Round 15: IndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen, Watkins Glen. Sep 2-4, 2016.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Round 15: IndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen, Watkins Glen. Sep 2-4, 2016.

With The Grand Prix of Boston cancelled, before it even got going, Watkins Glen makes a welcome return to the IndyCar calendar after 6 years.

Once the home of the United States F1 Grand Prix, from 1961 - 1980, the idea of having a race track at Watkins Glen was down to a young, Ohio law student Cameron Argetsinger a member of the Sports Car Club of America, SCCA. The first event to be held was the Watkins Glen Grand Prix, in October 1948. It took place on a challenging 6.6 mile course that included asphalt, cement and dirt roads in and around the village of Watkins Glen.

After two terrible accidents in 1951 and '52, New York State banned racing on state highways, therefore a new 4.4 mile course was created a short distance away, in the town of Dix using town and agricultural roads. However, drivers soon complained about the lack of run-off and poor visibility. It became clear that using farm roads for racing wasunsustainable and a permanent facility was needed. Construction began on a new 2.3 mile long course on a section of land that overlapped part of the course. The new circuit opened in 1956 and began establishing itself as a major national and international venue. NASCAR first raced there in 1957 and in 1961 it held the irst United States F1 Grand Prix.

However, for several years, concerns had been raised about the safety of the chicane on the inside of The Loop. Not to be confused with the bus stop chicane or Inner Loop added in 1992. Everything came to a head when Graham Hill was severely injured in the 1969 F1 GP. The track therefore underwent a major overhaul and redesign for the 1971 season.

With the costs of the 1971 redesign still not paid off and the increasing F1 sanctioning fee, the track was in financial trouble. When the sanction fee for 1981 could not be paid and the FIA decided to remove the race from the 1981 calendar. The circuit found itself in administration and for two years it was effectively closed, hosting a handful of SCCA events without spectators.

In 1983 Corning Enterprises, a subsidiary of glass company Corning Inc., in partnership with International Speedway Corporation bought the track and renamed it, Watkins Glen International. The circuit was renovated and the chicane at the Esses was removed completely. In 1985 sportscars returned with the IMSA series and in 1986, NASCAR returned, though only racing on the short course.

In 2005 Watkins Glen was added to the IRL IndyCar Series calendar, the first season to include road courses. The race was held on the full circuit, which includes The Boot and the Inner Loop and was won by Scott Dixon, for Chip Ganassi Racing, driving a Panoz G-Force-Toyota. The last IndyCar race was held on July 4, 2010 and won by Will Power, for Penske Racing, driving a Dallara IR05-Honda HI7R. However, the following year Watkins Glen left the calendar, citing low attendance figures.

Since opening in 1956, the track has undergone several layout changes. The most significant was in 1971, with the track undergoing a major redesign at a cost of $2.3 million. The "Big Bend" and the turns leading up to it were replaced with a new pit straight. A new extension was built and was nicknamed The Boot due to its shape. The track was also resurfaced and widened. As a result of Francois Cevert's fatal accident in the 1973 US Grand Prix, in which the armco barrier was uprooted on impact, a temporary chicane was installed in 1975 at the Esses.

Increasing speeds and the close proximity of the Armco barriers, continued to be a problem. In 1991, two accidents at The Loop, one of which was fatal forced a change. A bus stop chicane was therefore added to the back straight in spring 1992, known as the Inner Loop, establishing the current layout.

Some trivia:
Driver with most wins: 3
Scott Dixon, 2005-2007
Team with most wins: 3
Chip Ganassi Racing, 2005-2007

Track layout:
Original Grand Prix layout: 1956-1970
Length: 2.350 miles (3.782 km)


F1 Grand Prix layout: 1971-1980
Length: 3.377 miles (5.435 km)



Current full layout with the Inner Loop:
Length: 3.450 miles (5.552 km)


Turns: 11
Lap record: Ryan Briscoe, 4 July 2009. 1:28.5970, 136.935 Mph (220.375 Kmh). Team Penske, Dallara IR05-Honda HI7R, IRL IndyCar Series.

Last IndyCar race winner:
Will Power
Team Penske, Dallara IR05-Honda HI7R

Laps: 60
Distance: 204 Miles (328.306 Km)
Race Time: 1:40:27

Race broadcast:
NBCSN, 2:00pm ET