COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[hairy_scotsman]

Celebrities, Exotic Cars And A Whole Lotta Noise: Opening Day At Austin’s Formula One Track

http://jalopnik.com/

[hairy_scotsman]

New photo of Mario Andretti climbing to turn 1 in the Lotus 79 (via @statesmanf1):

[PlatinumZealot]

What car is this? Middle engine corvette?

[FW17]

What car is this? Middle engine corvette?

New daytona prototype

[hairy_scotsman]

I just posted some of my photos from today's opening ceremonies out at COTA...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

[strad]

Went out to catch the Lotus (Renault) R30 in action this morning at COTA. Unfortunately the R30 suffered a mechanical failure during some shakedown laps this morning with D'Ambrosio at the wheel (engine let go, we think), but I did manage to get some phone video of it in action before that. I'll have more/better video & photos later as I go through it all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lc4z0d ... ature=plcp

Thanks Hairy =D>

[hairy_scotsman]

No problem Strad...It was a fun day out on Mr. Haywood's hill. We had a lot of folks out there at times throughout the day.

Here's some video I shot of the R30 in action before it broke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1-olVRsdA

...and check out this Ferrari 458 onboard with Mark McKenzie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Qi7yyacKEY

[dren]

This track looks soooooooooo much better than that sh!t-box of a track at the Indy Speedway. I can't wait to attend!!!

[Pennster]

Is that Mario's run?

I'd be curious to hear his reaction to driving a modern F1 car.

I don't think he had the opportunity to drive a modern F1 car. However, here are his comments and d'Ambrosio's:

“It’s everything I expected and more. The track is phenomenal. It has all the features that you are looking for, giving you the opportunity to overtake, while negotiating some tighter corners. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into it,” Andretti said after his first practice laps.

From: Lotus F1 Team's test driver Jerome d’Ambrosio:

“It’s been a great day today. There’s a real buzz about the Circuit of the Americas and it was fantastic to get out on track to demonstrate the R30,” d’Ambrosio said.

“It’s a very enjoyable layout with a couple of really good places for overtaking, some long fast sweeping ‘S’ corners, and some really good high speed changes of direction like ‘Becketts’ in Silverstone. It was a shame not to get more laps, as an engine issue meant we were unable to continue running, but I had enough time to get a really good feel of the circuit. It’s an enjoyable track for a racing driver and also fantastic for the fans as the viewing areas are very well placed, there should be plenty of action.

“The first corner is quite special and it will be interesting to see it when people are dicing for position in the race. Austin is a superb city with a great atmosphere, and I think the city will live around Formula 1 for the week of the Grand Prix and that’s something we all can enjoy, it’s really going to be something quite special.”

[hairy_scotsman]

Here's some better video I shot of the R30 before it broke (first lap):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUSE_EJmmzw

[FW17]

This track looks soooooooooo much better than that sh!t-box of a track at the Indy Speedway. I can't wait to attend!!!

Indy was cheap for spectators, so why complain? It was a good track without the 2 hair pins anyway.

[strad]

I'd be curious to hear his reaction to driving a modern F1 car.

Since he's driven everything with wheels why in hell do you think he would have any problem with a "modern" F1 car????

[Nando]

I'd be curious to hear his reaction to driving a modern F1 car.

Since he's driven everything with wheels why in hell do you think he would have any problem with a "modern" F1 car????

Did he imply that or is there something i have missed?

[ecapox]

I'd be curious to hear his reaction to driving a modern F1 car.

Since he's driven everything with wheels why in hell do you think he would have any problem with a "modern" F1 car????

...and this is how arguments are started.

I surely dont think he would have a problem with it. I am just curious to hear the insight of a man who probably last touched an F1 car in the 80's.

[dren]

This track looks soooooooooo much better than that sh!t-box of a track at the Indy Speedway. I can't wait to attend!!!

Indy was cheap for spectators, so why complain? It was a good track without the 2 hair pins anyway.

Wait, you're the same guy complaining about the India track? Yeah, Indy was cheap and easily accessable to spectators. The only main thing it had going for it was the high speed bank part of the original track. This new track just looks so much better, like a proper racing track, not something that had a few left hand turns thrown in for good measure.