NASCAR star addresses health concern ahead of Mexico City race

NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell has addressed a health concern regarding the change in altitude at Mexico City given that he is set to compete in two races this weekend.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Mexico and the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the very first time later this week, with the Xfinity Series also in action on Saturday, marking its return to the track after a 17-year absence.

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The last Xfinity race in Mexico City, then known as the Busch Series, was won by Kyle Busch, with Denny Hamlin, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Martin Truex Jr. also claiming victories there between 2005 and 2007.

Joe Gibbs Racing star Bell is looking to add his name to that list next weekend, dropping down to run in the No. 24 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing before then running as usual in the Cup Series race on Sunday.

However, this past weekend at Michigan, Bell was quizzed over concerns about fatigue due to the track's high altitude, and how it might affect his fitness given he is set to race on both Saturday and Sunday.

"It's on my brain for sure." Bell told FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass

How could drivers be impacted by conditions in Mexico City?

Bell continued: "I've been trying to dot my i's and cross my t's and do all the homework to make sure I'm as prepared as I can be whenever I get there, but I don't know,"

"NASCAR has raced there in the past, and we didn't hear a lot about the altitude, and obviously F1 goes there, and same thing.

"It could be a really big talking point, it could be nothing at all, nobody's going to know until we get there."

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is around 2,280 meters (7,480 feet) above sea level, which results in thinner air, which in turn affects both car performance and driver physiology.

The stars of F1 have frequently spoken out over the challenges faced at the Mexican circuit, with fan-favourite racer Daniel Ricciardo even admitting back in 2023 that he felt the unusual demands of the track left him feeling the change physically.

Speaking before leaving the sport, Ricciardo said: "In the car, it doesn't feel that different, maybe it is because we are sitting and maybe the muscles we use don't really spike the heart rate too much."

"I don't know what it is, but I remember the races here [in Mexico] not being that much more physical, but I definitely feel it when I sleep.

"Whenever I wake up in the morning, I just feel a little bit short of breath, as if someone has put a pillow over your face."

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