- 202
- HeXoSKEL3t0n
The paint feels somewhat familiar... Reminds me of Paul Ricard
F1 Returns to USA - COTA - Bring on 2013!!
- Thread starter CodeRedR51
- 575 comments
- 62,529 views
- 7,284
- Inverness, Scotland
- GTP_PaulMac/paulmac2k9
Wouldn't they paint the runs offs (If they do) blue for all the colours of the US flag? 
Looks a nice circuit on paper and I like how they say it goes with the terrain so has nice elevation changes etc?
Looks a nice circuit on paper and I like how they say it goes with the terrain so has nice elevation changes etc?
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
Wouldn't they paint the runs offs (If they do) blue for all the colours of the US flag?
That's the plan, according to this:
http://circuitoftheamericas.com/articles/cota-october-construction-update
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
I think Circuit of the Americas is going to be a great track for racing. I'm not going to say this track with its paint is going to be like Circuit Paul Ricard. Paul Ricard is almost basically all asphalt or concrete with painted runoffs. Very little grass (if any) at Paul Ricard. I'd love to see some proper laps being run just to see what this track will be like once some serious racing machines take on this course.
Let me just say this again- world-class international racing track in my home/native state. Whoever thought it was a good idea to build an international motor racing facility track like COTA here in Texas- THANK YOU! I've never been to the Austin area (though I've been to San Antonio about twice), but I'd even go to Austin just to see this track.
Let me just say this again- world-class international racing track in my home/native state. Whoever thought it was a good idea to build an international motor racing facility track like COTA here in Texas- THANK YOU! I've never been to the Austin area (though I've been to San Antonio about twice), but I'd even go to Austin just to see this track.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
Just got this email:
- 7,284
- Inverness, Scotland
- GTP_PaulMac/paulmac2k9
RT stop drooling on your computer... 
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
I'm so in for reserved seating. Can't purchase the tickets until the 2nd though, so hopefully they don't sell out. 
If they do, then I'll just settle for General Admission.
If they do, then I'll just settle for General Admission.
- 7,594
- Ontario,Canada
- macospet1
- My What?
Celebrities, Exotic Cars And A Whole Lotta Noise: Opening Day At Austins Formula One Track
http://jalopnik.com/5953606/celebri...ng-day-at-austins-formula-one-track/gallery/1
There were two events of note in Elroy, Texas on Sunday afternoon: the FM 812 Outdoor Flea Market, and the opening day and ribbon cutting ceremony at the Circuit of the Americas race track where Formula One will be held in just a few weeks.
I went to the latter, because that one had famous racing drivers, celebrities, exotic cars, and a whole bunch of beautiful women. Free water bottles and Pirelli hats, too! This is just how I roll in Austin on Sundays.
The event was perhaps Austin's first real taste of the sights, sounds and smells of F1 racing. Our city will host the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix the weekend of Nov. 16. True, there have been events at the track before, but nothing like this. It was also the most complete iteration I've seen of the 20 turn, 3.4 mile track, which promoters say is the first modern purpose-built F1 track in the U.S.
The first thing that greeted the members of the media (including international motorsports reporters and local journalists with varying knowledge of F1; one hapless fellow asked, "What's Pirelli?") who stepped off the shuttles was the gaggle of supercars lined up near the paddock. These were brought by lucky rich bastards so-called VIPs who would later have a chance to whip them around the track.
They weren't messing around. There was a host of Lamborghinis, a McLaren MP4-12C, several Ferrari F430s, a couple FFs, and far and away most notably, an F40. This was my first time seeing one in person. Yes, it was a religious experience, in case you're wondering.
Also on display were a ton of race-prepped cars from various series, including a Porsche GT3, an Audi TT-RS, and the mid-engine Corvette they race in Grand Am. There was also a Lotus F1 car they were letting people sit in, and F1 three-seaters they were giving people rides in.
We were then treated to the actual ribbon cutting on the track, which was immediately followed by the highlight of the day: some hot laps around the track by Mario Andretti. Apparently, he was supposed to do it in the Renault R30 car from the 2010 F1 season, but it was having some issues that day. Instead, Andretti did it in a John Playe Special Lotus 79 Cosworth, the same kind of car he used to win the championship in 1978. No one was arguing with that.
If you've never heard the sound of an F1 car going around a track, especially one of that vintage, I can now tell you from experience that it is the most insane, unholy, ear-shattering noise on the planet but in a good way. Hearing Andretti go flat out on the stretch before dropping through the gears to go around the hairpin Turn 1 was something I will never forget. I can't wait to hear more of it in a few weeks.
Other than Andretti, Lotus reserve driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio and noted racing enthusiast Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey were there. (He was the second handsomest Patrick at the track besides me, obviously.) Also, a colleague of mine reported that Ryan Gosling was there. I talked to him for a minute about that vintage, white two-seater Ferrari without ever realizing it was him. He's a pretty nice guy, and he must have been hot in that blazer.
And then there were speeches by dignitaries like Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez... but I know you don't care about that stuff. You care about cars! So click through the gallery and tell me what your favorites were.
Until now, when I've written about F1 in Austin, it's all been in kind of a conceptual sense. But things got real today. This is actually happening, and I'm pretty excited about it. I hope Austin can pull it off.
http://jalopnik.com/5953606/celebri...ng-day-at-austins-formula-one-track/gallery/1
There were two events of note in Elroy, Texas on Sunday afternoon: the FM 812 Outdoor Flea Market, and the opening day and ribbon cutting ceremony at the Circuit of the Americas race track where Formula One will be held in just a few weeks.
I went to the latter, because that one had famous racing drivers, celebrities, exotic cars, and a whole bunch of beautiful women. Free water bottles and Pirelli hats, too! This is just how I roll in Austin on Sundays.
The event was perhaps Austin's first real taste of the sights, sounds and smells of F1 racing. Our city will host the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix the weekend of Nov. 16. True, there have been events at the track before, but nothing like this. It was also the most complete iteration I've seen of the 20 turn, 3.4 mile track, which promoters say is the first modern purpose-built F1 track in the U.S.
The first thing that greeted the members of the media (including international motorsports reporters and local journalists with varying knowledge of F1; one hapless fellow asked, "What's Pirelli?") who stepped off the shuttles was the gaggle of supercars lined up near the paddock. These were brought by lucky rich bastards so-called VIPs who would later have a chance to whip them around the track.
They weren't messing around. There was a host of Lamborghinis, a McLaren MP4-12C, several Ferrari F430s, a couple FFs, and far and away most notably, an F40. This was my first time seeing one in person. Yes, it was a religious experience, in case you're wondering.
Also on display were a ton of race-prepped cars from various series, including a Porsche GT3, an Audi TT-RS, and the mid-engine Corvette they race in Grand Am. There was also a Lotus F1 car they were letting people sit in, and F1 three-seaters they were giving people rides in.
We were then treated to the actual ribbon cutting on the track, which was immediately followed by the highlight of the day: some hot laps around the track by Mario Andretti. Apparently, he was supposed to do it in the Renault R30 car from the 2010 F1 season, but it was having some issues that day. Instead, Andretti did it in a John Playe Special Lotus 79 Cosworth, the same kind of car he used to win the championship in 1978. No one was arguing with that.
If you've never heard the sound of an F1 car going around a track, especially one of that vintage, I can now tell you from experience that it is the most insane, unholy, ear-shattering noise on the planet but in a good way. Hearing Andretti go flat out on the stretch before dropping through the gears to go around the hairpin Turn 1 was something I will never forget. I can't wait to hear more of it in a few weeks.
Other than Andretti, Lotus reserve driver Jérôme d'Ambrosio and noted racing enthusiast Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey were there. (He was the second handsomest Patrick at the track besides me, obviously.) Also, a colleague of mine reported that Ryan Gosling was there. I talked to him for a minute about that vintage, white two-seater Ferrari without ever realizing it was him. He's a pretty nice guy, and he must have been hot in that blazer.
And then there were speeches by dignitaries like Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez... but I know you don't care about that stuff. You care about cars! So click through the gallery and tell me what your favorites were.
Until now, when I've written about F1 in Austin, it's all been in kind of a conceptual sense. But things got real today. This is actually happening, and I'm pretty excited about it. I hope Austin can pull it off.
- 9,741
- Las Vegas UTC-8
- Wardez
- Wardez
Only $400 to fly in to San Antonio from here in Vegas, compared to ~$1,000 for Austin. But I found an even better deal flying into Houston (which I'd have to connect through to go to either SA or Austin anyway) for $200. The drive from there to Austin's only about three hours compared to the two that it takes between SA and Austin.
So it will still satisfy my need for road tripping without it having to be 20 hours - score.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
Wilbur
You beat me! Will get mine soon.
- 275
- Side 3
- BigNFL
Not sure if this has been posted yet but here are some on-boards from the grand opening ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5gLoxNE7ms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5gLoxNE7ms
Last edited:
- 3,164
- AMSTERDAM
- spyrrari
Looks interesting this track..
Love the uphill approach of the first corner,and the ss's right after that,long enough straight for drs overtaking and a nice technical section at the end of the lap!
And wow,how cool is that old lotus F1 car...ohhh memories eh?
Spy.
Love the uphill approach of the first corner,and the ss's right after that,long enough straight for drs overtaking and a nice technical section at the end of the lap!
And wow,how cool is that old lotus F1 car...ohhh memories eh?
Spy.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
Here's a slower view.
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,344
- United States
Without a doubt purchasing my V8SC tickets on the 2nd. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
I can only imagine F1 cars running maybe 1:35 to 1:50 lap times around this track. I liked this track when it was conceptualized; I like it even more now seeing that onboard lap. I'm jacked, folks. It's going to be a great track for almost any series that runs it. Heck... I don't care even if NASCAR Cup has a one-off exhibition race around the full-length circuit- I really like this track. Me gusteria.
Thanks for posting the video! Credit should also given to the channel who allowed the video to be embedded (speaking as a blogger, that's especially nice to be able to feature embedded videos for posts).
Thanks for posting the video! Credit should also given to the channel who allowed the video to be embedded (speaking as a blogger, that's especially nice to be able to feature embedded videos for posts).
Last edited:
- 4,579
- Houston, TX
- astrosdude91
Got my tickets today!
Last edited:
- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
That 3-seater kind of sounds like it has a Dodge Viper engine in it. Anyhow- that's sick! This thing seems more fun than being in a sidecar. Beautiful to see that John Player Special Lotus. Man... that JPS Lotus sounds beautiful! Nice playlist find, Mac K!
As for the track and the racing, just imagine this track driven in anger with some 24 F1 cars for about 90 or 105 or 110 minutes. We can rFactor what the experience will be like all we want, but it will all pale in comparison to the real deal racing the real COTA.
As for the track and the racing, just imagine this track driven in anger with some 24 F1 cars for about 90 or 105 or 110 minutes. We can rFactor what the experience will be like all we want, but it will all pale in comparison to the real deal racing the real COTA.
