Changes to Indianapolis road circuit for bikes?

[Lustigson]

There's a lot of news, lately, about the Indianapolis road circuit lay-out being changed to accomodate bike racing. Apparently, changes to the track have already been agreed by the FIM. Any clues on what the changes are and how it would affect the F1 track, if at all?

[f1freak]

I've had a look around and I can't find anything more then more jiberish.

I'd believe that it would only be on the 'inside' of the current Turn 4 where the pit lane is, but would obviously need to be widened.

However, this part of the article "This would require a new pitlane entry and at least two other corners" is a bit iffy.

I read somewhere that definate confirmation by MotoGP will occur within a couple of weeks, hopefully they'll then release the changes that they intend to make to the circuit.

[Lustigson]

There seems to be enough room for changing the last (née, first) corner.

[Fish_Flake]

I'm guessing they make an alternate route by paving a tighter right after the exit of F1 turn 11 that connects to the access road in front of the museum, continue past Hulman Boulevard into that parking lot, then make a right-left complex over the creek before rejoining the track on a widened apron inside oval turn 1.

That creek on the inside of turn 1 is sort of a tradition, though. I recall Pedro de la Rosa falling into it after retiring while he was racing with Jaguar, and he was only one amongst many who have found his way knee-deep in it over the years.

[chemhead1]

Originally Posted by Fish_Flake

I'm guessing they make an alternate route by paving a tighter right after the exit of F1 turn 11 that connects to the access road in front of the museum, continue past Hulman Boulevard into that parking lot, then make a right-left complex over the creek before rejoining the track on a widened apron inside oval turn 1.

So it would be something like this? I actually like it, imagine seeing a bunch of bikes speeding right past the Museum!

[ScotsBrutesFan]

I can't see then doing it exactly like that Chemhead as this would block the Southern access into and out of the infield and paddock for the duration. Remembering that the Northen access is already restricted in that you can't get to the paddock from the North Tunnel when the infield is in use.

I think they would have to use the "short chute" between the oval T1 and T2 over the access before crossing back into area to the south of the paddock.

I would have thought that the concrete walls were a bit too close at the twisty "S" at the end of the infield straight, even with airfencing etc.

[Alwaysfirst]

This could be a possible solution. The bikes just wouldn't go onto the oval until after that last corner chicane. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=735686

This is of course if the track is still run clockwise for bike events. I did hear rumours, con't remember where, that suggested it may be run anti-clockwise with a slow first corner chicane/hairpin like complex inside the Oval T1.

[chemhead1]

Here's a few that I just whipped up. Although auto access still would be hindered from the south somewhat, unlike the first proposal, the parking lot is freed up for use, so maybe an across-track set of gates to allow haulers, personnel, EMTs, etc, to cross the track maybe between sessions.

- Configuration 1 no longer crosses the front of the Museum (which leaves the south tunnel to actually be used!), with a new chicane.

- Configuration 2 combines Alwaysfirst's version while still using Hulman Boulevard to connect to the oval instead of the GP circuit's layout, which would slow down the bikes enough for oval Turn 1 to be safe. This includes the chicane before the pit straight to ensure safe speeds coming into GP Turn 1.

- Configuration 3 is a somewhat extended version of Configuration 1, this time using the parking lot even further (ala my original proposal in my last post), but using the same chicane (modified slightly to more of an "S"). It's more of a hybrid of all of my proposals thus far.

- Configuration 4
...and...
- Configuration 5 are just some little hobby modifications I made to IMS.

[Lustigson]

How about this? Nice and simple.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=736348

[safc_fan89]

I don't think they could make the GP circuit any worse than it already is, so any changes wouldn't concern me too much. It would be interesting to see motorbikes going around that track.

[werner]

A revision from my site. Lighter blue is for motorcycles, dark blue for cars. This way F1 still has one oval corner included, and I think the corner just before the not so inspiring last chicane is exiting.

[shambles]

Word is, is that they're going to reverse the circuit, and eradicate turn 13 (or Turn 1, as it would become for GP as well as Indy).

It'll be the worse circuit on the calendar.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

From taking a close look with Google Earth,I've formed the following views on the idea of reversing the circuit.

If they reverse the circuit, the infield of the Oval T4 (F1 first sector) wouldn't much doing to it, perhaps the extention of one of the gravel trap on the entry to (F1) T5 to cover a straight on incident when reversed. but the gravel trap on the Exit of (F1) T5 could be removed.
Also the slight reprofile of (F1) T1 to direct the cars (and Bikes) onto the straight, away from the wall ... currently the actual turn is on the oval circuit.

(F1) Turns 8-9-10 would need altering, The reversed exit of T8 would need run off into the car park area, narrowing sufficiently before the foot bridge. The barrier of the reversed exit of T9 would need pushed back into what is currently the golf course. And a new gravel trap on the outside of T10 would be needed as there is a building 50m from the edge of the track.

The reversed (F1) T11 would also require a new gravel trap in the area currently being used by the golf course...the corner might even be reprofiled to allow overtaking in the reverse direction.
An extention of the gravel trap between (F1) T11 and T12 might be required depending on where the new apex for T12 would be.

If there is to be 2 new corners on the inside of the Oval T1, then a pit exit could be interesting, given that the F1 pit is at the T1 end of the Front straight. due to the Oval pit wall, the new pit exit would have to be between the new T1 and T2, most likely exiting onto or very close to the racing line.