NASCAR insider attributes Joey Logano's Mexico victory potential to Ford's engine cooling package

NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass believes Joey Logano is the favorite to win the first Cup Series race in Mexico City on Sunday (June 15). He attributes it to Ford's decision to use standard engine cooling packages instead of adding additional louvers, under challenging conditions at a new track.

The first international Cup Series race in nearly 60 years at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, comes with its unique set of demands - thinner air at an altitude of nearly 2,200 m (about 7,200 feet) and a twisting road course configuration that drivers are still figuring out. Despite these uncertainties, Logano might find himself at an advantage, as Pockrass explained in a tweet.

"Logano wasn't great in practice but solid starting spot. I also think the Fords going with their regular engine cooling package might be able to navigate the race a little easier. And for the most part it's a new track, where Logano tends to thrive," he wrote.

Joey Logano was not a frontrunner in practice but finished within the top ten in both sessions. However, he will be starting the Viva Mexico 250 in ninth and remains hopeful due to a unique setup on his No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

Chevrolet and Toyota added additional cooling with louvers to minimize overheating, given the less dense air and naturally aspirated engines. The Fords, meanwhile, are sticking with their baseline configuration. Pockrass believes this can be a key advantage in a challenging environment where reliability will be rare.

Speaking about the little preparation time before the race, Joey Logano said (via SiriusXM):

"On a big road course, you're getting three runs... You don't have much time to come back in and change anything. And you're gotta learn to race track as a driver. So not only you want to adjust on the car, but you got to figure out, like, where do I hit the brakes? How hard can I go? Where's the tire fall off going? Where's the little tricks to the corners that I can cut a little speed here and there?" (0:16 onwards)

However, the three-time Cup Series champion has a strong track record of succeeding on new circuits. He won the inaugural Cup race at WWT Raceway in 2022, the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro in 2024 and 2025, and at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2023.

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Roush Yates and Ford prepare cooling packages for Team Penske and Joey Logano to overcome Mexico

NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) during Charlotte qualifying. Source: Imagn

As the Cup Series heads to Mexico City, Roush Yates and Ford engineers have returned to their roots. They have used a baseline setup to find a power solution that can handle the thinner air and unique conditions at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Because the altitude drops air density by nearly 22%, the naturally aspirated V8s typically lose power in direct relation to the drop in pressure. To account for this, Roush Yates drew on knowledge from its Ford GT program with the EcoBoost engine, to simulate Mexico conditions.

"We drew off of our Ford GT program experience with the EcoBoost engine quite a bit because they actually took that car over to the UK and had a test cell where you could simulate Mexico City, the ambient conditions. It doesn't all apply because the engines are so different, but we learned a lot from that," Doug Yates explained (via Autoweek)

Calibration, power delivery, and cooling are expected to be key. The alternator, therefore, becomes more important at this altitude to help control temperatures. The team will match data from its test programs against the conditions in Mexico to maximize power without stressing components.

Joey Logano's #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford with a front grill with less tape to help get air into the engine. Source: Getty

For Team Penske's Joey Logano and his fellow Fords, this approach could be a decisive advantage in a race where adaptability is key. The conditions in Mexico City will test everyone, drivers, crews, and engineers, in a way few Cup Series events do.