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What you need to know about IMSA SportsCar Weekend at Elkhart Lake's Road America

dave kallmann, milwaukee journal sentinel
·3 min read
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The No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura of Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist leads a group of cars in the rain last year at Road America. This year Blomqvist co-drives with Colin Braun in the No. 60 GTP car, which has won two races.
The No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura of Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist leads a group of cars in the rain last year at Road America. This year Blomqvist co-drives with Colin Braun in the No. 60 GTP car, which has won two races.

What does a first-time spectator need to know about Road America?

One of the premier road courses in the world, Road America sits on about 640 acres of rolling terrain near Elkhart Lake in rural Sheboygan County. The main entrance is off Hwy. 67, less than 5 miles north of downtown Plymouth and 3 miles southeast of Elkhart Lake.

The racetrack was designed to be 4.0 miles. Like NASCAR last weekend, IMSA calls it 4.048, although that’s a detail that doesn’t matter as much because IMSA WeatherTech Championship races are timed events.

What’s the best way to watch a race at Road America?

Although there are several sets of bleachers, there is no assigned seating and there are numerous vantage points around the grounds. It’s easy to move around by car and on foot throughout a race weekend.

Turns 1, 3, 5, 7 and 12 are popular spectator areas, as is the Carousel, a sweeping right-hander composed of 8-10 (known collectively as the Carousel) and 12 are popular spectator areas. Video screens in many areas allow fans to keep up with action from around the track.

New this year is a spectator path that overlooks the Carousel and leads to “the Beach,” a sandy area that has been opened up and decorated to theme.

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How much do tickets cost for IMSA weekend at Road America?

Admission is $40 daily Thursday and Friday, $80 Saturday and Sunday or $180 for the weekend. Those 16 and under get in for free with a paid adult admission. Tickets are available at the gate.

Parking is free. Carry-in food and beverages are permitted.

What is the basic schedule for IMSA SportsCar weekend?

Only the Mazda MX-5 support series is on track Thursday.

IMSA WeatherTech Championship practices are set for 11:05 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, an autograph session is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Qualifying begins at 1:15 p.m.

IMSA opens the grid to all fans beginning at 8:50 a.m. Sunday. The race is scheduled for 10:10 a.m. and is a timed event lasting 2 hours 40 minutes.

Other series competing are Lamborghini Trofeo and Michelin Challenge with qualifying and races throughout the weekend, including after the main event.

Spectator gates open at 7 a.m. all days.

Are qualifying and the race on television or available via streaming?

The race is on USA cable beginning at 10 a.m. as well as NBC’s Peacock app beginning at 10:05 a.m.

Qualifying is live streamed on IMSA.com beginning at 1:10 a.m. Saturday.

What’s new in IMSA this year?

The cars are the stars more than ever as the new Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) prototypes comprise the top class, which is once again called GTP, as it was in IMSA’s heyday. There is a new emphasis on sustainability, including the use of a universal hybrid powertrain system, around which Acura, BMW, Cadillac and Porsche have designed their distinct cars.

Other classes are LMP3, an entry-level or development division of closed-cockpit prototypes; GTD Pro, a manufacturer-backed, production-based professional class; and GTD, which also uses the same cars as GTD Pro that fit global FIA GT3 specifications but is centered around customer teams and with a pro/am driver lineup.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: IMSA at Road America preview, including tickets, schedule, TV, tips