Circuit of the Americas Development Updates

[turn1]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

Exactly, everyone has their own interests, and it shouldn't be derided.

I come from an outside perspective, I don't like any type of racing. I am sure people that like F1 and NASCAR can tell me why they are different and why one is better than the other. But at the end of the day....they are both racing...

NASCAR road races tend to be very entertaining events. I'd welcome a NASCAR road event at COTA, but it doesn't matter what we think. It doesn't even matter if COTA wants one. It's not gonna happen with TMS & Eddie Gossage right up the road. The best you can hope for on that front is Nationwide or the trucks. Even then don't get your hopes up for anything anytime soon.

Also, I believe the idea that all F1 & other road racing fans are much more sophisticated than NASCAR fans is erroneous and buying into that fallacy, to its own detriment, is the biggest mistake COTA management has made.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by Hill Country

The county gives approval for road improvements by COTA. This will give the haters something else to piss and moan about:

http://www.kxan.com/news/local/austi...road-near-cota

I've said from day 1, well before construction even began, that road improvements were needed. That has never been at issue. What smells is the way this was done.

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news...atesmanpremium

[electricron]

I would love to see NASCAR raced at COTA with either of the top three series.
Although I believe COTA efforts will be better used getting Indy cars.
All that's needed is a corporate sponsor to host the race, Dell?

[turn1]

Originally Posted by electricron

I would love to see NASCAR raced at COTA with either of the top three series.
Although I believe COTA efforts will be better used getting Indy cars.
All that's needed is a corporate sponsor to host the race, Dell?

Robin Miller says COTA is trying to add IndyCar for 2015, but then he also goes on to mention the biggest reason it probably won't happen --- TMS and Eddie Gossage just up the road.

http://www.sbnation.com/indycar/2013...5-road-america

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...ycar/130809957

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by turn1

Robin Miller says COTA is trying to add IndyCar for 2015, but then he also goes on to mention the biggest reason it probably won't happen --- TMS and Eddie Gossage just up the road.

http://www.sbnation.com/indycar/2013...5-road-america

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...ycar/130809957

So Gossage would cut off his nose to spite his face so to speak. I can understand his concern, because his Indy car races don't come close to even filling half the stands. Perhaps there would be a drop off in attendance on the oval, but by his own admission, the few ovals Indy runs on are very popular so his track should still be popular with those "oval fans" while circuits, an entirely different venue, would attract a non oval fan base. There's room for both, and for him to be threatening pulling Indy from TMS if they add a third race in Texas is just bs posturing at this point. If COTA gets an Indy race, he may lose some revenue, if he pulls the races all together, he loses all revenue, and COTA scores big by cashing in on his former potential ticket buyers. What a schlupp...

[turn1]

Originally Posted by the Genral

So Gossage would cut off his nose to spite his face so to speak. I can understand his concern, because his Indy car races don't come close to even filling half the stands. Perhaps there would be a drop off in attendance on the oval, but by his own admission, the few ovals Indy runs on are very popular so his track should still be popular with those "oval fans" while circuits, an entirely different venue, would attract a non oval fan base. There's room for both, and for him to be threatening pulling Indy from TMS if they add a third race in Texas is just bs posturing at this point. If COTA gets an Indy race, he may lose some revenue, if he pulls the races all together, he loses all revenue, and COTA scores big by cashing in on his former potential ticket buyers. What a schlupp...

Maybe, maybe not. But like him or not (I don't have a strong opinion either way), Gossage has a great record of running a well-run, highly attended track for close to two decades. COTA has no such record of excellent attendance or pull within IndyCar circles (or any others afaik). IndyCar's 2nd best-attended race has generally been at TMS, so Gossage does have pull. He may not actually pull his race, but this isn't his first day on the job. I'm sure there are other moves he can make to get what's best for TMS....and what's best for TMS certainly is not to have an IndyCar race at COTA. I don't think there's any way around that fact. He's just protecting his company's best interests. Doing his job. I can't fault him for that.

[the Genral]

Yes he does have pull...he did get a 2nd Sprint cup race after all, April and November. I've been to TMS the 2nd thru 7th year, and its a remarkable facility. Of course he's looking out after his own interests, and I don't blame him for that, but you may be right in that he is standing in the way of the only one or two reasons I would go to COTA, NASCAR or INDY.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by the Genral

Yes he does have pull...he did get a 2nd Sprint cup race after all, April and November. I've been to TMS the 2nd thru 7th year, and its a remarkable facility. Of course he's looking out after his own interests, and I don't blame him for that, but you may be right in that he is standing in the way of the only one or two reasons I would go to COTA, NASCAR or INDY.

I don't think he and TMS have as much pull as many of you believe. Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, has more pull than the track director at TMS with both NASCAR and Indy Car. History has shown that Indy Car drops and add tracks to its schedule every year. The only Indy Car race that I consider a guarantee occurs on Memorial Day, the so call grand daddy of motor sports and the greatest spectacle in racing, which I will leave unnamed because you all know which race I'm discussing.

No one likes competing race events nearby, but even Indianapolis and Charlotte have them. Attracting corporate sponsor to finance the race purse is the key. If you can get the corporate money, you'll be able to host a race.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by electricron

I don't think he and TMS have as much pull as many of you believe. Bruton Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, has more pull than the track director at TMS with both NASCAR and Indy Car....

...and who owns TMS?

Agree corporate sponsorship is important. This track has not shown they can attract it.

[turn1]

OK, I've added a couple of ALMS/WEC galleries. Still more to come from Saturday!


Sunday during the WEC 6-hour:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7614878&type=1


More Friday rain pics:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7614878&type=3


Preview:

[turn1]

New LivingSocial F1 USGP Ticket deal just hit the web. Seems like prices are dropping a bit more:

Choose from the following offers:
• $39 for one Friday ticket
• $59 for one Saturday ticket
• $79 for one Sunday ticket
• $249 for one Turn-Four Weekend Pass
• $999 for four Turn-Four Weekend Passes with parking

https://www.livingsocial.com/events/...m_source=blast

[turn1]

Confirming what we heard over the ALMS/WEC weekend, Autoweek just released an article on the state of sportscar racing in the U.S:

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...d&utm_campaign

Several nights before the International Sports Car Weekend at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas—the American Le Mans Series on Saturday, Sept. 21, the FIA World Endurance Championship on Sunday, Sept. 22—FIA officials summoned COTA management to a hastily called meeting. The officials proceeded to slam them mercilessly, claiming this was one of the worst-promoted, worst-run races they've seen; that they expected this in China, but in America? Where their sophisticated Audis and Toyotas should be playing to a packed house in their only appearance here this year? Not acceptable, and we wondered if the WEC's three-year contract would see year two. This was days before the races even started.
Friday, rain trimmed the crowd, but on Saturday and Sunday, the weather was perfect. COTA claimed a three-day crowd of about 35,000, which seems optimistic. Near the end of Sunday's WEC race, it is simply not possible to claim there were more than 5,500 fans there. The ALMS, with its familiar Corvettes and Vipers and comparably loud cars, outdrew the WEC significantly. That's item No. 1 you should know about.

[JoninATX]

They also got to remember that this track is still fairly new, attendants will be low at first but will gradually pick up. Plus I do agree COTA staff does need some work, but we should also cut them some slack as well.

[turn1]

Originally Posted by JoninATX

They also got to remember that this track is still fairly new, attendants will be low at first but will gradually pick up. Plus I do agree COTA staff does need some work, but we should also cut them some slack as well.

Race attendance doesn't really tend to grow over the years. It generally declines, all other things being equal. The best crowds for races at given venues tend to be in their first year.

Apparently COTA themselves expected a much larger crowd, as they projected 116K for the weekend and 55K for WEC Sunday in their State Funding ($1.5M METF subsidy) application. The 3 permanent grandstands there only hold about 24-25K, and they were never more than about 10% full at any given time all weekend. On Sunday, writers were being told by COTA that the weekend crowd was about 25K, not 33K.

Also, as is alluded to in the article, apparently the FIA not only had a beef about the attendance & promotion, but about the way the event was run. This isn't new. We heard pretty much the same thing after V8SC.

[turn1]

McLaren to conduct October test of 2014 Pirellis at COTA:

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/f...n-7764141.html

Google Translation:

McLaren test for Pirelli:

After Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull is now McLaren's turn. The team from Woking will conduct mid-October in Austin for a 2011 car with Pirelli tire testing. The competition fears that McLaren has benefited the U.S. GP.

Pirelli continues its tire testing. But this time, the Italian tire manufacturer is not going to Barcelona like Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull The next test will be held on 20th and 21 October instead with McLaren in Austin.

McLaren sets the rules according to a 2011 car. Pirelli bears the cost of the overseas trip. Pretty much effort for 1,000 kilometers in the service of the tire supplier.

What McLaren learns the tire test in Austin for the U.S. GP?
The date and the place has been taken by the competition. Only three weeks after the test tire, the GP USA will be held in Austin at the same location. Although McLaren with the MP4-26 of 2011 is underway and will 2014 Pirelli tires available, see some teams an advantage in competition for McLaren. One is reminded of the example of Ferrari. The troops from Maranello allowed three weeks before the Spanish GP with a 2011 car in Barcelona tires for Ferrari test. Prompt Fernando Alonso won the Spanish GP. Something you always learn, if only for the setup.

[turn1]

...but then there's this:

Ted Kravitz @tedkravitz
A few #F1 news lines: McLaren tyre test pre-Austin cancelled, next yr's hot weather tests will be in Bahrain and Vet does not have tr ctrl!


f1talks.pl
@f1talks
@Austin_F1 @tedkravitz @joaoctm123 @TheFifthDriver FIA didn't give them green light to make the test.

&

Pirelli forced to abandon F1 Austin McLaren tyre test plan

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110283

[turn1]

Will there be shuttles for the USGP this year? First Vance found this:

https://www.facebook.com/FoF1ATX/posts/718033318211216



Then just a few minutes ago John Maher & the Statesman released this article about roads with the following quote from COTA spokeswoman Julie Loignon:

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/for...ting-facelift/

A September draft of the circuit’s transportation plan for the November F1 race shows a shuttle lot at the corner of Moore and Burklund Farms roads. But circuit spokeswoman Julie Loignon said Monday it had not yet been determined whether there would be a shuttle lot there for this year’s F1 race.

[migol24]

turn1, if these are your photos I don't feel people congratulate you enough. They are very good. What camera do you use?

[turn1]

Originally Posted by migol24

turn1, if these are your photos I don't feel people congratulate you enough. They are very good. What camera do you use?

I use a Nikon D3200, usually with the 55-300 lens, and I really, really appreciate your nice compliment. I'm an amateur who's still learning everything.

[ivanwolf]

Originally Posted by turn1

Will there be shuttles for the USGP this year? First Vance found this:

https://www.facebook.com/FoF1ATX/posts/718033318211216



Then just a few minutes ago John Maher & the Statesman released this article about roads with the following quote from COTA spokeswoman Julie Loignon:

http://www.statesman.com/weblogs/for...ting-facelift/

I looked at these documents and I have concluded that there are 5 potential shuttle pickup points. Downtown, 973, 812, Moore Rd, Lot Q. If you zoom in and look at the document and see the arrows pointing you to the in/out of the prior shuttle location it clues you in. Yellow lot is for Taxi. Blue Lot is Downtown, and Orange Lot is for 812 & 973. These all show pickup/drop off at last years shuttles stops off McAngus Rd. The Moore shuttle lot drops off at the T parking lot. So there may be three off site parking locations and downtown. That's parking for 15700 cars excluding downtown. There is also a Lot Q with 2200 cars to shuttle in off the east side of COTA on 812. Plus they now list the two lots north off Kellen Rd as employee lots 2600 cars. Those were there last year but I don't remember any cars in them.

I have not seen that the shuttles are free nor any of these lots are free. If COTA is renting or purchased this land then they may charge for parking and/or for the shuttles. We will see.