Corona México 200
The Corona México 200 presented by Banamex is a discontinued NASCAR Nationwide Series stock car race held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City, Mexico. The inaugural race was held in 2005 and the final race was held in 2008. The 2005 race marked the first time that NASCAR had run a Busch Series race on a road course since 2001, and at one time the Mexico City race was one of three road races on the Busch/Nationwide circuit (joining races at Watkins Glen and Montreal).
NASCAR Nationwide Series | |
---|---|
Venue | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
Location | Mexico City, Mexico |
Corporate sponsor | Corona Banamex |
First race | 2005 |
Last race | 2008 |
Distance | 201.44 miles (324.19 km) |
Laps | 80 |
Previous names | Telcel-Motorola 200 Presented by Banamex (2005–2006) Telcel-Motorola Mexico 200 (2007) Corona Mexico 200 Presented by Banamex (2008) |
Most wins (team) | Joe Gibbs Racing (2) |
Most wins (manufacturer) | Chevrolet (2) |
Circuit information | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 2.518 mi (4.052 km) |
Turns | 16 |
Much attention was directed towards this race, as it was the first NASCAR points-paying race outside the United States since 1952. The only recent international races for NASCAR had been those at the Suzuka Circuit and Twin Ring Motegi (1996–1998) in Japan, but the races were non-points-paying exhibition races. In 1952, NASCAR sanctioned points-paying races on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track is a very popular track for open-wheel racing such as Formula One and Champ Car. However, some adjustments were necessary to adapt the course for stock cars. The most significant alteration involved the introduction of a chicane on the pit straight. Additionally, a link was incorporated to bypass Curva Héctor Rebaque, instead integrating a sweeping curve between the track's short circuit curve and Ese del Lago. This modification was prompted by the intensified braking demands of the heavier stock cars. It's important to note that, unlike the Champ Car race, the stock cars do not navigate through the chicane at Peraltada. Notably, in 2007, the frontstretch "Bus stop chicane" was removed from the course configuration for the stock cars.