"You’re almost forced to hang out": Kyle Larson relishes rare chance to bond with competitors in Mexico

Kyle Larson is embracing a different side of life in NASCAR this weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The Hendrick Motorsports driver revealed the unique logistics of Viva Mexico 250 has brought the garage closer than usual.

The Viva Mexico 250 marks the first Cup Series points race outside the USA in nearly 67 years. With thinner air, a new track, and the possibility of rain, the weekend promises to be a wild ride, for drivers and engineers alike. Amid the intensity, the No. 5 Chevrolet driver and his fellow racers are spending more time together, due to shared transport.

"For us here, we don't have our motor coaches and all that, so we're all kind of put up in the same place and you've got to ride and shuttles together. It's honestly really fun and enjoyable to be around your competitors and get to know each other a bit better. Because on a typical weekend, we just kind of lock ourselves in wherever we're at, we don't talk to anybody or anything. So it's nice that, you're almost forced to hang out with each other," Larson said during his press conference.

Kyle Larson heads into Sunday's race (June 15) in good form. He was the highest-finishing Hendrick Motorsports driver in the first practice session but dropped off in the second session into 19th place. The sessions provided valuable data for the team to fine-tune its setups, although many unknowns remain, particularly with rain threatening to shake up the race itself.

"Being not that experienced on wet, I would like for it to not rain or be wet. But I think at the same point, that opens up an opportunity. If you do hit on it or get comfortable, you can make a big difference behind the wheel," Kyle Larson added via Speedway Digest.

The No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports driver, currently second in the standings with 535 points, is safely locked into the playoffs thanks to three wins. He will lead his team's charge from fifth on the starting grid for the Viva Mexico 250.

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Hendrick Motorsports backs Kyle Larson's Mexico challenge with carefully prepared engines

Kyle Larson enters his car for the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 qualifying at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Source: Getty

Behind Kyle Larson's bid for victory lies months of detailed preparation from Hendrick Motorsports' engineering team. Powertrain director Scott Maxim and his staff produced eight engines for Mexico, tuned specifically to manage the challenges of high-altitude racing.

With a 22% reduction in air density compared to standard Cup road courses, the HMS engineering team focused on calibration to retain power and ensure reliability over 100 laps. The 7,100-foot elevation's effect on driver physiology and engine performance has been a talking point all weekend. However, Kyle Larson downplayed its effect during the pre-race conference (via Speedway Digest):

"I think you're not focused on that, so I didn't notice anything. It's more like when I walk up the stairs to come here or walk up the stairs to go to the driver's lounge, by the time you get to the top, you breathe a little bit heavier. But in the car, no, it felt fine. I tracked my heart rate and all that normally."

With six road-course victories to his name, two each at Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and Charlotte Roval, Larson's adaptability will be key in Mexico City. After finishing fifth at Michigan last weekend, the 2021 Cup Series champion is set to handle the technical demands and variable weather at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.