 |
This picturesque circuit is a tricky combination of chicanes and hairpins, and the track is notoriously hard on brakes and tires.Excerpts by Patrick Carpentier
Turns 1 & 2: The start of the race will certainly be fun for both drivers and fans. CART's rolling start will give a different perspective of the Senna curve. I don't expect it to be like Portland where contact between cars is almost inevitable. This is one of the best passing points (the other is the hairpin) for the Champ Cars on the track.During the race, drivers will take the front straight in 5th gear across the start/finish line, then shift down to 3rd for the left turn and then 2nd for the right turn and then accelerate until turn 3. Turns 3 & 4: The CART drivers will probably take this combination in 2nd or 3rd gear. Turns 5 - 7: Turn 5 is a slow right turn which we will most likely take in 4th gear. Drivers will probably take the turn 6-7 combination in 2nd gear.
Turns 8 - 10: Drivers will take 8-9 in 3rd gear then accelerate towards the hairpin.
Turns 10 & 11: The hairpin is going to be a perfect passing zone for the Champ cars. Drivers will brake and take it in 1st gear. There should be plenty of action here... Following the hairpin there will be a flat out acceleration up to 6th gear down the straightaway where, most predict, we'll reach similar speeds to the Formula 1 cars.
Turns 12 & 13: Drivers will take this chicane in 3rd gear. Passing will be hard to do I'm sure there will be quite a few attempts at it. I think this "s", just in front of the pit entrance, is one of my favorite combinations to drive. It transitions from a highspeed zone to another high acceleration zone on the front straight, just in front of the pits.