Circuit of the Americas Development Updates

[turn1]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

So I had thought I had figured out all the races but now I am completely confused again. What is Grand Am? Is it the same thing as NASCAR? I was kinda hoping to not have NASCAR in Austin. Why are there so many different races?

The Rolex Grand Am series is a sports car and prototype racing series that's owned be NASCAR. It's similar to the American LeMans Series and was created for the purpose of competing with ALMS. It's done ok. Well enough to keep ALMS from kicking ass in the market the way it probably could have. Long story short, both series have had attendance problems, but NASCAR has the bigger backing and just recently acquired ALMS beginning in the year 2014. So for 2013 they will run separately for the most part. I doubt you'll see NASCAR Sprint Cup racing here anytime soon, but with Grand Am on board, we could see a combined Nationwide/Grand Am event down the road. Really, the Nationwide cars on road courses can be pretty entertaining. They've had some really great races in Montreal at CGV.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by F1 Tommy

The track is looking very good. On this WEC race, this is very bad news. Sebring is very open to the public. If Austin is like all the other F1 tracks I have been to you won't be able to get near the cars. Sebring also has sportscar history. Sad day, caused more than anything by the Grand Am takeover of ALMS. I hope NASCAR does not ruin the ALMS. Maybe having an F1 race back in the USA will help keep GA/NASCAR in line.

Thing is the Circuit of the Americas is not like other F1 tracks. Probably one of the best if not the best for spectators.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by Owlhorn

I thought Eddie Gossage said a road course in Texas wouldn't work. Never will forgive his negative talk about Boundless. At least the COTA folks were like Eddie who? and didn't give a damn.

Eddie Gossage runs Texas Motor Speedway for Bruton Smith and Speedway Motorsports, Inc. TMS has two ovals, the 1.5 mile paved and 0.5 mile dirt. Of course he doesn't believe road courses would work in Texas. But that doesn't mean he's right.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by turn1

The Rolex Grand Am series is a sports car and prototype racing series that's owned be NASCAR. It's similar to the American LeMans Series and was created for the purpose of competing with ALMS. It's done ok. Well enough to keep ALMS from kicking ass in the market the way it probably could have. Long story short, both series have had attendance problems, but NASCAR has the bigger backing and just recently acquired ALMS beginning in the year 2014. So for 2013 they will run separately for the most part. I doubt you'll see NASCAR Sprint Cup racing here anytime soon, but with Grand Am on board, we could see a combined Nationwide/Grand Am event down the road. Really, the Nationwide cars on road courses can be pretty entertaining. They've had some really great races in Montreal at CGV.

As for ranking the different racing series, I suppose it's best to rank by the size of the purses.

Typical F1 race = $658 Million / 20 races = $33 Million/race (payout based upon yearly car owner points)
Typical NASCAR Cup race = $4 Million - $5 Million with 36 races per season
(Daytona $17 Million, Indy $8 Million, Texas $6 Million)
Typical NASCAR Nationwide race = <$1 Million with 33 races per season
Typical NASCAR Truck race = <$500 Thousand with 22 races per season
Typical Indy Car race = (Indy 500 $14 Million, all 15 races included in a year long formula for purses where every car racing a full season is guaranteed over $1 Million for the year)
Typical Grand Am race = <$200 Thousand (2 classes) with 16 races
Typical American LeMans race = <300 Thousand (5 classes) with 10 races
Interesting article on the Sports Car series purses
http://993c4s.com/porsche-motorsport...urse-winnings/

[BevoLJ]

Ah, thank you.

So F1 is by far the Major Leagues followed by Nascar and then the rest?

Any idea what the F2 and other Formula series payout compared to the various Nascar series?

[migol24]

Its funny cause people are saying this and that about F1. I've been on several film productions and all these rich kids are so into F1. On top of that, they're excited about going to Austin.

Me, I'm just like, meh... I don't see what the F1 buzz is about.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

Ah, thank you.

So F1 is by far the Major Leagues followed by Nascar and then the rest?

Any idea what the F2 and other Formula series payout compared to the various Nascar series?

Probably about the same as NASCAR truck races. As the article I linked to earlier suggests, most of the money comes from advertisers or sponsors, whose graphics are all over the race cars. Without sponsors, few cars will be racing.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by electricron

As for ranking the different racing series, I suppose it's best to rank by the size of the purses.

Typical F1 race = $658 Million / 20 races = $33 Million/race (payout based upon yearly car owner points)
Typical NASCAR Cup race = $4 Million - $5 Million with 36 races per season
(Daytona $17 Million, Indy $8 Million, Texas $6 Million)
Typical NASCAR Nationwide race = <$1 Million with 33 races per season
Typical NASCAR Truck race = <$500 Thousand with 22 races per season
Typical Indy Car race = (Indy 500 $14 Million, all 15 races included in a year long formula for purses where every car racing a full season is guaranteed over $1 Million for the year)
Typical Grand Am race = <$200 Thousand (2 classes) with 16 races
Typical American LeMans race = <300 Thousand (5 classes) with 10 races
Interesting article on the Sports Car series purses
http://993c4s.com/porsche-motorsport...urse-winnings/

ALMS is higher than GA. Also you have to take into account the Lemans connection ALMS has. Most of their classes can run at Lemans without modification. Grand Am cars can not. Factory teams run with Lemans rules as it's a much bigger world audience. Because of that ALMS has Corvette, Porsche, Viper, BMW, Ferrari and Lotus almost direct or direct factory backing.


On the Austin track, there is no way it will have better access than Sebring unless the allow full paddock access with fans allowed to go up to the team garages. They will also have to take down all the tall fences at Austin. Sebring is a great fan track. It is also safe but has low fences and full open team garages!!! F1 goes overboard at all its tracks with safety. Thats why its very hard to get good pictures or even see the cars closeup. You will see what I mean in November. They might have good viewing areas, but they will not be very close to the cars.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by F1 Tommy

On the Austin track, there is no way it will have better access than Sebring unless the allow full paddock access with fans allowed to go up to the team garages. They will also have to take down all the tall fences at Austin. Sebring is a great fan track. It is also safe but has low fences and full open team garages!!! F1 goes overboard at all its tracks with safety. Thats why its very hard to get good pictures or even see the cars closeup. You will see what I mean in November. They might have good viewing areas, but they will not be very close to the cars.

Either way, they said it themselves the Sebring track does not have the facilities to handle the event. COTA does.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

Either way, they said it themselves the Sebring track does not have the facilities to handle the event. COTA does.

Sebring can handle the WEC race. If anything it will be alot smaller than the Sebring 12 hours.

I look forward to seeing the Austin track sometime next year. I don't think it will ever make any money but another top quality road race track is always welcome. My home track is Road America not Sebring, and I am judging Sebring by it's well deserved merit not a bias.

[KevinFromTexas]

My sister and brother-in-law live about 2 miles from the track. I've considered riding from our house to their house. Part of the route I would take is Burleson Road. Note, there is no Burleson "Lane" as the article suggests.

http://www.austin360.com/news/lifest...-get-to/nSNfz/

Posted: 9:33 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012

Fit City: Bicycles might be speediest way to get to Formula One track for races
Free valet parking, showers and shuttle just for cyclists

By Pam LeBlanc

Barring a trip in your own private helicopter, a bicycle might offer the speediest way for fans to get to the new Circuit of the Americas Track on Formula One race day.

To find out just how feasible that might be, I met City Council Member Chris Riley, a bike commuter and staunch supporter of cycling, at City Hall so we could scout the route from downtown. Chad Crager, a project manager in the city of Austin’s neighborhood connectivity department, joined us for the roughly 11-mile trip.

First things first. Cyclists won’t be allowed to pedal to the front gates of the track.

Race organizers and city officials instead are encouraging cyclists to bike to Richard Moya Park on Burleson Road, which is about a mile from the track. From there, they can valet park their bike, clean up at a portable shower and hop a shuttle exclusively for cyclists. It’s all free, paid for by the Circuit of the Americas folks.

[turn1]

I could have sworn that I already posted this, but the RV pads are coming back:

[turn1]

...and here are some new COTA aerial shots:

[migol24]

Okay when are the races again? November something? You guys think this will be done in a month and a half?

[JoninATX]

Most of it will. The amphitheater and the observation tower will not be completed until next year.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by migol24

Okay when are the races again? November something? You guys think this will be done in a month and a half?

The track is basically done. The rest? Not so much. Austin Commercial and some of the other contractors will still be there working for another year. Probably right up til the 2013 GP, from what I've heard.

Pray for dry weather. We're gonna need it. Otherwise....very bad things.

[turn1]

Vance has been busy taking photos the last couple of days:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7614878&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7614878&type=1


I guess motorauthority.com liked them, too, because they used them as their COTA photo update:

http://www.motorauthority.com/image/...1-austin-texas

[turn1]

COTA just announced the 2013 MotoGP date:

http://www.circuitoftheamericas.com/moto-gp

April 19-21, 2012

[turn1]

More from MotoGP.com:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/C...ement+for+2013

[turn1]

Here are a couple of new photos from MotoGP.com: