Is building 'The Fastest Road Course in the World' even feasible?

[David_Skywalker]

So I keep hearing people talk about IMS needing to build a road course with a 160-170 mph lap speed, but I can't understand how this would be possible. Even if they could manage to build a 1960's Monza-style course in the 8 months until May how could the DW-12 average such a speed with the snowplow wings they run on the road courses?

Seems like a pipe dream to me, a cool pipe dream, but not feasible. Am I missing something here?

[rrrr]

Stop listening to those people.

[WillMazeo]

Put a chicane in the oval and call it road course

[Since83]

Tell us exactly what people you are hearing that from

[debdrake]

So what if they -didn't- run the road course wings?

[Hitokiri]

Tell us exactly what people you are hearing that from

How about ESPN writer and Indycar nut John Oreovicz. From his Facebook page.

John Oreovicz


Thoughts on how to make the IMS Opening Weekend road race a success:

1. Make IMS the fastest road course in the world, with a 160-170 mph average lap speed.
2. Create a unique atmosphere for the road racing weekend like IMS manages to pull off for F1 and Moto GP.
3. Make Opening Day a FREE day for the public. A great goodwill gesture, and they would make money on concessions etc.
4. Set a sweetheart price for race tickets ($40 max for all seats, or a "Family of 4" deal with 4 tix, hot dogs and cokes for $75-100) to encourage people to come out and give it a chance instead of just bitching about them doing something that breaks with tradition.
5. Give a large amount of prize money compared to the usual non Indy 500 races. Offer $500K or ideally $1 million to the winner.

[Spike]

So what if they -didn't- run the road course wings?

They'd end up being a whole lot slower in the turns which would lead to much slower corner exit speeds, lower average speed, and longer lap times.

[schraderfan]

Maybe some farmers in rural Belgium could raise a couple of millions for a 160-170 mph average street race

[Red Byrd]

How about ESPN writer and Indycar nut John Oreovicz. From his Facebook page.

Thoughts on how to make the IMS Opening Weekend road race a success:

1. Make IMS the fastest road course in the world, with a 160-170 mph average lap speed.
2. Create a unique atmosphere for the road racing weekend like IMS manages to pull off for F1 and Moto GP.
3. Make Opening Day a FREE day for the public. A great goodwill gesture, and they would make money on concessions etc.
4. Set a sweetheart price for race tickets ($40 max for all seats, or a "Family of 4" deal with 4 tix, hot dogs and cokes for $75-100) to encourage people to come out and give it a chance instead of just bitching about them doing something that breaks with tradition.
5. Give a large amount of prize money compared to the usual non Indy 500 races. Offer $500K or ideally $1 million to the winner.

Nothing like somebody telling other people how to spend their money.

[Racing Steward]

Put a chicane in the oval and call it road course

That already exists. Just look at Nascar's Watkins Glen layout.

[Z28]

I really don't think that many people are talking about it are they? And Oreo's 4) does he read TF or does he post here under an assumed name because we've seen that one here for ideas in the past.

To do it would seem they would have to utilize both 5/8 mile straightaways and at least two oval turns while ditching most of what they have in the infield. Going clockwise turn into the infield where it does now, make a gradual turn and reenter the north short chute and go through oval T3, maybe have a chicane in the middle of the back straight, go through oval T2 enter the infield briefly reenter the south short chute to accelerate through oval T1 down the front straight. That would be pretty fast but not much of a course to brag about, the only elevation would be the 9 degree turns.

[Sleepcheap]

Put a chicane in the oval and call it road course

That's my thought. Maybe two chicanes.

[Unzerdog]

So I keep hearing people talk about IMS needing to build a road course with a 160-170 mph lap speed, but I can't understand how this would be possible. Even if they could manage to build a 1960's Monza-style course in the 8 months until May how could the DW-12 average such a speed with the snowplow wings they run on the road courses?

Seems like a pipe dream to me, a cool pipe dream, but not feasible. Am I missing something here?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

The Monza banks would be cool. I've been pipe dreaming some lately.

[stockblock]

John Oreovicz


Thoughts on how to make the IMS Opening Weekend road race a success:

1. Make IMS the fastest road course in the world, with a 160-170 mph average lap speed.
2. Create a unique atmosphere for the road racing weekend like IMS manages to pull off for F1 and Moto GP.
3. Make Opening Day a FREE day for the public. A great goodwill gesture, and they would make money on concessions etc.
4. Set a sweetheart price for race tickets ($40 max for all seats, or a "Family of 4" deal with 4 tix, hot dogs and cokes for $75-100) to encourage people to come out and give it a chance instead of just bitching about them doing something that breaks with tradition.
5. Give a large amount of prize money compared to the usual non Indy 500 races. Offer $500K or ideally $1 million to the winner.



Ya and at the same time you do that raise tickets to the 500 by 15%. Let the 500 fans pay for it.
So the public now has a choice of paying the 15% increase per ticket or paying $75 for a family of four to the road race.
What a plan Mr. Oreovicz has . Additionally, at the same time you reduce costs to all the other races held at IMS.
That will really make the 500 grow i think not !

[doitagain]

So I keep hearing people talk about IMS needing to build a road course with a 160-170 mph lap speed, but I can't understand how this would be possible. Even if they could manage to build a 1960's Monza-style course in the 8 months until May how could the DW-12 average such a speed with the snowplow wings they run on the road courses?

Seems like a pipe dream to me, a cool pipe dream, but not feasible. Am I missing something here?

What is the current configuration - about 120 - 130 mph?