The inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico City takes place this weekend, which presents challenges for the drivers in the field. However, Cody Ware is one of the few who can lean on past experiences to better prepare for the altitude, in particular.
Ware doesn't have Xfinity Series experience at the road course where he will compete this weekend. He actually raced at another track 143 kilometers to the southeast. It still delivered the same altitude challenges considering it is more than 7,000 feet above sea level.
"I actually raced in Mexico once before," Ware said, per Rick Ware Racing. "I ran the NASCAR Mexico Series race at a flat mile oval called Puebla. When I got off the plane and headed to the track, it reminded me of landing in Denver, where you feel a little out of breath at first and you have to acclimate."
The track where Ware raced was Autódromo Internacional Miguel E. Abed, a venue that can host both road course and oval races. He drove the No. 71 for Miriam Ibarra in 2014. Ware's race was fairly short-lived as he was involved in a six-car crash in the first 16 laps. Fellow future Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez finished sixth in the race.
Ware will now have another opportunity to compete at altitude as he returns to Mexico. He knows what the challenges will be, so how did he prepare?
Like some other drivers in the field, he placed extra emphasis on his fitness level. He knew that this upcoming road course race will not test him in the same way as Sonoma, Circuit of the Americas, or Watkins Glen. He could not approach this event as if it was just another series of left and right turns.
"As a race car driver, it's always important to be physically fit, but especially when you're in a new environment that's already taxing because you're not used to it. So, you take your cardio seriously so that you're in shape, but also so that your heart health and lung capacity are where they need to be.
"There's a lot of strength needed for driving a racecar, especially when it comes to braking. It takes a lot of brake pressure to extract 700-800 pounds of braking force into the corner. It's about being on your game from start to finish, where you're as good on the last lap as you were when you took the green."
Will this approach work as Ware takes on another trip to Mexico City? He is much older, and he has far more experience. He has spent more time on his physical fitness.
Friday will provide the first indication for Ware. The schedule includes two practice sessions, which he can use to familiarize himself with the road course. These sessions will also provide an opportunity to see if his preparation was fitting for the altitude challenges.