2017 COTA F1 Schedule - Roll Call - Tips

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

I'm going with my son for our first F1 race at COTA - can't wait!

We are staying downtown at an AirBnB, will drive in and park remotely (already got before they sold out) and have GA tix to watch from the field. Any tips or hints from anyone been there before on what not to miss, best places to watch, and anything way overrated?

Here's the schedule:

2017 F1 USGP Schedule
FRIDAY
7:00 Parking Lots Open
8:00 - 18:00 Gates Open/Close
8:45 - 9:15 FIA Formula 4 First Practice Session
10:00 - 11:30 Formula 1 First Practice Session
11:50 - 12:15 Masters Historic Racing First Practice Session
14:00 - 15:30 Formula 1 Second Practice Session
16:30 - 16:50 FIA Formula 4 Qualifying
17:10 - 17:35 Masters Historic Racing Qualifying

SATURDAY
7:00 Parking Lots Open
8:00 - 21:00 Gates Open/Close
8:30 - 9:15 Formula 1 Team Pit Stop Practice
11:00 - 12:00 Formula 1 Third Practice Session
12:30 - 12:55 Masters Historic Racing First Race
13:30 - 14:30 Formula 1 Fan Forum @ Austin360 Amphitheater
14:30 - 15:00 FIA Formula 4 First Race
16:00 - 17:00 Formula 1 Qualifying
19:00 Justin Timberlake COTA Super Stage Concert

SUNDAY
7:00 Parking Lots Open
8:30 - 20:30 Gates Open/Close
9:30 - 9:55 Masters Historic Racing Second Race
10:50 - 11:20 FIA Formula 4 Second Race
12:30 Formula 1 Driver's Parade
13:28 - 13:48 Formula 1 Opening Ceremonies
14:00 - 16:00 Formula 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX
16:00 - 16:30 Fan Track Walk
18:00 Stevie Wonder COTA Super Stage Concert

RonDent · 10-05-2017, 01:55 PM

I'll be there. I've requested "Blue Flag" on Turn 15. I've been told I have it, but nothing official yet. This will be my 3rd time working F1 @ CoTA. I have a few friend from work that will be in the stands behind me. Get to rub it in that I have a better seat and didn't have to pay for it!

javadog · 10-05-2017, 02:39 PM

I like the outside of turn one, just down the hill from the apex. It's as close as you can get to the track and watching from the fence is worth it, both in practice and at the start. After the start I would probably walk around the corner to the section between turns two and five.

mattdavis11 · 03:32 PM

I'll be in town, but I'm always in town. Bring rain gear and a change of clothes every day, mother nature likes things to get sloppy.

Ron Dent, who is in charge of the corner workers?

astrochex · 10-05-2017, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonDent

I'll be there. I've requested "Blue Flag" on Turn 15. I've been told I have it, but nothing official yet. This will be my 3rd time working F1 @ CoTA. I have a few friend from work that will be in the stands behind me. Get to rub it in that I have a better seat and didn't have to pay for it!

Congrats! Flagging is always the best seat!

matthewb0051 · matthewb0051's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

will drive in and park remotely

You may want to do some research on parking. That place is out in the middle of nowhere and "remotely" is relative.

As long as your are nearby this is not to be missed:

https://www.kreuzmarket.com/

Best BBQ around! The little town of Lockhart has several great restaurants.

RonDent · 10-06-2017, 07:08 AM

Matt,
Registration was handled by Motor Sports Reg, but I think it is closed now. The flag chief is Ron Long I believe. I received my assignment yesterday. I'm not flagging after all. I'll be the communicator instead. Hey what can you do? I would encourage any of you in the Austin area to sign up to work next year. They are always looking for people and they are the best seats in the house.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Thanks for all the suggestions so far - keep them coming!

jhynesrockmtn · 10-07-2017, 05:38 AM

Be prepared for all kinds of weather and to walk, a lot! That place is enormous. My son and I were there for the SVRA national championships in 2014 rhe weekend after the F1 race and it had been very wet all week prior to the event. Have fun!

David · David's Garage

I've been to every F1 race in Texas and as far as weather goes, October is just about perfect with the exception of the one monsoon year. Usually shorts and t-shirt weather but you may need jeans and jacket especially early in the day.

I normally sit in turn 12 grandstands for F1 but I thought turn 18 was nice for GA viewing when I went to a MotoGP race.

If you're not parking at the track, expect to walk a long way to the track from the shuttle drop off or outlying lots. Since the first F1 race they've had the number of porta potties and drink booths just perfect, meaning there's been more than enough. Food booths were a little light at first so you had to stand in long lines but that's gotten much better

The addition of big name musical acts has greatly increased ticket sales but not all of them go to the races so you get some traffic flow in both directions in the afternoon which can create more gridlock than it should.

glewis80SC · glewis80SC's Garage

Don,
General admission is the best way to see the race it allows you to move around and see the entire track...sorry I was flagging at T15 the first year of the race and being on the grass with a beer is much better. Take a chair.
Don't miss Friday and Saturday they allow you to sit almost anywhere we had GE tickets but sat in the stands on the front straight the whole day, we parked at a lot off FM812 right across from the track...I think it was A&R Demolition right turn out of their lot and side roads we were out of the area in 20 minutes.Its a great track and run very well.
Hang out on Congress Street, Rainey Street and eat at Franklins BBQ...don't wait in line you can order ahead at pick it up to go. Have a great time wish I was going this year.

David · David's Garage

I was looking at the COTA website for the F1 race and things look much more fan oriented than the past races. They even show fan access to the infield pits where the F4 and vintage F1 cars are.

Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating this year so bring your rain gear.