There will be a frame race at the Formula 1 race weekend in Mexico with former Champ Car and IndyCar drivers: Who all will be there
Mexico Grand Prix organisers have confirmed the full field for the Legends Cup race, which will feature a dozen former Champ Car and IndyCar drivers. The race will pay tribute to the Champ Car events that took place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit between 2002 and 2007.
The drivers will compete in the same 500hp V8 cars normally used in the Gran Turismo Mexico Series. The team is led by five Mexican drivers who raced in the Champ Car era, namely Adrian Fernandez, Mario Dominguez, Michel Jourdain Jr, Roberto Gonzalez and Luis Diaz. The latter has only made two starts in the series, but both were at his home race.
The local stars are joined by Paul Tracy, Mark Blundell, Alex Tagliani, Oriol Servia, Max Papis, Bruno Junquiera and Casey Mears. Papis, Blundell and Mears did not even compete in the Champ Car race in Mexico City. Papis did not contest a full season in 2002 and 2003, while Blundell and Mears had already left the series before the first race.
Mexico organiser happy about prominent frame race
The Mexico City race was a popular stop on the Champ Car calendar before it was discontinued in 2008 following the merger with IndyCar. The only previous winner in the Legends Cup field is Tracy, who triumphed in 2003, whereas Junqueira was on pole the year before. Other winners in Mexico City were Sebastian Bourdais (2004, 2006 and 2007), Kenny Bräck (2002) and Justin Wilson (2005).
“Before Formula One was held in Mexico, we used to host the Champ Car World Series at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which was as big as Formula One is today,” says Mexico Grand Prix general director Federico Gonzalez.
“It is a great privilege for us and for Mexican fans to be able to bring all these legends together again for a once-in-a-lifetime event here in Mexico. We are sure that the Legends Cup will be a successful event at this year’s race. It will be a very special event to bring together great drivers who have given us unforgettable moments in the past. “
The last time a similar event was held at the track was in 1989 when Michel Jourdain Sr. held a race called the Nations Challenge, a one-off precursor to the A1 GP series that used Chrysler stock cars and featured drivers representing their countries.
Participants included drivers such as Derek Bell, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Gianni Morbidelli, Frank Biela, Jim Richards, John Andretti as well as Wilson and Christian Fittipaldi.