Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (or in English "Rodríguez Brothers Racetrack") is a 4.421 km (2.747 mi) race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous Rodríguez brothers.
Built in a public park in 1962, the circuit hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix the same year, as a non-Championship race. The following year the Mexican Grand Prix became a full World Championship event. The circuit remained part of the F1 calendar through 1970, when spectator overcrowding caused unsafe conditions. When the track re-opened in 1986, the circuit boasted a new pit complex, as well as improved safety all around. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (as of 2006) has been the only venue for the Mexican Grand Prix.
The circuit is located within the public park of the Magdalena Mixhuca in northeast Mexico City. The circuit is owned by the Government of the City, but is currently operated under concession by Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A. de C.V. or CIE, through OCESA, one of CIE's subsidiaries. CIE also organizes the NASCAR and Desafío Corona races in this circuit and rents the circuits to other parties, including race organizers, automobile clubs and track amateurs for fees that are controversial due to their disproportionately high amounts compared to other ex-F1 courses.
The circuit itself has a very bumpy surface, mostly due to Mexico City's location on a geologically active region. Furthermore, with an elevation of 2,285 m,(7,500 ft) the thin air makes breathing more difficult for both the drivers and their cars. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez tragically lost his life there in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix (Ricardo's brother Pedro would also lose his life behind the wheel years later).
The circuit has an extremely fast final corner (the peraltada) before a long start/finish straight, and thus reminded some of Monza; however, unlike Monza's parabolica curve, the peraltada curve is slightly banked, allowing even more speed through the corner. It was at this corner that Rodríguez crashed, although it is unclear whether this was due to excess speed or suspension failure. After the last F1 Mexican Grand Prix in 1992, a baseball stadium was built on the innerpart of this curve. When the Champ Car series began using the track in 2002, the peraltada curve was partially bypassed by a series of sharp turns entering and exiting the baseball field; re-entering the peraltada halfway through.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series started racing at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the 2005 season, with a chicane on the main straightaway to slow the cars down. They also introduced a curve between the short course and the Ese del Lago to bypass the latter, but avoiding the stadium detour. Martin Truex Jr. won the race in 2005, and Denny Hamlin won in 2006. For the 2007 race, the chicane was removed to increase passing oppurtunities down the front straight and into turn 1, and Juan Pablo Montoya from Bogotá, Colombia, won the race.
The A1 Grand Prix series started racing at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the 2007 season using the full-track configuration used by Formula 1. Alex Yoong from Malaysia won the sprint race and Oliver Jarvis from the United Kingdom won the feature race.
The oval track
In the Autódromo, it's also possible to make an oval track, thanks to a flat turn that goes from the middle of the main straightaway to the beginning of the backstretch. The oval is raced in anti-clockwise direction, as opposed to the road course.
The oval configuration of this Mexico City facility is arguably the most dangerous racetrack in Mexico, because of the limited visibility at the exit of Turns 2 and 4. This is because the Foro Sol baseball stadium is located inside turns 1 and 2; and several trees are located inside turns 3 and 4.
During the 2006 season, two horrific accidents occurred in the oval track during NASCAR Mexico T4 Series events, which took several drivers out of the race and even required some of them to be taken to the hospital.
The oval configuration is used at least twice a year, with two double-feature events featuring the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series and the NASCAR Mexico T4 Series.
Formula One history
Note: Pink background indicates non-Championship year.
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Champ Car history
NASCAR Nationwide Series history (formerly Busch Series)
| Season | Date | Official Race Name | Winning Driver | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | March 6 | Telcel MOTOROLA Mexico 200 presented by Banamex | Martin Truex Jr. | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo |
| 2006 | March 5 | Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 presented by Banamex | Denny Hamlin | Chevrolet | Monte Carlo SS |
| 2007 | March 4 | Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Dodge | Charger |
A1 Grand Prix history
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Winning Country | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | March 25 | Oliver Jarvis | Team Great Britain | Lola | Zytek |
Current Races
- Panam GP Series - A1 Grand Prix Mexico City
- A1 Grand Prix - A1 Grand Prix Mexico City
- NASCAR Nationwide Series - Telcel-Motorola 200 presented by Banamex
- Champ Car World Series - Gran Premio de México
- Champ Car Atlantic Series - Gran Premio de México
- NASCAR Mexico Corona Series - 2 races in the oval
- Copa Turismo México - Copa Turismo México Presentada por Continental y FIAT
- Moto Pro México - Copa Turismo México Presentada por Continental y FIAT
Records
- A1 Grand Prix Qualifying: Alex Yoong, 86.490 sec. (115.015 mph), 2007
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying: Scott Pruett, 87.458 sec. (103.647 mph), 2007
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Race (200 miles): Juan Pablo Montoya, 2 hrs. 45 min. 15 sec. (74.969 mph), March 4, 2007
The Autódromo is unique in the sense that there is a baseball stadium inside Turn 14. The stadium, called Foro Sol is home to the Diablos Rojos del México, and also hosts music concerts.
Artists like Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, and Paul McCartney are just a few of the names that have played there.
The Coca-Cola Zero Festival will be held at the racetrack on April 12, 2008. (http://coca-colazero.com.mx/) Acts include The Smashing Pumpkins, The Mars Volta, My Chemical Romance, My Morning Jacket, Belanova, Bright Eyes, Kinky, Miranda, La Gusana Ciega, Jumbo, Division Minuscula, Timo Maas, Quiero Club, The Faint, Chetes, Le Baron, and Austin TV.
Trivia
- Pope John Paul II gave mass to nearly 2 million faithful at the Autódromo in 1999.
- Mexique is one of the racing circuits available for the Formula Dé board game.
- 1/4 mile drag racing events are also held here on occasion, on the main straightaway.
- The Government of Mexico City organizes a marathon and bicycle races on the circuit.
External links
- Official Track Page
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Page on the NASCAR site
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Page at GrandPrix.com (focusing on Formula One history)
- Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Google Maps
- Trackpedia's guide to driving and facts about Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
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