NASCAR is coming to Austin. Are drivers prepared to turn right at COTA?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A race series known for straightaways and long left-hand turns will mix it up next week when NASCAR returns to Austin.
The race at Circuit of the Americas will highlight the tight twists of the 3.41-mile track, along with a 130-foot change in elevation, 11 left turns, and nine right turns. The event dates are March 22-24.
Tickets range from $220 for the full weekend experience in the Grandstand Club Seats to just $25 to watch Friday's practice.
Camping at COTA is still available from $100 in a tent at the racetrack all the way up to $4,000 for a premium RV spot.
NASCAR Cup Series Driver Todd Gilliland talked with KXAN about the race and why he's arriving early in Austin.
Tom Miller: What is it about Austin that you like when you come to visit?
Todd Gilliland: Austin is a really cool city. Obviously, the downtown area is really fun. COTA is a really nice racetrack, built kind of for Formula One. It's just a really nice facility in general.
Miller: What is that like racing at COTA? Clearly it's unique and different from a lot of the tracks that you're racing with NASCAR.
Gilliland: We run on majority ovals. But COTA, it's a road course where we're turning left and right, and for me, it's just a really nice switch up of things that we do every single week. There are some sections that are really slow, and some sections that are super fast, some really heavy braking zones. So it's a really good mix of everything.
Miller: Can you describe from a strategy standpoint, how different it is going to a track like COTA?
Gilliland: There's definitely a lot more strategy options as far as when we pit. There are stage breaks - if you can pit before or run it to the stage break if you're gonna get points. It's definitely a little bit different as far as all that stuff goes. COTA is also really tough on tires as you go. As a driver, we're going to want to pit as often as we can for tires, but that's always not the best strategy. I try and leave it to my crew chief engineers to figure out the best strategy and inform me about what I need to do best to make that strategy work.
Miller: When you come to Austin, do you have a chance to get out and check out the city and check out the restaurants or are you pretty much locked in on the race from the minute you arrive to the minute you leave?
Gilliland: Traveling with NASCAR, we fly in kind of usually Fridays and we're pretty busy throughout there. This year is actually a little bit different. I'm going a little bit early, it's actually my sister's 21st birthday. So going to see a little bit of the city, probably go out to dinner a couple of nights down there and check it all out.
Miller: How do Texas fans compare to fans in other areas of the country?
Gilliland: Texas fans in general are just a little bit crazy. That's for sure. I think they definitely always bring energy, and that's all you can hope for right? When a fan shows up and has good energy, that's definitely what you want in a fan.