NASCAR announced that it will continue its 17-year streak of racing on a national-series level in Wisconsin with the addition of the historic Road America course to its 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. The Road America 200 at the 4.048-mile, 14-turn track located in Elkhart Lake, Wis., replaces the event previously scheduled at the Milwaukee Mile and will be run on Saturday, June 19.(NASCAR PR)(12-21-2009)
Milwaukee replaced with Road America
- Thread starter toledo47
- Start date
wilson89
Team Owner
Hmm, isnt that the same weekend the cup guys are at Sonoma? Guess Boris, Fellows and the other road course only guys are going to have to make a decision.
sounds right...hmm
Bucky Badger
Go Kyle Go
ooooh, I'm going to have to get on this tomorrow
HoneyBadger
I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
Good decision by NASCAR.
I wonder where the Trucks will end up.
I wonder where the Trucks will end up.
HoneyBadger
I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
NASCAR has raced at Road America once before. Tim Flock won the only NASCAR race held at Road America in 1956.
Now you don't have to look it up because I already did.
(Thought I'd throw in a tribute to everyone's favorite former announcer
)
Now you don't have to look it up because I already did.
(Thought I'd throw in a tribute to everyone's favorite former announcer)
R
Restrictor Plate King!
Guest
I love it, i've always wondered why Road America was not on the NASCAR schedule somewhere. Should be an awesome race...
If i had moneyy, I'd be there.
MRM
Team Owner
Agreed on both counts.
HoneyBadger
I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
Road races are great, on television. Having been to a road race, I've gotta say they're terrible in person.
I enjoyed the race I went to because ARCA has an open garage and had several sports car races as well and lets fans talk to drivers and stuff. As for watching the race itself, that's just tough to do since you can only see one part of the track.
I enjoyed the race I went to because ARCA has an open garage and had several sports car races as well and lets fans talk to drivers and stuff. As for watching the race itself, that's just tough to do since you can only see one part of the track.
W
WNY24Fan
Guest
I have to disagree with you there, Andy. Perhaps it matters WHICH road course you're at. Sure, you can't see it all, but I've also heard some of the ovals are so big you can't see the cars or at least what's really happening, on them either. As you know, I'm a Watkins Glen regular. Yes, you can't see the whole race, but there are jumbotrons all over the place.
Also, there is racing going on the whole weekend there. They still sell a one day pass for Sunday, but most people make it a long weekend. Friday, there is practice & qualifying. I was shocked they let us down in the pit area when the cup cars were qualifying, mainly because of how they come back to the garage area. You can reach out and touch any car that's returning. Of course, you might lose an arm or something if you did, but you can get that close. There's also the Rolex race going on and yes, you can just walk up to their area, talk to the drivers, see the cars, etc. It's also been noted that The Glen is one place where access to drivers is among the best of all tracks.
There's several areas around the track you can watch practice and for that matter, qualifying and the race. If you want to be up close AND not pay for a pit pass, you can stand right on the side of the road where the cars come out of the garage & return to make adjustments, etc. My problem was the cars were too close to me and going too fast and it messed up some of my pictures.
I actually can watch an oval race much better on TV also. It's just that there's nothing like the sound of the cars, the smell of the cars and the crowd adds to the excitement. I have someone tape what I want to see up close anyway, just as I would at an oval.
This was in an area you don't need a pass to be at, unless you want to go into the media center. These two were after the Nation[wide race.
Prior to canceled cup race on Sunday:
wilson89
Team Owner
I have to say it quite the oppisite, least from my experiance. I have gone to Infinion every year since 2003 and I recall a race a couple years ago where Kyle Busch lead all but about 10 laps, I remember sitting there watching it in person and thought it had a good deal of passing at least mid pack. But when I get home I hear everyone complain how terrible the race was so I watched the tape to find out they just showed the top 5 cars the whole time.
HoneyBadger
I love short track racing (Taylor's Version)
Interesting feedback here. Let me correct myself, the racing wasn't bad but the view of it was. I enjoyed it and would go back but I know what to expect next time.
I went to the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park and it's massive (2.25 miles) and you can only see one part of the track. Of course, I had media passes and could go on pit road and in restricted areas with better visibility.
Road America is even bigger, 4 miles or something like that, with very limited seating. Not sure how the visibility will work out there.
I went to the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park and it's massive (2.25 miles) and you can only see one part of the track. Of course, I had media passes and could go on pit road and in restricted areas with better visibility.
Road America is even bigger, 4 miles or something like that, with very limited seating. Not sure how the visibility will work out there.
Same way it does for the ALMS?
F
foehammer111
Guest
YES!!!!! I love Road America! I'm sooo in! It's only a 4 hour drive from Chicago, too!
Road America more than any other track is more like a picnic or a park than a race track. I think the only seating is a small grand stand at the start/finish line. Most of the areas are open seating on hills. It's pretty much a given that any road course you go to will have limited visability. Sonoma is probably the rare exception because of grand stand at the top of the turn 4 can see most of the track.
Road America does have some good areas to watch the race. The top of the hill just past the Moraine Sweep over looks turns 5, 6, 7, and 8. Plus there are no less than 3 long straights were you can hit your top speed.
Road America more than any other track is more like a picnic or a park than a race track. I think the only seating is a small grand stand at the start/finish line. Most of the areas are open seating on hills. It's pretty much a given that any road course you go to will have limited visability. Sonoma is probably the rare exception because of grand stand at the top of the turn 4 can see most of the track.
Road America does have some good areas to watch the race. The top of the hill just past the Moraine Sweep over looks turns 5, 6, 7, and 8. Plus there are no less than 3 long straights were you can hit your top speed.
This is my main concern. Especially the front straight, I don't know of any track except pocono, where you go from 180 down to 45~60. The kitty litter down there might be a topic of discussion....
I just ran a couple laps in a Ferarri F550 Maranello (I dont have the stock car mod on GTR2) with the transmission locked to 4 gears... The braking distance was about 1.5 times that of an LMP, which is pretty far out there already.
http://racingforthewin.com/nationwide-series/milwaukee-out-road-america.html
M
Mopardh9
Guest
I would imagine they won't run the 4 mile course but will shorten it down to a 2 mile one . I beloeve this can be doneif i'm not confusing Road America with Road Atlanta?
F
foehammer111
Guest
You're confusing it with Road Atlanta. Road America has no alternate configuration other than the 4 mile track.
As far as the braking, I don't think it will be an issue. NASCAR might let the teams run a stronger brake package. Even if they don't, then the drivers will just need to start braking early. Which should make for some great passes going into the turns.
dpkimmel2001
Team Owner
Track layout link..... http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...677,-87.999072&spn=0.018524,0.061798&t=h&z=15
or.....
or.....
Beat me to it. And yes, we will definately be seeing some good passing as everybody tries to outbrake eachother.
Like i said, i'm sure we'll be seeing some pocono/martinsville/Daytona type brake packages... Even then, can goodyear build a tire to withsstand the brake heat and the lateral loads?
M
Mopardh9
Guest
thats' a huge track fuel mileage will be key!
G
GREAT AMERICAN RACE FAN
Guest
Track layout link..... http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...677,-87.999072&spn=0.018524,0.061798&t=h&z=15
or.....
I have only watched a few laps of a Open wheel race there. How fast are they going to go on that front stretch, looks like turn 1 will be pretty dangerous. Are they going to have to put a inner loop like Watkins Glen to slow the cars down?
180 at top end, 45 to make the turn. ALMS does it for 3 hours. It will help that the track is uphill from turn 14 to the pedestrian bridge, might only be 170.
F
foehammer111
Guest
45 is way too slow for turn 1. If anyone goes that slow into turn 1 they're going to get passed. You're probably thinking of turn 5. Turn 1 is not as sharp of a turn as the track layout shows. It's a gradual not quite 90 degree turn, so I'm betting the Nationwide cars can probably take it at 60+ MPH.
I've done this race plenty of times in Forza 3, and I'm pretty sure I can take this turn close to 90 MPH with a 2008 Monte Carlo SS Stock Car. Next time I play it I'll have to check it out to make sure.
I'll double check my Motec as well.
Yes, turn 5 is a crawler...
turn 1-
LMP1 - 97 MPH
550 maranello- ~85 MPH and sliding
turn 5, I was going 55 at apex and still went off course in the 550.