Repaving Of Infield Section Of IMS Road Course Completed
July 08, 2011 | By Paul Kelly
The repaving of the infield section of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is complete, as the smooth, new surface awaits the world’s best motorcycle racers at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP MotoGP race Aug. 26-28.
Crews repaved 1.5 miles of the circuit from Turn 5 through Turn 16. The existing asphalt was ground and then repaved with fresh asphalt to create a surface consistent with the other sections of the course.
“It’s always great when the track is investing and making the surface better for the riders,” American MotoGP star Ben Spies said. “I’m much happier that it’s been repaved, and I’m very much appreciative of Indy doing that. It will make it a little more consistent for us riders.”
Turn 5 is where the course leaves the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 of the oval. Turn 16 is where the circuit leaves the infield near the start of the front straightaway at the exit of Turn 4 of the oval.
It’s the first time this section of the course was resurfaced since it was built in 2000. Turns 1 through 4 of the 2.621-mile circuit – located inside Turn 1 of the oval – were created in 2008 for the inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP and were not repaved during this project.
The FIM, the worldwide sanctioning body of motorcycling, inspected the repaved section of the circuit July 7. FIM Grand Prix Safety Officer Claude Danis, who led the inspection, praised the new asphalt.
“It looks very, very good,” Danis said. “I see a very big improvement compared to years before. The track is fast, and the grip looks good. I’m very happy with the work they did.”
***
2011 Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets: 2011 Red Bull Indianapolis GP tickets are on sale now.
To buy tickets, visit www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700 or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Ticket office and phone hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
The 2011 Red Bull Indianapolis GP is scheduled for Aug. 26-28 at IMS.
Race Day general admission tickets cost $40, with Friday general admission $10 and Saturday general admission $20. A three-day general admission ticket is $60. A Friday-Saturday general admission ticket is $25.
Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free any of the three days of the event when accompanied by an adult with a general admission ticket.
Race Day reserved seat prices start at $70.