Juncos Hollinger team owner Ricardo Juncos is adamant that IndyCar needs to stop travelling to outdated tracks for the championship to develop in the future.
In 2026, the series will welcome a range of new circuits, including a return to the oval at Phoenix Raceway for the first time since 2018.
They will also compete at new circuits at the Grand Prix of Arlington and Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, allowing IndyCar to make a trip to Canada.
Juncos told this writer at Donington Park that IndyCar made a good step in the right direction with next year’s calendar, but more work needs to be done.
The Argentine told Luke-John Buckle: “Yes, I think IndyCar did a good job in organising these new events. We need more.
“There are events that, in my opinion, we should not be participating in, unfortunately, because, first of all, they are really outdated tracks, totally obsolete for the cars and for the fans.
‘People don’t go, and for some reason, IndyCar keeps going. So, I think we need to continue with this approach of looking for new events and improving the calendar. I think that’s what IndyCar is doing, so that’s very positive to see, and I hope we continue on this path of changing to better events.”
The new schedule has more rounds ahead of the Indy 500, while the campaign ends on September 6th at Laguna Seca after 17 rounds.
IndyCar isn’t going to Mexico in 2026 ‘for logistical reasons’
IndyCar only has one round outside of the United States of America, which in 2026, comes in Markham, Canada. The series has been trying to go to Mexico, but this won’t happen next year.
Mexico may present a chance for IndyCar to expand its global reach, although NASCAR beat it to the punch and raced at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez this year.
Juncos explained that IndyCar needs to step out of the US to fulfil its potential: “I don’t think it’s possible for logistical reasons, from what I understand. There’s the World Cup, and I think that complicated the plan a bit.
Hopefully, the general idea will continue, and we’ll be able to see Mexico in 2027. Without a doubt, for me, IndyCar has to go global. I’ve been saying that for 10 years.
We have, I think, 13 or 14 different nationalities represented among the drivers. It’s a world category where people from all over the world race and are seen by the whole world.”
The team owner added that Juncos os working on IndyCar heading to his native Argentina too: “I think it’s a category that needs to go outside the United States and the fans will respond. I think Mexico would be incredible. Crowds will go. I’m working for Argentina; I went to Brazil in previous years. I think we need to go back to that.”
