A Mid(Ohio)summer Day's Dream

After several years of trying, I finally got up to Ohio on vacation and took the opportunity to attend the IndyCar/American Le Mans Series doubleheader at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. For years as a CART Champ Car fan, I dreamed of attending the summer race weekend at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, OH but never made it for one reason or another. With the return of the event to the IndyCar schedule and the addition of the ALMS to the bill, it went to the top of my list. The fact that my wife grew up not far away (a couple hours) and had friends and family within range only sweetened the plan to finally go.

Honda powered IndyCar and ALMS P2 prototype on exhibit

So last week, we rolled into Ohio on Friday and into the course on Saturday morning for IndyCar qualifications and the ALMS Acura Sports Car Challenge. As always, I opted for paddock passes and general admission tickets because the likelihood of me sitting still through a race day at a road course or street circuit is minimal.

Flying Lizards GT2 Porsche on the grid


Dyson Racing Mazda powered prototype in the garage


Graham Rahal encounters Milka Duno during IndyCar practice


Castroneves on track during IndyCar qualifying


Looking down on the Target Ganassi team from the overhead garage walkway

Mid-Ohio offers an experience like few others do in the US or even the world for race fans. There are vendors, sponsor tents, interactive displays, time for driver and team interaction, full paddock access before and during the race and thousands of race fans who are there to see Indy and sports cars put on a show. The closest event I have attended to this was the ALMS Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta but even there, it was the feel of more NASCAR country than true road racing fans.

Great views of IndyCar qualifying from the observation mounds

We spent the morning and pre-race time walking the paddock, meeting drivers and getting autographs and photos while than returning to our most excellent parking spot on the inside of the track overlooking the esses where the cars complete laps and return onto the front stretch along pit road. For a few more dollars, I got infield parking which made tailgating and storage of gear, food and our cooler much easier.

Meeting ALMS P1 drivers Simon Pagenaud and Gil de Ferran of de Ferran Motorsports who won the race later in the day

Meeting ALMS P1 drivers Scott Sharp and David Brabham

Our view and new car on the inside of the esses


Adrian Fernandez steers his P2 Acura machine onto pit road


Muscle Milk P2 Porsche co-driven by Klaus Graf who won the Trans-Am race at VIR that I went to in April

After the race, we headed back to the paddock and even roamed onto pit road as post race interviews, removal of cars from the grid and victory lane celebrations were occurring.

Post-race damage on a P1 car

Watching SpeedTV's Robin Miller interview race winner Gil de Ferran

Michelle and I met 3 time Indy 500 winner and Dancing with the Stars Champ Helio Castroneves - I think he was there to congratulate his former Penske teammate de Ferran. He raced on Sunday after we left.

Had to get a pic with this hottie grid girl - I asked a police officer to take this one
for me when he was telling us to leave pit road.

It was a great day at a great facility and I CANNOT wait to return for another day or weekend of Indy and Le Mans racing at Mid-Ohio.

As you can see, racephan has fans too ;)