CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICA'S (COTA) - AUSTIN TX
The circuit and Grand Prix were first proposed in the middle of 2010. The circuit was the first in the United States to be purpose-built for Formula One. On August 22, 2010, Tavo Hellmund revealed that the circuit would be 3.4 miles long and would be made up of twenty turns with an elevation change of 133 feet. The design draws from several European Formula One circuits, including a recreation of Silverstone's Maggotts–Becketts–Chapel sequence, Hockenheim's arena bends, and a replica of Istanbul's Turn Eight. Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification 3.426-mile motor racing track and facilities located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. The facility is home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix, the IndyCar Classic, and the
Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship, as well a round of the Americas Rallycross Championship. It previously hosted the Australian V8 Supercars, the American Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. On September 30, 2020, it was announced that COTA would host a NASCAR Cup Series event for the first time on May 23, 2021. The lower Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series were also added as support events. On December 11th, 2020, it was announced that NASCAR would run the full 3.41 mile course. The race was scheduled for 68 laps; but was cut short due to rain. In
fact, many laps were run that should probably never have been driven. At times there were downpours and drivers couldn't see anything. The water coming from behind the cars threw up a thick mist. At least two major crashes were a direct cause of the rain. Water would pool on the racing surface making the cars lose contact with the racing surface. After a major crash; NASCAR red flagged the race to try and suck up much of the water; and it helped. The race resumes; and after several laps it came another down-pour and the race was called official with Chase Elliott in the lead. Kyle Larson was second and Joey Logano third. NASCAR will return to COTA for another event in 2022.
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