mexico" has one active thread.
"Hemelgarn-to-CC" already has at least two.
Yours would've been (at least) three.
And, considering the thread title?
Give it up.