Why IndyCar Will Not Be Racing In Mexico City In 2026

IndyCar Series star Pato O’Ward of Monterrey, Mexico is a major proponent of the series competing in Mexico City.

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For most of the summer, it appeared an NTT IndyCar Series race in Mexico City was finally going to become a reality. But major contract hurdles including race dates with the potential promoter, along with other issues will prevent that from happening in 2026.

IndyCar confirmed on Saturday, September 13 that a race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will not be part of next season’s schedule.

That venue hosts the Formula One World Championship every season.

Another key part of the equation is IndyCar’s television partner at FOX Sports, will televise next year’s World Cup international soccer tournament, creating a unique challenge as all races on the NTT IndyCar Series Schedule are televised live on the major FOX network.

FOX also purchased a one-third ownership stake in IndyCar in late July 2025.

IndyCar Explains The Factors

“For more than a year, we have been working diligently to bring the NTT IndyCar Series to Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “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.

“While we absolutely want to race in Mexico, we also want to ensure everyone involved feels the conditions are in place to plan a world-class and highly engaging race weekend. We will keep working to bring our racing to Mexico and hope for an event to be on the schedule as soon as the right opportunity presents itself.”

Pato O’Ward’s Disappointment

The proposed race would have showcased IndyCar’s most popular driver, Pato O’Ward of Monterrey, Mexico. O’Ward is very popular both in the United States and in Mexico and has worked behind the scenes to help bring IndyCar to his home country.

“No one wants a race in Mexico more than me,” O’Ward said. “But we want to create an incredible event that is built to last. That requires the right date and the right year for fans and sponsors to fully get behind our sport.

“I’m motivated to carry this effort forward and take part in a future race in my home country.”

Mexico City is the largest city in North America with a metropolitan population of 22,752,400 according to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects for 2025. Last year alone, the population increased by 250,000, according to the UN data.

NASCAR Was One And Done In 2025

NASCAR competed at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14-15. Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse swept the racing weekend by winning both the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on June 14 and the NASCAR Cup Series race on June 15.

Although large crowds attended the NASCAR weekend, the series experienced a variety of issues and will not return to Mexico in 2026.

Pato O’Ward Was Confident As The 2025 Season Ended

Just two weeks ago before the final race of the 2025 IndyCar Series season at Nashville Superspeedway, I interview O’Ward, and he was confident that Mexico City was going to finally be part of the IndyCar schedule.

“I think it will be lots of years and thousands and thousands of dollars that I’ve spent of personal money to try and make it happen and continue to grow my own brand in the IndyCar name in Mexico,” O’Ward told me. “So hopefully it really does come to fruition, and we can have an amazing event as I’m sure it’ll be.”

IndyCar has yet to release a schedule for 2026 as it continues to solve a Rubik’s Cube of potential race dates and available programming slots on FOX as the entire season must be completed no later than Labor Day Weekend.

FOX is a major partner of the National Football League. A key aspect of its IndyCar partnership of televising all races on live, over the air, television is to have the season completed before the NFL regular season begins.