Road America plans upgrades for IndyCar (Update)
During the recently completed NASCAR weekend at the facility in Elkhart Lake, Bruggenthies offered updates on several ideas planned, under consideration or rumored.
Among them are safety improvements required for the Verizon IndyCar Series, a new winner's circle – "something a little more fan friendly," Bruggenthies said – as well as a retail center and expansion of the path that opened up viewing areas on the back side of the course.
IndyCar and Road America announced three weeks ago that the open-wheel series would come to the track for the first time the weekend of June 23-26, 2016. A test session or multiple test sessions are anticipated in September, although details have not been finalized. Much of the work done to the facility in recent years has been to accommodate NASCAR's second division and to attempt to lure a date on the schedule of the premier Sprint Cup Series.
With the addition of IndyCar, Sprint Cup is the only series Bruggenthies would like to add, he said, although that decision rests entirely in NASCAR's hands. As for the Camping World Truck Series, "I don't want three series," Bruggenthies said. "I don't want to get stuck. So there's a little strategy involved."
One rumor that has persisted through the summer is that Road America could be a candidate for a race in the FIA World Endurance Championship sports-car series, but Bruggenthies and the head of the WEC quashed that.
"I know the people, but I've not had any serious conversations to put them on our schedule," Bruggenthies said. "It's expensive. You've got to pay for a lot of transport. … I don't see the business plan as working for us." JSOnline.com
09/01/15 A report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has information on what updates to expect for the track when IndyCar arrives for the race the weekend of June 23-26.
Track president George Bruggenthies said in addition to safety improvements to accommodate IndyCar, Road America will also be giving victory lane a face lift, making it "a little more fan friendly."
Bruggenthies also said there will be a new retail center and an expansion of a path that opened up viewing areas on the back side of Road America.
The Road America board of directors is also considering the expansion of the trail on the inside of the track from the Carousel toward Canada Corner, section of the track that had minimal access during the track's first 60 years.
"We essentially have to add material and build a bridge because it’' such a steep angle," Bruggenthies said. “But that was the goal, to go all the way around to (Turn) 13…. We know the fans like it, so we’re going to continue to improve it maybe with terrace seating along some areas, and they’re going to see if we can get to 13."