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Road America

Road course | Motorcycle course

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Circuit info:

Address:: Road America
N7390
Highway 67
Elkhart Lake
WI 53020
USA
PH:: (1) 920 892-4576
Fax:: (1) 920 892-4550
Circuit lengths:: 4.000 miles/6.436 km full course
2.200 miles/3.540 km short course
Circuit type:: Permanent road course

Circuit history:

A ban on racing on public roads brought the end to the original Elkhart Lake circuit, which was a 5.3 mile blast around a lake of the same name and was used between 1950-53.

Thanks to the late Cliff Tufte, racing continued just a few miles down the road when he built the the current course, which opened in 1955. And what a circuit he built. Undeniably America's finest road course, Road America - as it was named - is a circuit which can be uttered in the same breathe as Spa-Francorchamps, the fabled Österreichring, Monza or Laguna Seca.

Built to the toughest standards around, it is said that Tufte (a road contractor) used to roll the cicuit diagonally every day, helping to maintain its surface. The managers who succeeded Tufte did not lavish the same love and attention to the track, but thankfully the current owners are investing hard to bring the circuit back to its best.

A $1.1million package was put in place for 1992, with a new paddock, pagoda building, medical centre, press room and re-located Winners' Circle enhancing facilities greatly. Further recent updates have included improved safety, with a drastically enlarged run-off area at Turn 1 the most notable changes. A chicane for AMA motorcycle competitors along the back straight is the only change to the course layout throughout Road America's history.

Spectacular scenery abounds with plenty of space to accomodate large crowds, although the lack of hotels in the immediate area can cause a few headaches. Most drivers love the circuit too, although its length tends to bring out the worst in cars, with a string of mechanical failures down the years producing unlikely winners. Ex-Formula 1 driver Hector Rebaque took victory in the inaugral Indycar race in 1982 and Gilles Villeneuve's older brother, Jacques, won three years later. His nephew, Jacques Jr, dominated in 1994, while Christian Fittipaldi scored a first victory in 1999 and Bruno Junquiera struck gold in 2001.