If IndyCar wants to race in Mexico they should get Sergio Perez (Update)

IndyCar CEO Mark Miles has offered an update on talks of adding new races to the schedule, explaining that it is too soon for any announcements. Potential races in Mexico and Denver were a work in progress.

“A new race isn’t added until everything’s done right, contracted for and all of that follows on us being convinced that we would have the right partnerships or promoters in the right markets,” Miles explained to Autosport.

“It’s too early to declare victory on any of the possibilities that you mentioned, but it is true that both of those markets are a work in progress.

“Look, if we land one of the two for as early as 2026 that’d be terrific, along with Arlington.”

If IndyCar did head to Mexico, it would be the first time the open-wheel championship has had a presence south of the border since 2007 during the Champ Car era.

Should Sergio Perez continue his racing career outside of Formula 1, a move to IndyCar is the “obvious” move to make.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Mexican IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward has made a big push on IndyCar management to land a race in Mexico.  The best place for IndyCar to race in Mexico would be at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. However, IndyCar was asleep at the wheel and NASCAR beat them to the market.

And since there are now three big races in Mexico City – Formula 1, NASCAR and Formula E – the market is likely too saturated given the annual wages of Mexicans and their ability to purchase race tickets.

If both Sergio Perez and Pato O’ward were IndyCar drivers in competitive rides, and IndyCar race in Mexico would be huge.

Former-McLaren mechanic turned F1 pundit and commentator Marc Priestley reckons Perez could race on in IndyCar.

“Sergio Perez has a massive fan base and huge commercial support behind him,” said Priestley when speaking to Casino Uden Rofus. That would be a huge benefit to IndyCar.

“He can compete in another form of racing, IndyCar might be the obvious choice right now but it will come down to his personal decision.

“Sometimes, drivers come towards to the end of their long F1 careers and when they come to the end of their time in the sport, they might want to prioritize time with family. Perez has multiple options ahead of him though, I don’t doubt it.”

The beauty of Perez racing in IndyCar is that he would never be very far from his family in Mexico because all IndyCar races are in North America; Hence, Perez could have the best of both worlds.