863 replies to this topic

[AustinF1]

Celebrities, Exotic Cars And A Whole Lotta Noise: Opening Day At Austin’s Formula One Track

http://jalopnik.com/

[AustinF1]

New photo of Mario Andretti climbing to turn 1 in the Lotus 79 (via @statesmanf1):

[Ross Stonefeld]

The track is too narrow.

[FerrariFanInTexas]

The track is too narrow.

Surely you''re being sarcastic Ross?

[Disgrace]

Ross is the forum's Leslie Nielsen. Surely is serious.

Edited by Disgrace, 22 October 2012 - 01:34.

[AustinF1]

Don't call me Shirley.

[AustinF1]

I just posted some of my photos from today's opening ceremonies out at COTA...

https://www.facebook...8...e=1

[mgs315]

Even if the race isn't that great, it really is a beautiful track that's for sure.

[Ross Stonefeld]

It is. But at the same time it looks like any Tilke track. For some reason it makes me think of Turkey. But I guess you have to build them on flat, open land these days so there's nothing that says "Oh, this must be the American GP"

When I say flat and open, I mean relatively. It's not Laguna Seca, to use an extreme example.

[FerrariFanInTexas]

I think the "open" part is required by all the safety features the FIA has in place these days. I doubt some of the older U.S. tracks could be certified for F1 without totally changing them up.

As for flat, you certainly won't find much more elevation change in the Central Texas area. And compared to most tracks on the calendar, it has a significant amount of elevation change.

Based on the reports of those that drove it yesterday, there are several areas where overtaking can happen, and several very technical, complex sections. Overall, I think it's a good design; better than most of the modern tracks.

Edited by FerrariFanInTexas, 22 October 2012 - 13:30.

[aray]

New photo of Mario Andretti climbing to turn 1 in the Lotus 79 (via @statesmanf1):

it seem 8-10 cars can go side by side till the first corner...

i know it is the most talked section about the circuit,but that elevation makes me worry.....imagine the scenario when one car hits other from behind and went airborne at the highest inclination point.....it can be very very dangerous accident...

[Ross Stonefeld]

It's not a ramp or anything.

[jrg19]

Does anyone know the elevation change in measurement, from start finish to turn 1?

[Kvothe]

it seem 8-10 cars can go side by side till the first corner...

i know it is the most talked section about the circuit,but that elevation makes me worry.....imagine the scenario when one car hits other from behind and went airborne at the highest inclination point.....it can be very very dangerous accident...

That will be awesome, I know generally from F1 2012 everyone you can get upto five abreast into turn 1, so expect some potentially WDC deciding collisions.

[AustinF1]

Does anyone know the elevation change in measurement, from start finish to turn 1?

~100-110 feet...and it's 133 feet from the lowest point on the circuit (between 19 & 20) to the top of turn 1.

Laguna Seca doesn't feature much more elevation change (180 feet).

Edited by AustinF1, 22 October 2012 - 14:22.

[AustinF1]

That will be awesome, I know generally from F1 2012 everyone you can get upto five abreast into turn 1, so expect some potentially WDC deciding collisions.

Yep, it's wide on the entry, then narrows on exit, so choose wisely!

[Ross Stonefeld]

Turn 1, Romain Grosjean Curve.

[jrg19]

~100-110 feet...and it's 133 feet from the lowest point on the circuit (between 19 & 20) to the top of turn 1.

Laguna Seca doesn't feature much more elevation change (180 feet).

I figured you'd know!

[ConsiderAndGo]

They've absolutely bossed this circuit.

Can.Not.Wait!

[AustinF1]

Here's some video I shot of the R30 in action before it broke:



...and check out this Ferrari 458 onboard with Mark McKenzie:

http://www.youtube.c...p;v=sQi7yyacKEY

Edited by AustinF1, 22 October 2012 - 15:17.

[korzeniow]

...and check out this Ferrari 458 onboard with Mark McKenzie:

http://www.youtube.c...p;v=sQi7yyacKEY

This T1 is awesome!!

[King Six]

The track seems good, even if it is abit of a Frankenstein of other circuits around the world. But I think that it reflects America pretty good in that sense You know what they say about 'melting pot'

[EvanRainer]

Is it just me or is the back straight not as long as it seemed to be when looking at the track layout.

[Massa]

This track have way too much width.

[boldhakka]

I studied in Austin for a few years. Very nice city. It's known for its rolling hills in the countryside, so I'm a little surprised that there aren't more elevation changes.

The track is quite interesting. T1 is and Grosjean must be having nightmares about it already. The technical bits have a little more character than I expected.

Thanks for the pictures and videos.

[AustinF1]

Is it just me or is the back straight not as long as it seemed to be when looking at the track layout.

It's ~0.72 miles. It looks a LOT longer in person than in photos or video. The R30, Lotus 79 & Gainsco Corvette all got down it very quickly, but when you see how long it takes some of the other very fast race cars, it really sinks in just how long the straight is.

[aray]

going to be another red-bull heaven.....

[AustinF1]

Here's some better video I shot of the R30 before it broke (first lap):

[EvanRainer]

It's ~0.72 miles. It looks a LOT longer in person than in photos or video. The R30, Lotus 79 & Gainsco Corvette all got down it very quickly, but when you see how long it takes some of the other very fast race cars, it really sinks in just how long the straight is.

I was surprised by how quickly even the 458 went down it. I mean, it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned, don't need any stupidly long straights.

[dweller23]

I'm a little bit disappointed with the amount of tarmac run-offs.

[MrAerodynamicist]

It's ~0.72 miles. It looks a LOT longer in person than in photos or video. The R30, Lotus 79 & Gainsco Corvette all got down it very quickly, but when you see how long it takes some of the other very fast race cars, it really sinks in just how long the straight is.

Which is pretty much the same length as the pitstraight at Monza. Having watched the onboard, my initial throughts are that the 3-9 and 12-18 are a bit hectic and might have benefited from breathing space. Certainly I think I would have trimmed the long straight just slightly to give a bit more flow to 13-15. But that's a minor quibble. With the circuit as is, and F1, ALMS/WEC, GrandAm, MotoGP all lined up, I think the future look bright. I reckon it'll eventually gain that feeling of 'hallowed ground for petrolheads' that only a rich history can provide, but which most of the BernieSpecial Tilkedomes don't seem in any danger of acquiring.

What has been said about proper corner names? I propose they call turn one Phil.

[gm914]

What has been said about proper corner names? I propose they call turn one Phil.

Haha. They could call the straight Ken .72

[EvanRainer]

I am really happy to see the US finally get a purpose made, road, "F1-grade", race track. Not an american but I think it's great for american racing and the future of any road series there.

[Frank Tuesday]

Which is pretty much the same length as the pitstraight at Monza. Having watched the onboard, my initial throughts are that the 3-9 and 12-18 are a bit hectic and might have benefited from breathing space. Certainly I think I would have trimmed the long straight just slightly to give a bit more flow to 13-15.

I would have lengthened the straight and completely eliminated 13-15. Turn 1 is slow, Turn 11 is slow. Turn 21 is slow. That is plenty of slow turns. A double hairpin is unnecessary.

Edited by Frank Tuesday, 22 October 2012 - 17:14.

[Disgrace]

I would have lengthened the straight and completely eliminated 13-15. Turn 1 is slow, Turn 11 is slow. Turn 21 is slow. That is plenty of slow turns. A double hairpin is unnecessary.

The last sector is simply mickey mouse stuff and no better than any Tilkedrome. The rest of it makes up for it.

[discover23]

That site still doesn't work for many people. A group of refuges from that site have opened a new forum and already over a 100 people have joined that were on the SPEED site. If you are interested in looking at it send me a PM and I will give you a link.

Hi, can u send me the link to the new forums. I used to
Post on speed forums under a different nick
Thanks

[discover23]

Here's some video I shot of the R30 in action before it broke:



...and check out this Ferrari 458 onboard with Mark McKenzie:

http://www.youtube.c...p;v=sQi7yyacKEY

coming off of T1 it looks like Brazil.

[Boing Ball]

What a disappointment, seems much more mickey mouse than expected.

[King Six]

I'm a little bit disappointed with the amount of tarmac run-offs.

I'm not even sure the FIA allow gravel run off anymore. It's not necessarily Tilke or anyone elses fault that nowadays circuits look like car parks with lines painted onto them, it's the FIA that have gone overboard with track safety. Most if not all of the older/European circuits would not even come close to being allowed into the sport if they were new designs. They're only allowed because they were there before. Also commercial pressures, circuit designers want circuits where fans can see nearly everything from anywhere. So you tend to get flat, featureless (treeless etc..) circuits, something like Spa just wouldn't happen anymore. It's the way of the world...

Still. I think the recent Tilke/new circuits have been better than before. The Indian circuit and this American circuit seem quite nice.

Edited by King Six, 22 October 2012 - 17:53.

[ConsiderAndGo]

What a disappointment, seems much more mickey mouse than expected.

What?! Must have been watching a different track.

[f1fastestlap]

What a disappointment, seems much more mickey mouse than expected.

Same feeling. Was expecting a bit more high speed flow...

[gm914]

Well it was a Ferrari 458, and not even an angry 458.

[ConsiderAndGo]

The feeling will be TOTALLY different when you see it onboard an F1 car. Give it a bloody chance.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 22 October 2012 - 18:32.

[F1Champion]

What a disappointment, seems much more mickey mouse than expected.

Definately, I was surprised at how quick the corners came to a road legal Ferrari, just imagine an F1 car around them, it will make mince meat of them.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Does anyone know if they've sold out tickets for this race? An empty 1st race would be bad..

[FerrariFanInTexas]

Does anyone know if they've sold out tickets for this race? An empty 1st race would be bad..

Looking at their Ticketmaster page, there appear to be around a 1,000 or so premium seats left. All GA and lower tier seats are supposedly sold out. I would expect there to be well over 100,000 in attendance, unless they are totally playing games with the tickets available for sale to the general public.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

Will Rick Perry be there and has he seen more than turn one since the Italian GP?

Edited by TheUltimateWorrier, 22 October 2012 - 19:35.

[FerrariFanInTexas]

It's unclear if the Governor is attending; however his hair does own a PSL and is expected to be there.

[BiH]

Onboard Lap Lotus R30 with Jérôme d'Ambrosio.

https://www.youtube....ature=g-all-lik



some parts are mickey mouse.

Edited by BiH, 23 October 2012 - 00:16.

[BiH]

Turn 1 looks awesome but considering how low drivers sit in car it will be like blind corner on start.