Formula One is back for more; racing circuit returns to COTA for U.S. Grand Prix race
The jumbo cargo jets have delivered their sleek, expensive goods to Bergstrom. Drivers and teams are filtering into Austin, and international guests won't be far behind. Big-time music acts are booked. Tickets remain a hot commodity.
Formula One is ready for its 11th run at Circuit of the Americas. The three-day party, on the heels of the two-weekend Austin City Limits Music Festival, culminates with Sunday's Lenovo United States Grand Prix.
"By far this is the most prepared we've ever been," COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein told the American-Statesman Monday. "A lot of improvements this year. We completely overhauled the Wi-Fi. We have a cellular network with new towers. We've added a new bus depot and 15 new loading zones that will handle an extra 7,000 people an hour. There are two new lanes of roads."
Improved infrastructure is critical to handling the enormous crowds. Two years ago Formula One officials announced a three-day record of 400,000, including 140,000 for the Grand Prix. Last year those marks were shattered when F1 said 450,000 was the weekend count, including more than 150,000 Sunday.
"We'll wind up at or near a sellout, very similar to last year," Epstein said.
Both single-day and weekend passes are still available in a few grandstand sections, along with general admission, but on-site parking has long sold out and COTA is pushing its city-wide shuttle system, which track officials say will save a lot of time, especially with the expanded infrastructure.
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A stout lineup of support racing from the all-women's F1 Academy, Porsche Carrera Cup and Masters Historic Legends will play out all weekend. The F1 Academy is a new initiative to identify and develop top women's drivers. Formula One hasn't had a woman racer in a grand prix since Lella Lombardi in 1976.
"It's great F1 is making a long-term commitment to a women's driving series," Epstein said, "and there will be much better access for fans to those Academy teams and drivers than normal at an F1 weekend. We've seen interest grow in women's sports across all leagues, so this is a nice touch."
Another new twist are the F1 Sprint Shootout and Sprint race Saturday. They are essentially mini-races that deliver more wheel-to-wheel action to the weekend, while bumping up qualifying to Friday. They also are controversial as drivers like three-time champion Max Verstappen prefer the old format and fewer gadgets.
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COTA is one of six venues that has the Sprint races, up from three last year.
"Definitely a mixed bag for me," Epstein said. "I understand it adds to the weekend racing action, but what's really on the line in those races? They are kind of an accessory. This is clearly an experiment. Next year I think we'll be back to traditional qualifying, and we may see that alternate with Sprint races going forward. Let's see how fans react to it this year."
Epstein and staff are proud of the big-name musicians they lure for their American Soundtrack weekend at the sprawling entertainment complex in Southeast Austin. In the past they've had Elton John, Billy Joel, Justin Timberlake, just to name a few. The Killers, Queen and Adam Lambert are headliners this time. COTA officials expect about 85,000 for Queen on Saturday night.
"Since we get to pick the music, not surprisingly we get groups we want to see," Epstein said. "I'm very excited about The Killers on Friday night. That's an affordable ticket with a lot of value that hasn't been there before because we haven't had Friday qualifying, just practice. You can get in for like $49."
U.S. Grand Prix
Friday-Sunday, Circuit of the Americas, ABC for Sunday's USGP, ESPN family of networks for Friday practice, qualifying and Saturday Sprint races; limited supply of three-day passes and single-day options available at circuitoftheamericas.com
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Circuit of the Americas welcomes back annual Formula One grand prix
