how indianapolis will change for motogp
19/07/07
News
UK exclusive by David Miller
The track is 2.601 miles (4.186 km) long and will feature 16 turns (10 left, six right). The initial IMS road-course configuration, unveiled in 2000, had 13 turns in its 2.605-mile (4.192 km) layout. All three classes competing at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP – MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc – will race on the new circuit.
As bikes cross the "Yard of Bricks" to start a lap, they will be traveling anti-clockwise, the same direction as cars in the two IMS oval events, the Indy 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Cars in previous road-course events at IMS travelled clockwise.
"Construction has started on parts of the circuit. Paving of an estimated 13,300 tons of asphalt is scheduled to be completed by this fall, and the entire project is scheduled to be finished before Opening Day of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 in May 2008," said Kevin Forbes, IMS director of engineering and construction. "This is like doing delicate surgery as opposed to massive reconstruction." Forbes said.
The major features of the new motorcycle circuit come adjacent to turn one of the oval and in the infield. A four-turn complex is being built inside the oval and will comprise the first four turns of the new road circuit. The entrance of this new complex is situated at the end of the front straight. This will create nearly 800 feet of runoff area for riders.
The sweeping, left-handed turn one is followed by a short straightaway into the 90-degree, right-handed turn two. Another short straight follows that into the tight, right-handed turn three, which leads almost immediately into the sharp, left-handed turn four. That turn leads riders onto the short chute between turns one and two of the oval.
Riders then re-enter the infield at turn five a sweeping, fast left-hander just before turn two of the oval. Turn six is a 90-degree left-hander leading into a short straight. Turn seven, a quick right-hander, flows into a short straight connecting to the left-handed turn eight. Another short straight leads to the 90-degree, right-handed turn nine, from which riders begin to power down the back straight adjacent to Hulman Boulevard in the center of the IMS infield.
Riders then will brake heavily at the end of the back straightaway into the curling, left-handed turn ten, which after a short straightaway leads to the flowing, 180-degree right-handed turn 11.
Another short straight leads into the quick, left-handed turn 12, with a short straight running parallel to the nearby Hulman Boulevard leading into the sharp, left-handed turn 13.
Turn 14 is a sweeping left-hander in which riders will gain speed into the short straightaway leading into turn 15, a 90-degree right-hander. Riders then will flick their motorcycles to the left almost immediately, skimming their left knees just above the asphalt, for the 90-degree, left-handed turn 16 that exits onto the famed front straightaway at IMS. Riders then will accelerate to full power and cross the "Yard of Bricks" at approximately 200 mph to complete a lap.
"It's going to improve safety, creating all of that new run-off area for oval race vehicles," Forbes said. "I think it's a great thing that we're not only making this for use as a motorcycle circuit, but we're improving the safety and the aesthetics of the oval."
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