22 replies to this topic

[dworsham]

Does anyone out there in Atlas land know any specfications of the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA and if it could make it as F1 track?

Imagine a F1 GP in the SF Bay area, that close to Sonoma and Napa food and wine! Great weather totaly different culture than Indy....

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Yeah, it would be the Mugello of USA.
That includes the small, one-lane access roads. :

[Spamula One]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo
That includes the small, one-lane access roads. :

Remember that they hold a NASCAR race there, so I'm sure it's not so bad. Don't know for a fact though. The only problem I could see is that the facilities mustn't be up to Sepang or Bahrain standards ie. track width.

It's a great track, with a medium speed carousel, some nice elevation chages. Great action from the ALMS a couple years back. Jan Magnussen in the Panoz and Johnny Herbert in a more powerful Audi battled in the wet and Johnny passed Jan for the lead in that carousel, wonderful! I think Magnussen prevailed in the end.

[dworsham]

Just watched the Super Bikes there this past weekend - on TV, however, and thought what a great area of the US for a GP. Like Long Beach of old, a bit of west coast culture. Not that Indy culture is lacking (I don't want hate mail from midwesterners) but the Bay Area shows a side of the US totally different from Indy and the access via SFO is easy internationally.

Corp sponsors come on!

[SlateGray]

You may find more info under it's old name "Sears Point"

[917k]

Decent track,but woefully unsafe.Many places,the runoffs are nil or earth banks.There have been some NASCAR wrecks there that would have been fatals in an F1 car.

As to the ''raciness'' of the circuit,it is far too twisty and without a really long straight,so overtaking would be sparce.

[merlyn6]

Its not long enough, lap times would probably be under a minute, and passing would be almost impossible.

There is no direct to track pit access from the garages.

Access roads are poor, it takes over three hours to get all the NASCAR fans out, and I’d be surprised if it drew over 20,000 fans.

On the plus side, spectator viewing is fantastic, and it’s a fun track to drive, but lacks a really high speed bend.

All in all, it’s a great club track, but not even close to F1 standards.

Thunderhill, on the other hand, would be a great F1 track if they got rid of the stupid turn 5, as for accommodations, and ambiance, forget it, there aren’t any.

[benn5325]

WOW, another thread about how good the USGP would be if it were anywhere but Indy.
Indy in June will be just fine.

[dworsham]

WOW, another thread about how good the USGP would be if it were anywhere but Indy.

Hey, I love Indy!

it has been my "dad and daughter" weekend with my 14 year old for ... this will be the 4th year.
always fun, except she thinks Alonso is cute and therefore should win.

June will be great, I agree, I just want to see the US step up with a team and a world class track to show off the diversity of this country. I am sure Bernie wants to get as many US dollars as possible and the SF Bay area is a bit more cosmopolitan than Indy - think it would draw a huge crowd. I just don't see any company or individual putting up the $s to build a new track or re-vamp Laguna Seca, unless Bill Gates takes a shine to F1.

[merlyn6]

They could always raze Berkeley ;)

[Chevy II Nova]

Originally posted by Spamula One


Remember that they hold a NASCAR race there, so I'm sure it's not so bad. Don't know for a fact though.

BAHAHAHA!!!!!

Sears Point has NO access. It is off of a two-lane highway known for it's fatal head-on collisions. It turns onto a 1 lane country backroad. Parking is a bunch of dirt lots in the hils above the track. I can say with confidence that it had the WORST access of any track in the United States.

As for F1, I doubt it would ever, ever be possible. The pit facilities are at NASCAR level, the track is short and skinny and there is nowhere to pass (though that usually doesn't stop F1 ;)).

The new drag strip is in a class of it's own though.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by Spamula One


Remember that they hold a NASCAR race there, so I'm sure it's not so bad. Don't know for a fact though.

oh, i've been there twice, and got stuck in traffic another time by accident (for 3hrs after NASCAR race was over).
The surrounding area is heavenly, the road sucks..

[Nasty McBastard]

itd put hungary to shame....especially if they used that 'inner' bit (does it even still exist)?

theres barely a straight there (hell, even the S/F straight isnt straight)....even the nascar guys preferred method of overtaking is to.....'help a guy off'.

[giddyup409]

I wouldn't mind a US motoGP race there.

[dworsham]

http://infineonracew...ewavemedia.com/

sure looks like if the track was extened from what looks like 4a (upper right) with some interesting features back in to 8 it would rock.
perhaps it would need to be widened also.

seems that altering an existing track would be much cheaper than building a new complex.

more than dreaming?

[mudpuppy]

hmmm...there are a lot of great tracks in the USA. Laguna Seca (waay unsafe can you say "corkscrew") which is my personal favorite, Atlanta, the old Long Beach Grand Prix, the old Detriot Formula One setup (in the 1980's), and Willow Springs. I cast my vote for the California tracks so that I can drive there and stay all weekend.

[Buford]

Originally posted by mudpuppy
hmmm...there are a lot of great tracks in the USA. Laguna Seca (waay unsafe can you say "corkscrew") which is my personal favorite, Atlanta, the old Long Beach Grand Prix, the old Detriot Formula One setup (in the 1980's), and Willow Springs. I cast my vote for the California tracks so that I can drive there and stay all weekend.

You missed Road America and Mid Ohio. Mid Ohio is hard to pass but RA would be a wonderful F1 course. Won't happen though.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by giddyup409
I wouldn't mind a US motoGP race there.

Hmm...you mean Laguna Seca?

[Option1]

Originally posted by mudpuppy
hmmm...there are a lot of great tracks in the USA. Laguna Seca (waay unsafe can you say "corkscrew") which is my personal favorite, Atlanta, the old Long Beach Grand Prix, the old Detriot Formula One setup (in the 1980's), and Willow Springs. I cast my vote for the California tracks so that I can drive there and stay all weekend.

If by Detroit you mean that concrete jungle street circuit then you've gone insane! At least Monaco has a tiny bit of scenery.

Laguna Seca is wayyyy too out of date to be used for F1. Even CART gave it up as a bad joke - can you say slow procession?

Oh, and like everyone else who's ever made the mistake of being anywhere within 30 miles of Sears Point on a race weekend, I to can testify that the traffic around it SUCKS!!!

Neil

[Chevy II Nova]

Originally posted by Nasty McBastard
itd put hungary to shame....especially if they used that 'inner' bit (does it even still exist)?

theres barely a straight there (hell, even the S/F straight isnt straight)....even the nascar guys preferred method of overtaking is to.....'help a guy off'.

The 'infield' complex still exists, albeit modified.

[312 PB]

The best thing about "Infineon" is the Russell kart track

[Chevy II Nova]

I still haven't been.

[giddyup409]

Originally posted by BuonoBruttoCattivo


Hmm...you mean Laguna Seca?

Well, if I'm to be picky, I'd rather have it closer to Washington DC