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

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

Latest Races

3,429

Championships

View

19,677

Results

View

25,541

Drivers

View

14,622

Teams

View

923

Circuits

View