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Tuesday, March 6
Pressure is on Mexico's favorite son
By Jack Arute
Special to ESPN.com
Adrián Fernández is the only driver to have earned wins in every country where CART currently races. But the upcoming Monterrey Grand Prix - in his native Mexico -- puts his streak in jeopardy.
The season-opener at the 2.1-mile Fundidora Park road course marks Fernández's triumphant return to his Mexican roots.
|  | | Adrián Fernández is sure to get a hero's welcome when CART heads to his native Mexico for their season-opener. |
While NASCAR may rule supreme here in the states, CART's impact surpasses its fendered cousins on the global stage. Formula One, like futbol, rules the roost, with CART running a close second.
"If you look at all the nationalities of the drivers involved in the CART FedEx Championship Series that proves how big racing really is," Fernández said.
But, he thinks there is a lot of growth potential for the sport.
"I would say it's not as big as in England or Brazil, for example," he said. "But we are in the process of making racing in Mexico even more popular, and of course the success of the Champ Car race in Mexico is going to help the future of racing there and it's going to be big."
No NFL stars were invited to Mexican President Fox's inauguration, but Fernández was part of the official presidential party, a fact he humbly downplays.
"There were a lot of important people there," Fernández said. "I had met him two times. It was basically just a privilege to be invited to watch the process of the change of
presidents.
Humility aside, the baby-faced 35-year-old is a bona fide hero south of the border. Three years ago, the Mexico City native got a firsthand taste of his celebrity status. Fernández and his wife attended a Rolling Stones concert. While Mick Jagger and the band cavorted on stage, the concert crowd broke into a chant.
"Some people recognized me and started chanting my name," Fernández said. "Then more and more people started in. The band didn't say anything, but they could see there was something and moved quickly to start the next song."
There is no debate. Fernández leads CART back to Mexico, but his position as a new owner/driver may keep him from leaving with a win. Don't tell that to Fernández.
"When you are starting a new team, of course there is nothing that you have from the year before so if there are delays in parts, for example, you have more problems," he said.
"We have been very fortunate to get a lot of good, professional people with us, so that
makes everything easier."
Tom Anderson may be the wild card in Fernández's effort.
"He was the key," Fernández said. "Without him, I wouldn't have made the decision to make my own team"
Anderson was the team manager at Target Chip Ganassi Racing throughout most of the 1990s when the Pittsburgh racing impresario's operation won championships with Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi and Juan Montoya.
Only one team has captured CART wins in Mexico. Team Penske holds that honor. In 1980 and '81 the Champ Cars ran on a street course in Mexico City. Bobby Unser won both poles, while Rick Mears won both races. Both drove for Penske.
But it has been 20 years since the series ventured into Mexico. A lot has changed during the hiatus. Penske underwent a five-year winless streak only to get back on track last season, culminating with Penske and Gil de Ferran capturing the title.
CART has arguably caught up with Penske, and the addition of Adrián Fernández Racing to the growing list of operations vying for de Ferran's crown will make Fernández's homecoming a memorable one.
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