113,162 watch Sebastian Vettel make history (Update)

UPDATE Circuit of the Americas officials yesterday said that this year’s three-day attendance for the F1 U.S. Grand Prix was 250,324, meaning it "avoided the sophomore slump," according to John Maher of the AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN. Austin’s second grand prix was "even more festive than its first." Fans in the main grandstand before the race yesterday "were treated to a virtual dance-off" between the Univ. of Texas Chap Girls and the Cowboys Cheerleaders. The day "started out overcast, but the skies cleared, and the temperature hit 85 degrees by noon." Celebrities seen in the paddock included singer Sting, actors Matt LeBlanc and Antonio Banderas and actress Melanie Griffith. The crowd for yesterday’s race was "announced as 113,162, which would make it Austin’s second-largest sporting event behind last year’s inaugural F1 race." Last year's event "had a three-day attendance topping 265,000." AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

11/17/13 A massive crowd of 113,162 race fans watched Formula 1™ racing’s new driving powerhouse, Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel, make history, as the 2013 World Champion driver scored his eighth consecutive Grand Prix victory at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). In doing so, the 26-year-old German wunderkind topped the record of seven consecutive wins set by his racing idol, Michael Schumacher, who retired after the 2012 season.

Vettel has claimed 12 races so far in 2013 and can extend his winning streak to nine if all goes well in next weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, the final race of the season.

Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean claimed the second spot on the podium, while Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber, took third. Red Bull took home the constructor’s trophy for the race, having already secured the Constructor’s World Championship title two races ago in India.

Three-attendance for COTA’s second Formula 1 Grand Prix was 250,324, with 58,276 fans attending Friday’s practice sessions and 78,886 turning out for Saturday’s qualifying rounds.