COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[GTO]

Before that, I wait to hear how this new track design & construction will be funded? I doubt they will get much support from the feds...meaning state & civic taxpayers & private.

[andrew]

I thought Texas was deep in NASCAR territory.

How sucessful are single seater races in Texas?

[WhiteBlue]

I don't know what they all have with this anti Tilke attitude. The last track that Tilke competitors took over was completely messed up and had to have major surgery to be usable as GP venue (Singapore).

Tilke has brought us great tracks as Istanbul park, China or Sepang. The quality of the track will largely depend of the owner's spec and the elevation available at the location. Are there hilly lands around Austin?

[andrew]

Sepang is good but the rest are pretty mediocre at best compared to other tracks that have been sacrificed for his.

[donskar]

I don't know what they all have with this anti Tilke attitude. The last track that Tilke competitors took over was completely messed up and had to have major surgery to be usable as GP venue (Singapore).

Tilke has brought us great tracks as Istanbul park, China or Sepang. The quality of the track will largely depend of the owner's spec and the elevation available at the location. Are there hilly lands around Austin?

Yes, Austin is the "Gateway to the Texas Hill Country." Also has a river running through the city (a river they call a lake, but I digress).

[bill shoe]

Texas is doing relatively well economically due to the strong oil economy and to government spending that is roughly under control. Ironically this gives them money to throw at high-status sporting events.

I think this will be a bad deal economically for Texas taxpayers. I think Texas politicians are doing it so they can attend the races and be associated with a high-status event. This will make them higher-status people.

Texas politicians could easily prove me wrong. If they really think this event is good for taxpayers then they could publically vow not to attend the races. This would prove they think the event has economic merit on its own and is not being done to buy higher status for themselves.

I don't think they will take the opportunity to prove me wrong.

Yea, this is F1 TECHNICAL, so uh, how do you like the diffuser on the Lotus?

[dp35]

I don't know what they all have with this anti Tilke attitude.

Nothing against Tilke, he's obviously qualified. But I don't believe that he's the ONLY person capable of designing an F1 circuit. The Tilke tracks are all similar in a quirky, gimicky sort of way. It would be nice to have the new tracks designed by a variety of capable people, rather than just one.

[Ted68]

Yes, Austin is the "Gateway to the Texas Hill Country." Also has a river running through the city (a river they call a lake, but I digress).

Well crap fire and save matches! I thought Johnson City called itself Gateway to The Hill Country? You can hear it now as they come down 5th to Congress, "And Webber takes the lead at Antone's corner." Or, "Button tries to get past Kubica at Menger Hotel."

Yes, it's a river. No, the race will never happen.

First, the money will never materialize for whatever political reason. Second, Austin has gone extremely Green in the last 10 years and the young, liberal and very active populace of the city will campaign against it on pollution grounds.

Fifteen years ago, Austin was my favorite US city. At that time, or earlier, it would have been a great venue. Not today.

[Ray]

HOT DAMN!!!!! I'd break my vow to never visit Texas again for this. Sign me up! I hope it's not a complete crap track though. I'll be so happy to hear an F1 engine live rather than on TV for a change. This is awesome news! First, Half-Life 2 comes to Mac tomorrow and now, this??? I can't have had a better day.

[flynfrog]

I guess this is better than New York. Still don't like the idea of building a new track just for F1 to run on when we have so many good tracks already. I just hope it has some personality and isnt an abortion like spain.

In for F1T party on 6th street.

[Scorpaguy]

Austin is an interesting choice....great climate. It has a couple of different cultures, tree huggers and wierd music, that seem a strange fit for the F1 crowd. It also has one of the worlds biggest bat populations...so maybe they could construct a "bat curve".

[Jersey Tom]

Still don't like the idea of building a new track just for F1 to run on when we have so many good tracks already.

Yep!

[jddh1]

This is absolute bullshit. It's not NY so I'm not happy. Now I got to pay extra airplane fees just to go to the damn place.

And I guess it's time to find out if any of my old college friends live in Austin.

[ISLAMATRON]

Mexico city would have been a much better choice, but I'll believe this when I see the red lights go out.

[eddie]

I don't understand this, why build a whole new track !!!! Their are some awesome tracks in the states, why not upgrade those. I just hope Tilke does not build a flat piece of rubbish...look at spa hermann what adds to it's greatness? It's the gradient changes!