©1998 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
By Peter Burke
Things are well underway at the future Lausitzring facility in Germany, to be located south of Berlinand east of Dresden. The financing and legal steps of the multi-purpose facility are in theirfinal stages, with the first CART race planned for September or October in the year 2000.
The layout of the facility includes a 2.0 mile tri-oval for CART, a road course on the infield ofthe oval that is built to F1 specifications, plus a external large high speed oval for testingpurposes of German car manufacturers. The two race tracks are built on the grounds of a formeropen pit coal mine. Earth moved in former mining operations will be used to build "grandstands"with seating for 120,000 people. All 120,000 seats will be able to see the entire track layout(including the F1 track, giving this facility an advantage over Hockenheim orthe Nürburgring).
For the CART event, the oval will provide a layout that is unlike any currently on theschedule of the FedEx ChampionshipSeries. It is a large 2.0 mile (3.2 km) tri-oval with relatively low banking. Compared to Pocono Raceway,which is currently on the Winston Cup schedule, also a large tri-oval, the corner radius ismuch larger for smoother and wider turns. The Lausitzring oval turnsare banked at 5.7 degrees (Turn 1 and 3), and at 5.1 degrees (turn 2).Compare that to the CaliforniaSpeedway at Fontana with it's 11 degree banking, and you'll realize that this trackmay require at least lifting into the corners when driven with a current Champ Car.
In spite of the high speeds expected on a 2 mile oval, the radius of the turns is wideenough to be considered 'safe' in the sense of how ovallayouts have performed in recent years. Rio has very tight corners and for increasedsafety special tire barriers were implemented in the impact areas of the turns.For similar reasons, Homestead was reshaped from it's former four tight cornersto two sweeping corners, making it 'safer' in the view of the drivers by reducing the potentialimpact angle. At the Lausitzring oval, wide turns and low banking should force Champ Cars to run the track at speeds lower than currently achieved at Michigan or Fontana. But looking at the high speeds achieved in Homesteadand Japan, we will have to wait for the real test to see what the true character of thisfacility will be.
To track the progress of the facility, visit the official web site atwww.lausitzring.com (warning - slow site, inGerman only). SpeedCenter will track the progress in Germany and report important milestones. 
