Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen International
"The Glen"

LocationWatkins Glen, New York
Time zoneUTC−5 (UTC−4 DST)
Coordinates42°20′13″N 76°55′37″W / 42.337°N 76.927°W / 42.337; -76.927
Capacity38,900
FIA Grade2[a]
OwnerNASCAR (2019–present)
International Speedway Corporation (1997–2019)
OperatorNASCAR (1997–present)
Opened1956 (as a permanent circuit)
Former namesWatkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit (1948–1981)
Watkins Glen International Raceway (1982–2005)
Major eventsCurrent:

Former:

Websitehttp://www.theglen.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (with Inner Loop Chicane) (1992–present)
SurfaceAsphalt and concrete
Length3.450 miles (5.552 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:23.9166 (France Sébastien Bourdais, Dallara DW12, 2017, IndyCar)
Short Circuit (with Inner Loop Chicane) (1992–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.450 miles (3.943 km)
Turns8
Race lap record0:59.920 (United States Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-14, 1992, IMSA GTP)
Short Circuit (with Esses Chicane) (1979–1991)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.428 miles (3.907 km)
Turns8
Race lap record0:59.920 (United States Davy Jones, Jaguar XJR-16, 1991, IMSA GTP)
Grand Prix Circuit (1971–1974, 1986–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.377 miles (5.435 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:35.600 (United States Chip Robinson, Nissan NPT-90, 1990, IMSA GTP)
Grand Prix Circuit (with Esses Chicane) (1975–1985)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.377 miles (5.435 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:34.068 (Australia Alan Jones, Williams FW07B, 1980, F1)
Sports Car Circuit (1971)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.430 miles (3.911 km)
Turns7
Race lap record1:06.083 (New Zealand Denny Hulme, McLaren M8F, 1971, Can-Am)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1956–1970)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.350 miles (3.782 km)
Turns8
Race lap record1:02.600 (New Zealand Denny Hulme, McLaren M8B, 1969, Can-Am)
Second Public Road Course (1953–1955)
SurfaceAsphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel
Length4.600 miles (7.403 km)
Race lap record3:10.800 (United States Bill Spear, Ferrari 375 MM, 1954, Sports car)
Original Public Road Course (1948–1952)
SurfaceAsphalt, cobbles, concrete, wood, dirt, steel
Length6.600 miles (10.622 km)
Turns28 (approximately)
Race lap record5:13.500 (United States Phil Walters, Healey-Cadillac Special, 1950, Formula Libre)

Watkins Glen International, nicknamed "The Glen", is an automobile race track in the northeastern United States, located in Dix, New York, just southwest of the village of Watkins Glen, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. It is long known around the world as the former home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (19611980). In addition, the site has also been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association, and the IndyCar Series. The facility is currently owned by NASCAR.

The course was opened in 1956 to host auto races previously held on public roads in and around the village. The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, with minor modifications after the fatal crashes of François Cevert (1973) and J.D. McDuffie (1991).

The site has also hosted several music concerts: the 1973 Summer Jam, featuring The Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead, and The Band and was attended by 600,000 fans;[1] and two Phish festivals: Super Ball IX in 2011 and Magnaball in 2015.


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  1. ^ Santelli, Robert (1980). Aquarius Rising. New York: Dell. ISBN 978-0-440-50956-1., cited in Strycharz, Robb. "Watkins Glen "Summer Jam" Archive". Chronos. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.