Modifications to NOLA for IndyCar

New Orleans Motorsports Park

Recently, it was announced the Verizon IndyCar Series would hold the inaugural Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park April 12, 2015. The event at the Alan Wilson designed facility, which opened in 2012, will be promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing and held on the 2.75-mile North Course. The course, however, is expected to undergo some changes.

AutoRacing1 has looked into the modifications, many of which we learned have been made at the request of IndyCar, specifically to improve overtaking opportunities for the Dallara DW12. We have also attached drawings of what we expect the redesign to look like. The modifications include:

This is what AR1 believes the IndyCar track will look like.

• Adding a new Turn 6 around the outside of the existing corner, creating a 90 degree hard braking zone and corner
• Inserting a 2000 ft. long straight between the current Turn 9 and Turn 13 complex to create another fast approach hard-braking zone located in front of the major grandstands
• Widening the pit entrance lane from 20 to 25ft and widening and flattening the angle of re-entry to the main straight from the pit exit.
• Asphalt run-off pads have been added at Turn 6 and extended significantly at Turns 1, 5 and 10.
• Track length will now be 2.741 miles (measured along the centerline) or 2.617 miles measured along the simulated racing line).

This is the current design of NOLA. Notice the right-left, right-left segment on the backstretch. That and the sweeping T6 are different in the redesign.

In addition, temporary curbs have been requested for Turn 1 and Turn 10 (previously Turn 13) which will be installed for the event and removed for all other track use.

The net effect of modifying the North Course is the average lap speed will increase dramatically (estimated to be in the range of 118 mph) while top speeds in excess of 170 mph will be achieved in three locations.

There will also be a few non-track modifications, which include:

• The addition of 45,000 more tires
• 2000ft of new debris fence
• a temporary medical facility to be located in the paddock

Modifications are in addition to existing features which include:

• a 1000 foot long pit lane
• 15 acres of paved main paddock, 8 acres of paddock for support events.
• 100% lines of sight for every spectator
• modern media center and corporate facilities overlooking the final turn onto the main straight

AR1 will continue to track the modifications to NOLA ahead of next April's Grand Prix of Louisiana.

Brian C. reporting for AR1