2007 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
INDIANAPOLIS - PREVIEW
After an action-packed week and a dramatic race at the Canadian
Grand Prix in Montreal, the Honda Racing F1 Team heads to
North America on Monday for the next round of the 2007 FIA
Formula One World Championship at the legendary Indianapolis
Motor Speedway.
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO - Senior Technical Director
"After a frustrating race in Canada, we are looking
forward to Indianapolis which presents a different set-up
challenge with its mix of high speed sections and twisting
infield. The circuit also offers good overtaking opportunities.
We will be pushing as hard as possible to achieve a better
result."
JENSON BUTTON
"I really enjoy racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
I had never driven on a banked circuit before Formula One
went to Indy so the last corner of the F1 circuit configuration
is really fun to drive. I know the banking is not much compared
to the IndyCar races but it feels banked to us. The circuit
is not such a high-speed circuit which I generally prefer,
but you can get some great racing as there are some good overtaking
opportunities. The key to getting a quick lap around the Speedway
is achieving a package which doesn't have too much aerodynamic
drag for the long straight. The place has a lot of history
and the fans are so passionate about their racing. We always
have a lot of support when F1 goes to Indy which makes for
a great atmosphere over the race weekend."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"The circuit at Indianapolis is quite unique and the
venue usually puts on a great show over the race weekend.
Although the track is not particularly challenging and actually
very slow with the tight in-field section, it is a lot of
fun, particularly driving the first corner of the oval banking
flat out. It's always a good race for the fans because you
can overtake at Indianapolis. It's a long way from the grid
down to the first corner so that is a good opportunity or
at the end of the back straight."
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
No of Laps 73 laps
Circuit Length 4.192 km
Race Distance 306.016 km
Built in 1908, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the oldest
motor racing circuit still in use today. The original surface
was made up of over three million bricks giving the venue
the nickname of the Brickyard. The IMS has played host to
Formula One since 2000 following the construction of a brand
new infield course. The 4.192 km circuit uses part of the
fabled Indianapolis oval with the remainder of the lap snaking
through the infield.
Tony George, head of the Speedway Corporation and a descendent
of the Hulman family that has steered the fortunes of the
historic American track, pulled out all the stops to create
a world-class racing circuit that could provide a permanent
home for the United States Grand Prix. In pursuit of that
goal, he made radical changes to the original Speedway by
demolishing buildings, erecting a new pit complex and grandstands,
and building today's challenging road course.
Overtaking is much easier at Indianapolis than at most tracks,
with clear passing opportunities into turns one and eight,
both second-gear corners proceeded by long straights. The
slowest part of the track is the 40mph turn eight, the first
part of an extremely tight S-bend, while the fastest is turn
thirteen. This is the first corner of the oval and is taken
flat-out at 185mph in an F1 car.
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