Bell Stumbles, Van Gisbergen Triumphs at Mexico City NASCAR Cup Race
In the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Shane van Gisbergen secured a commanding victory over Christopher Bell, establishing himself as the driver to beat in this unique road course setting. Bell finished a notable 16.5 seconds behind van Gisbergen despite his commendable efforts.
Reflecting on his performance, Bell commented, "I think it was more driver” that kept him from surpassing van Gisbergen. He acknowledged his team’s strong road course setups but admitted a need for personal improvement, noting, “I just need to work on myself a little bit.”
During the race’s final stint, van Gisbergen demonstrated dominance, effectively managing the 15-turn, 2.4-mile circuit after the last restart on lap 69. Initially sharing the front row with Bell, who briefly dropped back to third before reclaiming second place from Alex Bowman, Bell’s strategy proved pivotal. He opted to pit before a stage break, which eventually allowed him to gain essential track position, finishing the second stage in second behind van Gisbergen.
Adverse weather provided Bell with opportunities; he remarked on the initial rain conditions that assisted his progress from a disappointing 31st place qualifying effort, stating, “The rain really opened up the opportunity to gain some positions.” However, he ultimately concluded that while he led at points, van Gisbergen showcased superior speed.
Historically, Bell has excelled in road course settings, boasting an average finish of 1.5 over the season’s first two events. As the NASCAR Cup Series progresses, the challenge remains clear: outpace van Gisbergen, who’s quickly establishing himself as a formidable competitor.
