ALMS, Baltimore Grand Prix - Friday AM Notes
Playing The Waiting Game...

Not much to report here from Baltimore yet as we are subject to a morning’s delay in track action.  As with all first-time events, there have been (and may continue to be) teething problems and the most serious of these is the readiness of the track.

With a large part of the 2.1 mile track being based around the Baltimore Oriole’s baseball park at Camden Yards – indeed the pits backs onto the stadium – consideration had to be given to their weekly schedule and the last of their games was yesterday lunchtime.  The trolley buses had to be operational and the full implementation of road closures couldn’t start until the game was over. 

While the track crews have worked through most of the night, it was apparent as we all arrived at the track this morning that the circuit was far from complete, with concrete barriers and safety fencing still being moved into place.  A four hour delay was called and we are now playing the waiting game to see if that will be enough.

A revised schedule for the day has been issued (see below) and we now wait to see how things pan out.  If the track is ready it will be an interesting couple of days.  The track is “Houston-like bumpy” according to several of the drivers who completed the two-hour track walk yesterday afternoon. 

There are multiple changes of surface, from concrete to tarmac to manhole covers in quick succession, although some parts are “F1-smooth”.  Furthermore, there are two sets of trolley-bus tracks to be covered over and a small chicane – or launch pad, depending on how it’s attacked – on the main straight has been added to slow down the drivers as they approach one of these newly re-paved sections. 

Like I said, it’s going to be interesting!!

12:00-12:30 USF2000 30 min in pit lane combined with Star Mazda
12:35-1:05 Star Mazda 30 min
1:20-2:35 ALMS 75 min
2:50-3:35 Indy Lights 45 min
3:50-4:50 IndyCar 60 min
5:05-5:50 ALMS 45 min
6:05-7:00 IndyCar 55 min

Fiona Miller