Viva DUCATI

Looking over the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s straight where

I must say, the significance of the planning, logistics and capital investment has never been more pronounced that my recent visit and personal tour of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is easy to be impressed when 400,000 people are present to witness an Indy 500. But, to get a personal on-track tour with their VP of Corporate Sales, in the quiet cold rain of a late February day, one can truly appreciate the Herculean efforts to orchestrate one of these events at the Racing Capitol of the World – IMS.

For starters, INDY is huge. It’s infrastructure of grand stands stretches for blocks. The infield Pagoda, gasoline alley and infield hospitality suites are nicer than any ball park press box I’ve sat in and most business conference hotels I frequent.

It earns its name as truly the Racing ‘Entertainment” Capitol as well.

Preparations for hosting the Inaugural MotoGP at IMS scheduled for September 12-14, 2008 began in May 2007 when the contract was signed for a 5-year deal and entailed modifying the infield Formula-1 road course, melding into the infamous front straight of IMS, and accommodating margins of safety for motorcycles that are necessary at the Moto-GP level for 125, 250, and 800cc machines and their highly skilled riders.

Actual construction for the new, 2.601-mile, MotoGP road course began Monday, July 30, 2007 the day after the Allstate 400. The new track paving, with an estimated 13,300 tons of asphalt, is already completed and additional infield grand stands remain to be constructed. All work is intended to be finished

for the 92nd Indianapolis 500 in early May.

2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden was the first motorcycle rider to return onto the Indianapolis track in nearly a Century in April 2008.

Respecting the Birthplace of American Motorcycle Road Racing and the 1909 race winner, Erwin Cannonball Baker, Hayden rode the vintage Indian around the legendary Brick Yard racetrack wearing traditional vintage leather helmet, gauntlet gloves and cotton jersey. This was the vintage Indian motorcycle Baker won the first race in 1909 and is kept in pristine running condition by the curators of the Indianapolis Hall of Fame Museum.

After his historic lap, Hayden stepped into his modern race leathers to ride Honda’s latest production super bike around the newly paved circuit that has been designed specifically for Inaugural MotoGP where Hayden, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and the cast of world class racers will return on September 12 – 14, 2008.

 

David M. Gross
Creative Director, Ducati Motor Holding, Bologna Italy. Author of the memoir, Fast Company. "John Rossi is creating the most dynamic program of events in sport motorcycling. From participation in the first ever Motogiro America in Monterey, California to his VIP infield chalet at the Inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP, VivaDUCATI offers Ducati fans a comprehensive and exciting introduction to the world of high performance racing and riding."

 

The new MotoGP road racing circuit is 2.601 miles (4.186 km) long featuring 16 turns (10 left, six right). Motorcycles cross the “Yard of Bricks” to start a lap and travel counter-clockwise, the same direction as cars in the two IMS oval events, the Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

The major feature of the new motorcycle road circuit is a four-turn section is being built inside Turn 1. The entrance to this new section is situated at the end of the front straightaway where speeds will reach 200+ miles per hour. There is nearly 800 feet of runoff area for riders in this section of track.

 

The sweeping, left-handed Turn 1 is followed by a short straightaway into the 90-degree, right-handed Turn 2. Another short straight follows into a tight, right-handed Turn 3, which leads almost immediately into the sharp, left-handed Turn 4. That turn leads riders onto the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 of the oval.

Riders then re-enter the infield at Turn 5, a sweeping, fast left-hander just before Turn 2 of the oval. Turn 6 is a 90-degree left-hander leading into a short straightaway.

Turn 7, a quick right-hander heading into a short straightaway connecting to the left-handed Turn 8. Another short straight leads to the 90-degree, right-handed Turn 9, to the back straight in the center of the IMS infield.

Riders brake heavily at the end of the back straightaway into the curling, left-handed Turn 10, which after a short straightaway leads to the flowing, 180-degree right-handed Turn 11.

Another short straight leads into the quick, left-handed Turn 12, leading into the sharp, left-handed Turn 13.

Turn 14 is a sweeping left-hander leading into Turn 15, a 90-degree right-hander, followed by the 90-degree, left-handed Turn 16 that exits onto the infamous front straightaway at IMS crossing the “Yard of Bricks” at approximately 200 mph to begin the circuit over again.

Overall, the changes to IMS for use as a world class motorcycle circuit will improve safety and the aesthetics for all IMS oval and road course events.

At the time of my visit, other aspects of the construction involving infield excavation, relocation of spectator mounds, and new bleachers were yet to be completed.

Click here to preview video of the Inaugural IMS MotoGP and for Exclusive, 3-Day VIP Access Credentials Package.