Rounds 10 & 11: revised calendar. Honda Indy 200 At Mid-Ohio. Sept 12 - 13

[bjohnsonsmith]

Rounds 10 & 11: revised calendar. Honda Indy 200 At Mid-Ohio. Sept 12 - 13.

Mid-Ohio, will be the fourth double header this season and was originally scheduled to be the 14th round of the 2020 season pre-Covid-19 and was to be held on Aug. 16. Because of the pandemic, the event was rescheduled for August 9 and was to be Round 7 of the revised calendar. It was also to be a ticketed event but due to concerns with social distancing the race was dropped, though promoters Green Savoree Racing Promotions, hoped it would be reinstated at a later date.

Ohio governor Mike DeWine decided the race could go ahead this weekend and it will be a double header, hosting Rounds 10 and 11 on Saturday and Sunday. It remains a ticketed event, though capacity has been capped at 6000 for the weekend. Qualifying for Race 1 will take place on Saturday afternoon and qualifying for Race 2 will take place on Sunday morning.

History:
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, was the idea of local business man Les Griebling, who convinced a number of friends from the local business community, to invest in a road course for weekend sportscar racing.

The course, which followed the contours of the land, was designed by Griebling, and was opened in 1962. From 1970 to 1976, Mid-Ohio became an event on the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship calendar and from 1977 to 1980, hosted a round of the revived Can-Am series. AOWR returned when CART initially raced at Mid-Ohio in 1980, with Johnny Rutherford taking victory in the Chaparral-Cosworth DFX.

In 1981, the track was bought by road racing enthusiast Jim Trueman, the owner of Red Roof Inns and Mid-Ohio underwent its first major renovation. Permanent grandstands, new pit garages with spectator balconies, a media/hospitality center, underground tunnels and a new paddock were built as well as the Goodyear Tower. CART returned in 1983 racing there until 2003.

In 2006, Mid-Ohio underwent further renovation, with the whole track and pit lane being completely resurfaced and adding a 75,000 seat grandstand. In 2007, after a 3 year absence from AOWR, Mid-Ohio returned as a venue for the IndyCar series and this weekend will see the 10th running of the race as an IndyCar event.

In March 2011, the track was purchased from Truesports by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, who promote the IndyCar street races at St Petersburg and Toronto.

Some Trivia:
Driver with most wins, Scott Dixon: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019.
Team with most wins, Chip Ganassi Racing: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019.

Track Layout:
Mid-Ohio features two track configurations, one of 2.25 miles (3.621 km) and 13 turns, the other of 2.4 miles (3.862 kms) and 15 turns. The track runs clockwise, with the start line located on the back stretch after Turn 3 and the finish line in front of the pits. In 1963 the original sports car course
was modified, as drivers were concerned it was too slow. Oak Tree Bend, which literally went around an oak tree, was removed and replaced by the Thunder Valley section.

In 1990, there were further modifications, with the track being widened, creating the 13-turn, 2.250 mile (3.621 km) layout, adopted by CART and which is now used by IndyCar. During the 2006 renovations, new link roads were added to the track's famous Keyhole section, creating three separate road course configurations.

Original track layout:


1963-1989 track layout:


1990-2005 track layout:


Current IndyCar track layout:


Length: 2.250 Miles (3.621 km)
Turns: 13

Lap record:
Simon Pagenaud, 30 July, 2016. 1:03.870, 127.271 mph (204.822) km/h.
Team Penske,
Dallara DW12-Chevrolet IndyCar V6.
Verizon IndyCar Series.

Last year's race:
https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/n...Bvalue%5D=2243

Pole position:
Will Power, 1:05.1569. 124.757 mph (200.776 km/h)
Team Penske
Dallara IR18-Chevy IndyCar V6

Last year's winner:
Scott Dixon
Chip Ganassi Racing
Dallara IR18-Honda HI19R Indy V6

Laps: 90
Distance: 203.22 mi (327.05 km)
Race Time: 1:45:15.
Average Speed: 115.837 mph (194.197 km/h)
Fastest lap: James Hinchcliffe, Arrow Schmidt Petersen Motorsport, lap 79, 67.3644 sec, 120.669 mph (221.318 km/h)

Cautions: 0

TV Coverage:
Race 1: NBCSN, Sept 12, 4:30pm ET, 8:30pm UTC
Race 2: NBC, Sept 13, 1:00pm ET, 6:00pm UTC