68 replies to this topic

[TheMidnight]

After another great race at Road America yesterday, it got me thinking where F1 could go in the USA in addition/instead of the proposed Miami circuit.

I appreciate there are squillions of choices, the poll reflects the main venues I can remember!

Where would you like to see F1 in the good ole USofA?

Edited by TheMidnight, 25 June 2018 - 12:02.

[Risil]

I really like Barber Motorsports Park, but for me America's three great remaining road courses are the Glen, Road America and Road Atlanta. The first two of those would be eminently suitable for F1, although I'd hope they wouldn't change the layouts any, because they're good as they are.

 

CotA is an interesting circuit but doesn't give me thrill that the more natural tracks do. It's hard to describe but some tracks look like they were designed in space and then dropped onto the ground and some look like they came forth from the living soil and rock.

[Arundo]

So many great tracks, F1 can learn alot from that. Anyway I voted Laguna Seca but Mid America and Road America can be #1 too.

[Muppetmad]

Road America, Barber and Watkins Glen are my favourites - and I hope F1 never goes near any of them (or, in the case of Watkins Glen, never again).

[PayasYouRace]

It’s very difficult to choose.

Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, Elkhart Lake, Watkins Glen and Barber some of my favourites.

But my absolute favourite is Road Atlanta. What a lovely flowing and exciting track. I’d love to see some Indycar racing there.

[SenorSjon]

I love Laguna Seca.

 

Luckily, the FIA didn't get their clutches on it most of the time. Elkhart like with all its concrete walls and grass would be a no go for F1.

[Scotracer]

The US really does have some great tracks.

 

Road Atlanta

Road America

Mid Ohio

Laguna Seca

Barber Motorsports Park

Watkins Glen

 

Marvelous. Keep F1 away so they aren't ruined.

[messy]

Road Atlanta, Elkhart Lake and MidOhio would probably be my top three in that order. 

[TheMidnight]

Not sure where the poll went, I edited my first post and the poll went. 

 

Please vote again. 

[Risil]

I love Laguna Seca.
 
Luckily, the FIA didn't get their clutches on it most of the time. Elkhart like with all its concrete walls and grass would be a no go for F1.

 

Didn't you read Hermann Tilke's comments from a couple of months ago? The runoff areas are for amateur drivers, as Baku shows it's fine for F1 drivers to be passing close to concrete walls at high speed.

[maximilian]

I don't want F1 to ruin any of the great American tracks by having to "modify them to meet FIA safety standards" - to hell with that.  Let them race the Daytona infield, or some new street course, but please keep them off anything that's near and dear to American race fans.

[SenorSjon]

Didn't you read Hermann Tilke's comments from a couple of months ago? The runoff areas are for amateur drivers, as Baku shows it's fine for F1 drivers to be passing close to concrete walls at high speed.

 

Yes, I know the constraints of a designer and the wishes of a track owner to use it more than once/year. Still, it is an architect's work to make the best of it. And plastering everything in tarmac and then paint white lines over it, doesn't constitute a good job for me.

[TheMidnight]

https://youtu.be/7KHde5avjiE
 
Marc Gene recently battering the lap record in a 2003 Ferrari

Yr welcome!

Edited by TheMidnight, 25 June 2018 - 12:29.

[Anja]

If I absolutely have to choose one, it's Watkins Glen. Road America close second. As mentioned by others the US has many great circuits, but those two are just a bit above everything else for me. But the only condition under which I'd like to see F1 on one of them is that they wouldn't change a thing. Which obviously won't happen. 

[noikeee]

Road Atlanta hands down, one of my favourite tracks in simracing although I could never nail those first few blind corners!

[MikeV1987]

Road America, it's my favorite track in sim racing. F1 would never go there though, I kind of don't want them to anyway because the FIA would butcher the track with mickey mouse chicanes and more massive run offs.

 

How can you not love this track?

 

Edited by MikeV1987, 25 June 2018 - 13:10.

[William Hunt]

Road Atlanta for me

[Tsarwash]

In my opinion the Op asks two distinct questions, and I have two different answers for it. My favourite circuit in the US would be Watkins Glen or Road Atlanta, but the place that I would most like to see F1 cars race around is the full Indy oval. I think one complete oval race a year would be good for the sport. 

[PayasYouRace]

If we’re talking F1, then COTA is ideal for modern F1. No need to go ruining other tracks.

[William Hunt]

https://youtu.be/7KHde5avjiE
 
Marc Gene recently battering the lap record in a 2003 Ferrari

Yr welcome!

 

When did Gené set this lap? That lap record still isn't updated on wikipedia (maybe because it wasn't during a race)

[jonpollak]

Martinsville. F1deserves it.

[TheMidnight]

When did Gené set this lap? That lap record still isn't updated on wikipedia (maybe because it wasn't during a race)

A month or two ago

[Frank Tuesday]

Would the first two turns at Brainerd even be a challenge for modern F1 cars?

[AustinF1]

I really like Barber Motorsports Park, but for me America's three great remaining road courses are the Glen, Road America and Road Atlanta. The first two of those would be eminently suitable for F1, although I'd hope they wouldn't change the layouts any, because they're good as they are.

 

CotA is an interesting circuit but doesn't give me thrill that the more natural tracks do. It's hard to describe but some tracks look like they were designed in space and then dropped onto the ground and some look like they came forth from the living soil and rock.

It's funny you should say that about COTA. It's not my fave US circuit either, but it most definitely flows with the terrain it sits on.

[Seanspeed]

So many great tracks, F1 can learn alot from that. Anyway I voted Laguna Seca but Mid America and Road America can be #1 too.

Road America and Watkins Glen are the only 'great' American tracks that F1 would really work at.  I know some people like COTA, but I think it's quite soulless.  

 

There's nothing for F1 to 'learn' from.  F1 is too fast for most all these tracks.  

[August]

So many great tracks in the USA. Watkins Glen and Road America are my two favorites. Somehow I actually prefer the Glen in sims.

And of course there are ones like Road Atlanta, Sebring, Laguna Seca, Mid-Ohio, Barber, VIR, and LRP. I don't really like COTA that much. It feels just like a generic modern track.

And I have to say I actually like Sonoma in sims with it's elevation changes.

I know we're talking about road courses but I still have to mention the IMS oval. My favorite racing venue alongside the Nordschleife. Another oval I wanna mention is Phoenix. I find the Arizona desert look with hills around cool.

As for potential F1 venues in the states, I rather see F1 going to a new track instead of ruining some of the classic tracks. Mexico City is a great example of a track fine for Indy cars getting ruined for F1.

[dweller23]

Close call for me between Road America and The Glen, but I chose the latter one. Don't have explanation why I picked Glen over RA.

[kapow]

Barber for me. Beautiful surroundings, elevation changes, a flowing layout and every race there is entertaining.

[Dan333SP]

Road Atlanta. I've attended races at Virginia International, Austin, Sebring, Homestead, the Miami CART/ALMS races downtown, Montreal (yea, not US, but whatever), and RA. RA wins hands down. The sightline from the hill overlooking T5 up through the esses is my favorite place I've ever seen racecars, particularly with the P1 diesels in the Audi/Peugeot days. 

[Risil]

It's funny you should say that about COTA. It's not my fave US circuit either, but it most definitely flows with the terrain it sits on.

 

Well, I've not been! Perhaps it's just the TV pictures, or perhaps it's the way the land is relatively featureless (or Silverstone-like, if you prefer) compared to, say, Road America or the Glen.

 

Anyway I'm biased because the MotoGP races they hold there always seem to suck. The F1 drivers usually manage to put on a show there.

[phrank]

I voted Road America as my favorite US track but then I read the opening post and now I want to change my vote. Please F1, dont go to Road America and ruin it.

[Risil]

I wonder if even F1's new owners could locate Road America on a map.

[AustinF1]

Well, I've not been! Perhaps it's just the TV pictures, or perhaps it's the way the land is relatively featureless (or Silverstone-like, if you prefer) compared to, say, Road America or the Glen.

 

Anyway I'm biased because the MotoGP races they hold there always seem to suck. The F1 drivers usually manage to put on a show there.

Yeah the grounds at COTA are very featureless and treeless, and unlike most of Central Texas, that area is not very scenic at all.

[Loosenut]

Cleveland is (well, was) my favourite track in the world! So wide, even F1 cars could race all day there.

Is it still being used for any racing?

[stewie]

Barber, Laguna Seca or Watkins Glen for me. RA is damn close to these too.

Bottom of the list would be COTA, Indy GP or Sonoma.

[Andrew Hope]

Current: Road America
Forever: Riverside

[Alfisti]

I really like Barber Motorsports Park, but for me America's three great remaining road courses are the Glen, Road America and Road Atlanta. The first two of those would be eminently suitable for F1, although I'd hope they wouldn't change the layouts any, because they're good as they are.

CotA is an interesting circuit but doesn't give me thrill that the more natural tracks do. It's hard to describe but some tracks look like they were designed in space and then dropped onto the ground and some look like they came forth from the living soil and rock.

This. Though I have Elkhart lake miles out front.

[teejay]

Road America, with Laguna a very close second. 

 

Awesome track, in a better looking setting than Laguna's sand pit. 

 

 

One of my first memories on the track - I was/am an Andretti fan so watching Unser give Mikey a win there was great. 

[jonpollak]

Current: Road America
Forever: Riverside

Ya know, we really miss you here .. Stranger.

[John B]

Mansell on Road America: A fabulous circuit that reminds me of the Ostereichring (a personal F1 favorite)

Bernie on Road America: I had to ask where Elkhart Lake was.

Road America and Atlanta, old Riverside, Barber for me. I suspect most of the oned mentioned would need significant runoff changes to host F1 (some of NASCAR s nastiest crashes of recent have been at the Glen).

It's short at 1.5 mi, but I like Lime Rock near here for scenery and elevation, nice to walk around.

Edited by John B, 26 June 2018 - 02:09.

[John B]

Cleveland airport was often entertaining, miss that for Indycar

[teejay]

Cleveland airport was often entertaining, miss that for Indycar

 

 

I found it too narrow to facilitate racing. 

[TF110]

Road America is my favorite and it's the best track in the U.S. imo. 3 big straights or flat out zones. Flowing turns and only a couple slow corners but no cookie cutter hairpins and chicanes. Just a beautiful flowing track with great speed and elevation change. It's got it all imo. Sebring and Watkins Glen are close second because they have a nice flow too but I think scenery wise Elkhart Lake gets the edge as well as layout.

[Scotracer]

Cleveland airport was often entertaining, miss that for Indycar

 

Cleveland was so eccentric - loved it. 

 

I loved Mid-Ohio in the poll to give it some love. Brilliant track on sim racing. Loved taking FIA GT1 cars round there for lap after lap after lap.

[PayasYouRace]

I’ll only mark down Elkhart Lake in one aspect. There’s no combination corners. Every corner has a straight before the next one. There’s no esses, or anything like that. Road Atlanta has that in the first sector.

[paulb]

Current: Road America
Forever: Riverside

 

I'm glad I'm not the only person with a soft spot for RIR.

 

The recent in-cars at Road America were phenomenal. The drivers were constantly working their asses off. I'll have to watch similar at Barber and prior years at Watkins Glen before I decide.
 

[Nonesuch]

Two questions, always a bit confusing. I don't particularly care if F1 goes anywhere. But I do have two favourites, if you will.

 

Road Atlanta is the old favourite: some wild ups and downs, a nice sequence at the start, and massive nostalgia bonus points for being in the Test Drive Le Mans game from 2000.

 

I've recently become a big fan of Sonoma. It has a bunch of layouts, but the one with the extra loop, without the chicane, and with the proper final corner is pretty excellent in a fast car. Those curves and hills are great! It sort of misses that one really high-speed corner, but it flows very well regardless.

Edited by Nonesuch, 26 June 2018 - 13:07.

[Collective]

After another great race at Road America yesterday, it got me thinking where F1 could go in the USA in addition/instead of the proposed Miami circuit.

I appreciate there are squillions of choices, the poll reflects the main venues I can remember!

Where would you like to see F1 in the good ole USofA?

The FIA rated version of Road America would probably be terrible, though.

[Afterburner]

F1 should only be allowed anywhere near Road America if it’s forbidden from modifying the track for any reason.

[JacnGille]

My home track of Road Atlanta whoulda been #1 "pre-nuetering". But Road America as they sit today.