A lap of Indianapolis with Montoya
Formula 1 heads to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway this week for Sunday's United States Grand Prix, round 10 of the 2006 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Juan Pablo Montoya takes us for a ride on the famous circuit in his MP4-21
Juan Pablo Montoya "Powering up to some 343km/h in sixth gear as you cross the famous yard of bricks, you then brake hard for the tight right hander that takes you onto the twisty infield section of the track. The 90-degree turn is taken at 123km/h in second gear and flows into an equally tight left-hander, which is taken at of 122km/h, still in second.
The circuit then gently bends to the right as you accelerate to turn four. You brake from speeds of around 220km/h in third to 130km/h for the right hander. A short burst of power takes you to turn five, a 45-degree right hander, which is taken at 245km/h in fourth gear.
Another quick spurt on the throttle leads to the long 180-degree left hander of turn six. This swings you into turn seven, a right-hander that is negotiated at similar speeds and leads onto the back straight. Accelerating towards the 90-degree turn eight, you reach 300km/h in seventh gear before dropping to 114km/h in second for the left hander.
The s-bends of turns nine and ten follow immediately. The tight right-hander of nine is taken at 59km/h in first gear, with your speed increasing ever so slightly to 72km/h in first for the left hander of ten. On the exit it’s quick on the power along the short straight that leads to the final corner of the infield section, reaching some 200km/h, before braking to 134km/h to negotiate the right hander. Accelerating out, the circuit begins to curve to the right as you rejoin the oval.
Flicking up through the gears, you keep hard on the throttle through the rights of turns twelve and thirteen, which leads you back onto the pit straight. Turn twelve is taken at 275km/h and by the time you reach the long, sweeping banking of turn 13, you are travelling at some 316km/h in top gear as you begin another lap."
