Watkins Glen 1415

Watkins Glen

The current Bill Milliken-designed road course is the third circuit to have been used in this area of New York State.

The current Bill Milliken-designed road course is the third circuit to have been used in this area of New York State. The first 6.6-mile temporary road course was founded by Cameron Argetsinger and opened on October 2 1948. It was used until fatal accidents in two successive years forced it to close. A transitional 4.6-mile circuit in the hills was used from 1953 until the permanent venue on a hilltop near Watkins Glen village was opened in 1956. The Glen became the home of Grand Prix racing in the United States in 1961 and was a regular end-of-season highlight until 1980. However, it fell into disrepair after the race moved to the unsatisfactory street circuits of Detroit and Phoenix. It was acquired by Corning Enterprises and the International Speedway Corporation in 1983 and they set about restoring it to its former glory. A NASCAR race has been held since 1986 and the Indycar Series visited from 2005 to 2010.

Grand Prix Circuit

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.45 (Miles)

Change

Chicane built before Turn 5

Fastest Race Lap

Sebastien Bourdais (Dallara DW12-Honda), 1m23.9166s, 148.005 mph, Indycars, 2017

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Alexander Rossi (Dallara DW12-Honda), 1m22.4639s, 150.612 mph, Indycars, 2017

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.377 (Miles)

Change

Chicane at The Esses removed, length officially unchanged

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.377 (Miles)

Change

Chicane inserted at The Esses

Fastest Race Lap

Alan Jones (Williams FW07B-Ford), 1m34.068, 129.238 mph, F1, 1980

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Bruno Giacomelli (Alfa Romeo 179B), 1m33.291, 130.315 mph, F1, 1980

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.377 (Miles)

Change

Circuit redeveloped and Grand Prix extension opened

Fastest Race Lap

Carlos Pace (Brabham BT44-Ford), 1m40.608, 120.838 mph, F1, 1974

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Carlos Reutemann (Brabham BT44-Ford), 1m38.978, 122.828 mph, F1, 1974

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.43 (Miles)

Change

Circuit redeveloped with widened, new straight before "The 90". Used for 1971 Sports Car race

Fastest Race Lap

Derek Bell (Porsche 917K), 1m08.297, 128.088 mph, Sports Cars, 1971

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Mark Donohue (Ferrari 512M), 1m07.740, 129.141 mph, Sports Cars, 1971

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.35 (Miles)

Fastest Race Lap

Jacky Ickx (Ferrari 312B), 1m02.74, 134.843 mph, F1, 1970

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jacky Ickx (Ferrari 312B), 1m03.07, 134.137 mph, F1, 1970

Short Circuit

Select a year

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.454 (Miles)

Change

Chicane built before Turn 5

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet SS), 1m08.126, 129.678 mph, NASCAR, 2014

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.428 (Miles)

Latest Races

3,413

Championships

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19,321

Results

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25,215

Drivers

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14,545

Teams

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914

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