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BALTIMORE GRAND PRIX PRE-RACE EXCITEMENT | ALMS AND IZOD INDYCAR

August 18, 2011

UPDATE:

See all Baltimore Grand Prix race weekend photos: American Le Mans Series & IndyCar Series.

Baltimore Grand Prix Harbor Rendering | McCormick Taylor, Inc.

To say that I’m excited to be covering the Inaugural American Le Mans Series and IZOD IndyCar races in Baltimore Labor Day weekend is an understatement. I received confirmation for media credentials that will give me access to areas around the circuit the general public might not have. The car and racing enthusiast in me is like a kid on Christmas Eve. In the role of professional photographer I will be photographing highlights from this 180mph event through the streets of Baltimore by the Inner Harbor, Convention Center and circling around Camden Yards. The well known Pratt St will serve as the longest straightaway where the open wheel beasts will be charging through at over 150mph or more. They’ll then turn onto Light St, back up Light St, onto Conway, down S. Howard, onto W. Lee, up Russell, then back on to Pratt. In total there’ll be 12 turns plus many grandstands along the circuit. The START/FINISH line is between Hopkins and Hanover St. in front of the Convention Center.

A rendering of Pratt St. McCormick Taylor, Inc. This will be the longest straightaway where cars are to reach speeds estimated at 150 to 180mph.

I will be canvasing the circuit this weekend and start developing a strategy. I think the main strategy will be to keep moving in an effort to try multiple angles and vantage points. This 2 mile race track on the streets of Baltimore has been surrounded by anticipation, excitement and controversy. The city has a 5 year agreement with the IndyCar series but the organizers are not without controversy regarding the economic impact. Nonetheless, it is estimated to bring in anywhere from $50 to $100 million to the city, depending on who you ask.

Baltimore GP rendering of Pit Lane facing north at Camden Yards | McCormick Taylor, Inc.

There are very few famous street race courses left in the world, such as Monaco in the south of France made popular by Formula 1, Toronto Canada, St. Petersburg FL, and Long Beach CA.. It’s a real big deal for Baltimore to be added to that short list.

Street circuits are typically fraught with intense wheel to wheel, nose to tail racing. Tempers will flare and there will be spinouts, contact, and crashes. The drama will be exciting to capture. The challenge will be being at the right location at the right time. Honestly, there’s no way you can predict any of these events as they unfold like any other event I’ve covered.

I will post some updates as they come. Here’s Baltimore’s WBALTV report on the preparations going into this huge event. Embedding was disabled so here’s the link: WBALTV REPORT ON THE BALTIMORE GP PREPARATIONS AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.

Click on the map to go to the website's cool interactive map describing all the turns, grandstands and vantage points.

The Baltimore Sun shared a video with Indy driver Scott Dixon behind the wheel driving the city race course:

BALTIMORE GRAND PRIX VIDEOS AND ANIMATIONS:

Check out these renderings by McCormick Taylor, Inc. and preview videos giving you a sense of the speed, track layout, and design of the track weaving through the Inner Harbor streets!