| March 2021 News |
03/31 - Indy 500 Parade & Marathon Cancelled
03/27 - Bristol Speedway Turned Into Dirt Track
03/19 - New Saudi Arabia F1 Circuit
03/05 - Current IndyCar Drivers F1 Experience
03/02 - IMS Helping Hoosiers Get Vaccinated
03/27 - Bristol Speedway Turned Into Dirt Track
03/19 - New Saudi Arabia F1 Circuit
03/05 - Current IndyCar Drivers F1 Experience
03/02 - IMS Helping Hoosiers Get Vaccinated
| RACE NEWS & VIEWS |
| News Index |
Copyright © 2021 IndySpeedway.com All Rights Reserved
IMS Helping Hoosiers Get Vaccinated
Mar 3 - The Indy Motor Speedway will host a mass
vaccination clinic for Hoosiers eligible to receive a free
COVID-19 vaccine.
The clinic will run from March 5 to March 7 with
vaccinations beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
each day. All Hoosiers ages 55 and up are eligible for the
vaccine,
“We’re a community-first organization, and we’re
extremely proud to assist with this important effort to
keep Hoosiers safe and healthy,” IMS President J.
Mar 3 - The Indy Motor Speedway will host a mass
vaccination clinic for Hoosiers eligible to receive a free
COVID-19 vaccine.
The clinic will run from March 5 to March 7 with
vaccinations beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
each day. All Hoosiers ages 55 and up are eligible for the
vaccine,
“We’re a community-first organization, and we’re
extremely proud to assist with this important effort to
keep Hoosiers safe and healthy,” IMS President J.
Douglas Boles said. “I encourage those who are eligible to
sign up, and I’d like to thank our state’s leadership – most
especially Governor Holcomb and Dr. Box – for the
opportunity to team up and pitch in.”
“Getting tens of thousands of vaccines in arms in a matter
of days is a huge undertaking that requires incredible
partnerships,” Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said.
“We are incredibly grateful to Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, Notre Dame and Ivy Tech for their willingness
to meet this challenge head on to help save Hoosier lives.”
Participants will remain in their cars for their vaccines.
sign up, and I’d like to thank our state’s leadership – most
especially Governor Holcomb and Dr. Box – for the
opportunity to team up and pitch in.”
“Getting tens of thousands of vaccines in arms in a matter
of days is a huge undertaking that requires incredible
partnerships,” Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said.
“We are incredibly grateful to Indianapolis Motor
Speedway, Notre Dame and Ivy Tech for their willingness
to meet this challenge head on to help save Hoosier lives.”
Participants will remain in their cars for their vaccines.
| Current IndyCar Drivers Formula 1 Experience |
Takuma Sato
Sebastien Bourdais
Romain Grosjean
Max Chilton
Alex Rossi
Marcus Ericsson
Pietro Fittipaldi
Sebastien Bourdais
Romain Grosjean
Max Chilton
Alex Rossi
Marcus Ericsson
Pietro Fittipaldi
2002
2003-2005
2006-2008
2008-2009
2009
2012-2015
2016-2020
2013-14
2015
2014
2015-18
2020
2003-2005
2006-2008
2008-2009
2009
2012-2015
2016-2020
2013-14
2015
2014
2015-18
2020
Jordan
BAR
Super Aguri
Toro Rosso
Renault
Lotus
Haas
Marussia
Manor
Caterham
Sauber
Haas
BAR
Super Aguri
Toro Rosso
Renault
Lotus
Haas
Marussia
Manor
Caterham
Sauber
Haas
DRIVER
YEAR
TEAM
TOTAL RACES
TOTAL POINTS
87
27
179
35
5
97
2
27
179
35
5
97
2
44
6
391
0
0
18
0
6
391
0
0
18
0
Update: All appointsments were scheduled quickly, nearly 17,000, and the vaccinations were extended through Monday.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which just became authorized, was used.
The one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which just became authorized, was used.
New Saudi Arabia Street Circuit
Mar 19 - A year ago, F1 decided to hold a street race in
Saudi Arabia, before any track details or even a location
were determined.
Beginning with satellite images, then moving on to
simulation models, the F1 in-house Motorsports team
began experimenting with different locations.
They've settled on Jeddah, the Kingdom's 2nd most
populace city.
The course will be along the shores of the Red Sea, on a
narrow strip of reclaimed land.
One of the area’s appealing aspects was the long,
sweeping roads which the team felt could be mobilised to
create a unique street circuit in the short timeframe, with
a finished track required for a race in late 2021.
F1 wanted to move away from the old street circuit
concept that involved 90 degree, slow-speed corners,
towards a fast, flowing layout. They say that has been
achieved with an 27-turn, high-speed 6.175km layout.
Some sections of the course are being built just for the
race. “There are some great sweeping corners,” says
Ross Brawn. “At one end, there will be a 180 degree
corner with a moderate amount of banking, so it will be
a high G-load and high stress for the drivers.”
The race will be held at night. Prince Faisal says, "In
Saudi Arabia, we don’t have cooler weather so we can’t
do a lot of things during day, so people in our region like
to go out more at night. We want them to see the race and
after that celebrate with good meals and concerts.”
F1 says it will be the fastest street circuit ever. It also has
the most turns of any F1 race and may have three DRS
zones. It is also the 2nd longest circuit on the calendar,
behind Spa, which is 7 Km.
The race takes place December 3-5 before the season
finale in Abu Dhabi.
Mar 19 - A year ago, F1 decided to hold a street race in
Saudi Arabia, before any track details or even a location
were determined.
Beginning with satellite images, then moving on to
simulation models, the F1 in-house Motorsports team
began experimenting with different locations.
They've settled on Jeddah, the Kingdom's 2nd most
populace city.
The course will be along the shores of the Red Sea, on a
narrow strip of reclaimed land.
One of the area’s appealing aspects was the long,
sweeping roads which the team felt could be mobilised to
create a unique street circuit in the short timeframe, with
a finished track required for a race in late 2021.
F1 wanted to move away from the old street circuit
concept that involved 90 degree, slow-speed corners,
towards a fast, flowing layout. They say that has been
achieved with an 27-turn, high-speed 6.175km layout.
Some sections of the course are being built just for the
race. “There are some great sweeping corners,” says
Ross Brawn. “At one end, there will be a 180 degree
corner with a moderate amount of banking, so it will be
a high G-load and high stress for the drivers.”
The race will be held at night. Prince Faisal says, "In
Saudi Arabia, we don’t have cooler weather so we can’t
do a lot of things during day, so people in our region like
to go out more at night. We want them to see the race and
after that celebrate with good meals and concerts.”
F1 says it will be the fastest street circuit ever. It also has
the most turns of any F1 race and may have three DRS
zones. It is also the 2nd longest circuit on the calendar,
behind Spa, which is 7 Km.
The race takes place December 3-5 before the season
finale in Abu Dhabi.
Bristol Turned Into Dirt Track
Mar 27 - The Bristol Motor Speedway has covered their
asphalt track with 2,300 truckloads of dirt in preparation
for the first Nascar Cup race on dirt since 1970.
The turns are still banked, but reduced to 19 degrees.
It's unknown what will happen, but it's presumed that
drivers with sprint car experience on dirt tracks will have
the upper hand.
Nascar star Kyle Larson, who has lots of experience on
dirt, and who competed last weekend on the Bristol dirt
track in late models.
Mar 27 - The Bristol Motor Speedway has covered their
asphalt track with 2,300 truckloads of dirt in preparation
for the first Nascar Cup race on dirt since 1970.
The turns are still banked, but reduced to 19 degrees.
It's unknown what will happen, but it's presumed that
drivers with sprint car experience on dirt tracks will have
the upper hand.
Nascar star Kyle Larson, who has lots of experience on
dirt, and who competed last weekend on the Bristol dirt
track in late models.
Larson said, “But these cars are way different than what I
typically race on dirt. They don’t drive anything like what
I’m used to with a sprint car, midget or now a dirt late
model.
“These cars are way heavier and have a lot less horse-
power than I’m used to on a dirt track. I still think I’ve got
a good shot, but I don’t really know if I have an advan-
tage over anybody, other than just being able to kind of
read the track surface, know kind of how that’s changing,
where to find grip and things like that.”
This much anticipated Cup race will be 250 laps.
typically race on dirt. They don’t drive anything like what
I’m used to with a sprint car, midget or now a dirt late
model.
“These cars are way heavier and have a lot less horse-
power than I’m used to on a dirt track. I still think I’ve got
a good shot, but I don’t really know if I have an advan-
tage over anybody, other than just being able to kind of
read the track surface, know kind of how that’s changing,
where to find grip and things like that.”
This much anticipated Cup race will be 250 laps.
500 Parade Cancelled
Mar 30 - The 500 Festival has cancelled the Indy 500
Festival Parade again due to the pandemic.
However, on May 29th, the race car drivers will be
driving through Speedway, downtown and various
Indianapolis neighborhoods, visiting 500 parties.
The 500 Festival also cancelled their Mini-marathon,
Kids’ Day, Rookie Run, Off the Grid and the
Indianapolis 500 Education Program.
Mar 30 - The 500 Festival has cancelled the Indy 500
Festival Parade again due to the pandemic.
However, on May 29th, the race car drivers will be
driving through Speedway, downtown and various
Indianapolis neighborhoods, visiting 500 parties.
The 500 Festival also cancelled their Mini-marathon,
Kids’ Day, Rookie Run, Off the Grid and the
Indianapolis 500 Education Program.
