2007 American Grand Prix: Worth It?

[YSSMAN]

I've been contimplating whether or not I wish to go to the American Grand Prix in June. After the events of the past two years, I would hope that somehow things have been figured out to get a full-field on the track, as it really isn't a race with fewer than ten cars in competition.

I'm looking into getting tickets for the corner 10 terrace, good for $85 US, not including parking or the trip down to Indy (about a four-hour drive at a good clip, about 70 MPH)...

So I'm looking for input: Do it? Don't? I'm interested in seeing my first F1 race, but there may also be plans to go to Chicagoland for NASCAR, or maybe an ALMS event or two at either Mid-Ohio or Road America. But if it looks as though F1 may have the same issues for the third year in a row, I don't think I like the idea of blowing $150 to see ten cars race for a few hours...

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

What happened this year was just a racing incident(s). And since everybody will be running Bridgestones, there isn't much of a chance to repeat 2005.

 

[Blake]

2006 was an okay race, it was just a big first lap accident. Happens sometimes.

2005 won’t happen again, everyone is using Bridgestone rubber (which never had a problem), and if it does have a problem I’m sure no one at all would object to getting new tyre constructions put together overnight.

As for the tickets, I don’t really advise getting tickets at Turn 10. You’ll be lucky to see much overtaking into turn 8, especially after the first lap.

Yes, money is an issue, but if you’re going to go to your first F1 race you really want to get good tickets so you can see some action. From turn 10 you’ll just see a parade, if you get onto the front straight you’ll see some racing.

Anyway, you should still go.

 

[kikie]

If you have the chance to go, go!!

 

[Roo]

Yes, go, if only to say you've been to an F1 race. The atmosphere is brilliant, the noise is incredible... do it.

I reckon the Turn 10 terrace is probably one of the worst places on the track to watch from though. You'll only see the 2 slowest corners on the track, with no possibility of overtaking. I'd suggest Grandstand H - but that'll probably be pricey; however, you get to see the whole first sector, round to turn 6.

That said, a race day ticket with no seat - just a walkabout ticket - for the British GP costs $150 by itself. So you're getting good value for money whereever you go.

Jordan has been going there for the last few years - I know he went this year, and I'm fairly sure he went in 04; might've been 03. It might be worth PMing him.

 

[Blake]

Yep, it has to be H or J.

 

[Kylehnat]

I'm toying with this notion as well. Though I can't decide if I'd rather go to Petit Le Mans, or the USGP. I'm leaning towards Petit, since it costs the same, is more interesting, and the ALMS is shafting us northwestern folk this year. Also, I'd rather go to a Grand Prix at one of the European venues. That would make a better vacation than going to Indiana .

Since you're within driving distance, I would just go if I were you 👍.

 

[YSSMAN]

Surprisingly, the weekend-pass is only $60, but it doesn't guarantee you any seats. I thought that sounded like a pretty good deal, but I can't afford to that that much time off of work at once...

I'll look into getting some other seats, but nothing is official. I'm still thinking about it, but signs are pointing towards going, probably.

 

[Sureboss]

It'd be quite impossible to not enjoy it, Grand Prixs a great spectacle.

 

[Pupik]

If you can afford Grandstand H tickets, get them. That's where all the passing seems to occur at this track. And if you can't afford them, splurge and get them anyway, because:

1. There's almost no passing opportunities anywhere else on the track.
2. There may not be many more USGPs.

My experience is that you'll never regret spending the extra $50 for a one-of-a-kind event.

 

[Famine]

If you can afford Grandstand H tickets

I'd go for H, or E, G or the "Northwest Vista" and a bloody good zoom camera... Lots of photo opps there.

 

[fatman_5050]

Section J is fairly good, I sat there for this year's. During Friday practices my brother and I went and sat in Corner 6 and Corner 10.

Corner 6 gives you a slight view of turns 1 and 2 if you get the right angle, and then good views of 4 to 7. If you get up on the east side of the last row you could probably get a good view off turn 7 and down to 8.

Corner 10 gives you a good view of the braking zone into 8 plus turns 9, 10 and 11. Again, if you get up on the last row, you could get a glimpse of the cars as they come off 12 and into 13, but at the speeds they're going, its more of a blur before they disappear.

Section J (and probably H, too) gives you a good view down from 13 into turn 1, a very slight view of the pits, mostly the pit exit but some of the backmarkers' pits of you look hard. It also has a good view of turns 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 (5 was behind the tv monitor for me).

I'll try and post up some of the pics my brother took next week or so, they'll give you some idea of the views you can get from those seats.

Edit: Well......I cannot find those pics, dunno what it did with them. If they turn up I'll post them.

 

[eg6_dude]

You have to go if you have never been to an F1 race. it is an amazing experience. Not like any other racing in the world. The 2005 incident, probably won't happen again. But you have to go because the atmosphere is awesome!

(also I highly recommend going to ALMS at Road America, cause it is a blast. Plus you will never see so many sports cars and supercars in one place)

 

[YSSMAN]

Well according to the website, H tickets are $105 a piece. I'm trying to convince family members to go down with me, but my guess is that Dad and Grandpa won't pay those prices. If I go alone, I go alone I suppose. We'll see, it is still a while away. And given the "popularity" of F1 in America, I'm sure that good tickets will almost always be available.

 

[Blake]

F1 events are rarely selling out these days, and with a crowd capacity like that at Indianapolis I don’t think you’re in any rush.

 

[m.piedgros]

Most definitely go to at the very least Mid-Ohio if not Elkhart as well. First of all, you get the American Le Mans Series as well as the IRL IndyCar Series (as well as the various support races they will bring), and you get all that on a proper road course. I think it would be cool to see a Formula 1 event, however maybe try to go to Canada for the event as I personally believe that the Canadian track is a better place to go and watch a race than Indy. With Formula 1, you get F1, Indy Pro-Series, Star Mazda (not sure), and Porsche Cup (not sure), not as full a weekend as with the ALMS - IRL event or the ALMS event at Elkhart.

As far as I'm concerned with the combination ALMS - IndyCar event at Mid-Ohio you are getting much more for your money, of course, F1 is F1. Before making your decision keep an eye on provisional entry lists to the ALMS events as in P1 and GT1 I can't say there will be more than two cars per. Also, only count on the IRL for a 17 car grid with realistically four-six really competitive cars. That being said, you can pretty well confirm there will be 22 cars on the starting grid for the F1 race. We all know that in the past there has been Ferrari-McLaren only battles, Ferrari-Williams only battles and most recently Ferrari-Renault only battles, with everyone else competing for top also-ran honors. It all depends on IMO, do you want to see a F1 race or an ALMS race.

m.piedgros

 

[Jordan]

I've been to all but the first USGP's at Indy, and I can say this is one event you do not want to miss! My first year I was in stand J - it's good, but I prefer H, and that is where I have been every year since. Personally, I like the front row, but pretty much anywhere in the section is the only place to watch the race. Corner 10 and 6 Terrace for practice, the Paddock for qualifying, and stand H for the race. It's a great time!!!

 

[ranhammerR34]

I went to my first last year and bought the $60 dollar ticket, yssman. I paid 35 for my parking for all the days and it was all very much worth it!! And I actually thought it was one of the times at a race that I ever had... and the 500 was the best race.... the 400 was too boring and too many drunks!! Oh well, I am probably going to do the $60 ticket this year again because I liked being able to carry in a chair and sit on it!! Can't wait to do it this year again!! -- Randy

 

[Matrixhasu77]

I've been to all but the first USGP's at Indy, and I can say this is one event you do not want to miss!

I'd have to agree. I didn't go to the race this past season, but have attended the 2002 to 2005 USGPs. Every time I went, I had a blast (with the exception of 2005's race, I had a good weekend until the race). If you have a chance, check out the pit walkabout. It really gives you an opportunity to see the pit crews and cars up close and personal.

I've sat in corners 6, 10, the Northwest Vista, and Stand H for the race. Northwest Vista is really good for getting shots of corners 1 - 5 with a long lense and digital camera. 6 is definately good for Qualifying or practice. I've managed some great shots from there. 10 is good, but you rarely see any overtaking since it is so tight. Stand H was ok but I was sitting so low I couldn't take any decent pictures.

If I can, I definately hope to attend the next USGP since I missed last year.

 

[JohnBM01]

Mind if I key in? With all due respect to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there could have been better tracks to use. I still just feel like Laguna Seca, Barber Motorsports Park, Miller Motorsports Park, Road America, Road Atlanta, hell... even Sebring... would have made better racing venues than this "roval" that only a few series use. Why not a tried-and-true American race track? Miller Motorsports Park got a hell of a lot of kudos from the racing public. But on a race fan level, you're not going to have too many opportunities here in America to witness the (clichéd) best drivers in the world. Not many will get to see these cars and these drivers often. Say all you want about this "no passing" thing and all the other complaints people pin on Formula One. Fact of the matter is that these are conditioned race car drivers piloting some of the best race cars out there. Even if the field of 22 all have a crash fest like the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix (correct event?), at least you get to see the world's most popular motorsport.

Whether or not you should go depends on your loyalty as a racing fan. Most people with unconditional love of motorsports would usually like to see as much competition as possible whether or not the series itself is of any interest. If you want to see some of the world's finest race cars and drivers, by all means... go see the 2007 American Grand Prix. But if you're one of the ones who has xenophobia and pro-patriotic about racing, then don't go. If you love racing but don't necessarily see yourself as a Formula One fan... that's for you to decide. Do you want to see the best talent? Go. Now if there are organizational issues that make this place not very good to see F1 racing, then they should consider listening to me and move the race to a permanent road course people will lovingly pack. Maybe be like MotoGP and have F1 race at Laguna Seca. Laguna Seca used to host FIA GT back in the 1990s. GT racing was also at Sebring in the same decade. They could find a great number of tracks. Don't make it so that the special place to see F1 in America is in the backyard of oval racing fans.

It's your call. We're flapping our gums talking about what you should do. But it's all about how you feel about this deal and what you want to do. Decide for yourself if you want to go or not. I'm just suggesting.

 

[Philly]

I went in 04. Honestly, I wasn't that impressed. Of course, to me, everything is less spectacular in person. I sat at the top of the Tower grandstands.

If you sit on the edge of Tower Terrace, by turn 1, you can see all of that first turn complex. Sit at the top and you can see through the back, with a view over corner 6 terrace and if I remember correctly, you can also see the back straight. It is cheaper because you get a pass that allows you to sit anywhere except places like the paddock and a few terraces.

 

[wfooshee]

Go. I might be happy going to practice and quali, then going home for the race! As long as sometime before I die I can experience the F1 cars (and engine note) in person.

I've been to ALMS at Road Atlanta and it's a blast. but the cars are SLUGS against F1 performance, and I want to witness that braking zone at turn 1!