Autódromo José Carlos Pace
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Coordinates: 23°42′13″S 46°41′59″W / 23.70361°S 46.69972°W
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|---|---|
| Location | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Time zone | GMT -3 |
| Major events | F1, Mil Milhas Brasil, Stock Car Brasil, Fórmula Truck, TC 2000 |
| Current Circuit (1990-present) | |
| Circuit length | 4.309 km (2.676 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Lap record | 1:11.473 ( Juan Pablo Montoya, BMW Williams, 2004) |
| Original Circuit (1936-1989) | |
| Circuit length | 7.960 km (4.975 mi) |
| Turns | 26 |
| Lap record | 2:21.40 ( Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Renault F1, 1980 ) |
Autódromo José Carlos Pace or Interlagos is the venue of the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, located in the city of São Paulo, named after José Carlos Pace, a Brazilian Formula One driver, who had died prior to its naming. It is still widely known by its former name, Interlagos.
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[edit] Previous History
The land on which the circuit is built was originally bought in 1936 by property developers who wanted to build accommodation. However, it was discovered that the land was unsuitable for housing, so a racing circuit was built instead.
The traditional name of the circuit (literally, "between lakes") comes from the fact that it was built in a region between two large artificial lakes, Guarapiranga and Billings, which were built in the early 20th century to supply the city with water and electric power. In the 1970s it was renamed from "Autódromo de Interlagos" to its current name to honor the then recently deceased Formula One driver José Carlos Pace. There is a kart circuit inside it named after Ayrton Senna.
[edit] Characteristics
The circuit is one of the few non-oval racing circuits to go in an anti-clockwise direction (Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari and Istanbul Racing Circuit being notable others). The present design of the track dates back from 1990, when the original circuit was shortened from 7,829 m to only 4,397 m (so that it could fit the new FIA restrictions on track length). As a consequence of the reduction, the track lost three long straight sections and three fast curves (another one was reversed and one created). The original track was full of fast corners and it allowed cars to keep maximum speed for up to twenty seconds and was considered very dangerous (though no one ever died there racing Formula One) but since 1990 the old layout was completely abandoned. The new track still has a very long top-speed section that contains bumps, high-speed turns and little run-off area (though the track is very wide at this point).
Another reason why many drivers consider Interlagos interesting is that it was not built on flat terrain, but follows the ups and downs of hilly ground, which makes it harder to drive and demands more power from the car's engines. The hilly course is also a good feature for road cycling races usually held in the circuit.
The circuit is known for its many inclines and bumpy surface, which although nothing particularly significant in a road car, can take their toll on an F1 car, which has a very low ride height and little suspension travel. The races are therefore very tough on the car, and also physically tough on the drivers, especially since the circuit is anti-clockwise which forces the drivers' necks to move to the left, despite being trained to go right.
 Interlagos 1973 layout |
 Interlagos 1979 layout |
 The track as it was redesigned in 1990 |
The latest version of the track |
 Overlay showing the differences between present day and 1973 layouts |
[edit] Improvement in 2007
For the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, the largest-scale repairs in the last 35 years were carried out at the circuit, to fundamentally solve problems with the track surface.[1][2] The existing asphalt was entirely replaced,[3] resulting in a much smoother track surface. At the same time, the pit lane entrance was enhanced to improve safety and built new fixed grand stand.[4] To facilitate the work, the circuit was closed and no events were held in the five months immediately preceding the race.[5]
On October 17, 2007, Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM) began to operate the new station of the Line C, Autódromo, near the circuit.[6][7][8][9] The Line C had been extended to improve the access between the center of São Paulo and southern region of the Greater São Paulo including the circuit,[10][11][12] improving circuit accessibility.
[edit] Track Course
Race start is in front of the "Tribunas" section and features a pretty long straight section, then comes "S do Senna" ("Senna's S"), a series of turns (left, right, then left again) that are considered extremely difficult because each of them has a different angle, a different radius, a different length, a different inclination (inward or outward) and a different shape (besides the terrain goes down and then up again).
"Senna's S" connects with "Curva do Sol" ("Sun Turn"), a round-shaped large-radius left-turn that leads to "Reta Oposta" ("Opposite Straight", a reference to the disused longer back straight of the pre-1990 circuit, to which it runs parallel), the track's longest (but not the fastest) straight. Reta Oposta is succeeded by two leftwise, downhill turns that are called "Descida do Lago" ("Lake Descent") and then "Mergulho" ("Dive"), a short straight sector that goes down again.
After "Mergulho" comes a slow and difficult section, with small, kart-like turns and elevation changes. These turns are "Ferradura" ("Horseshoe") rightwise and downhill in two steps; "Laranjinha" (Orange Turn), rightwise, the slowest point of the circuit; "Pinheirinho" ("Small Pine Tree"), leftwise on a plain field; "Bico de Pato" ("Duck Bill"), two rightwise turns (one easy, the other very slow and difficult); and then two leftwise turns forming a section called "Junção" ("Junction").
After the slow section begins the long, thrilling and dangerous top-speed section. The first step is "Subida dos Boxes" ("Up to the Pits"), a long, left-wise turn that sometimes seems straight and sometimes bends in more clearly. As the name implies, Subida dos Boxes is uphill (quite steep, indeed) and demands a lot of power from the cars. At the end of it there are two turns (14 and 15) that form what was once called "Cotovelo" ("Elbow"). At this point the track seems inclined inwards (or somewhat crooked).
[edit] Pit Lanes
Interlagos has one of the longest pit-lanes ever used in Formula One, starting just before the start-finish straight and rejoining the main course after Curva do Sol. Entering the pits was originally not a trivial task, as the high speed and the left turning may force the car rightwards, out of the pits. The pit lane entrance received some changes to become safer for the 2007 Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix.
[edit] Comparison
The fastest laps at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
| Category | Time | Driver | Team | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula One | 1:11.473 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Williams-BMW | 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Le Mans Series-LMP1 | 1:18.787 | Pedro Lamy/Stéphane Sarrazin | Peugeot 908 HDi | 2007 Mil Milhas Brasil |
| Formula Three | 1:30.170 | André Sousa | Full Time | 2005/12/ 9 |
| Formula Renault | 1:37.109 | Diego Freitas | UniOil Sports | 2003/12/ 6 |
| Stock Car Brasil V8 | 1:39.585 | Raul Boesel | Bassani Racing | 2004/ 4/17 |
| Maserati Trophy (Maserati Trofeo) |
1:47.655 | Guto Negrão | Medley | 2006/ 3/25 |
| Fórmula Truck | 2:04.616 | Wellinton Cirinno | ABF/Mercedes-Benz | 2003/10/ 5 |
[edit] References
- ^ "Interlagos será fechado para reforma" (in Portuguese). www.folhadaregiao.com.br/. 2007-06-14. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:hxA99iE4FTIJ:www.folhadaregiao.com.br/link.php%3Fcodigo%3D70051. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ "As obras em Interlagos" (in Portuguese). www.autodromointerlagos.com/. 2007-09-04. http://www.autodromointerlagos.com/fotoobras.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ "FIA tem uma justificada preocupação com o GP Brasil de Fórmula 1" (in Portuguese). www.gpbrasil.com.br/. http://www.gpbrasil.com.br/site2007/coluna.asp?id=23#. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ "Alargamento da entrada dos boxes, para maior segurança dos pilotos" (in Portuguese). www.autodromointerlagos.com/. http://www.autodromointerlagos.com/IMG_2705.jpg. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ "Reforma deve acabar com problemas no asfalto de Interlagos" (in Portuguese). www.clicabrasilia.com.br/. 2007-06-13. http://www.clicabrasilia.com.br/torcida/materia.php?IdNoticia=34304. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ "ESTAÇÃO AUTÓDROMO É INAUGURADA NESTA QUARTA-FEIRA" (in Portuguese). CET - Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego. 2007-10-16. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=3669. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "INAUGURAÇÃO DA ESTAÇÃO AUTÓDROMO DÁ LARGADA PARA O METRÔ DE SUPERFÍCIE EM SP" (in Portuguese). CET - Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego. 2007-10-18. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=3675. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "CIRCULAÇÃO DE TRENS GANHA ESQUEMA ESPECIAL PARA GP BRASIL DE F1" (in Portuguese). CET - Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego. 2007-10-18. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=3683. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "INAUGURAÇÃO DA ESTAÇÃO AUTÓDROMO MARCA INÍCIO DO METRÔ DE SUPERFÍCIE, NA CAPITAL" (in Portuguese). CET - Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego. 2007-10-22. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=3717. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "CET Operação Interlagos 2007" (in Portuguese). CET - Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego. http://www.cetsp.com.br/internew/informativo/interlagos/2007/quemvai.htm#2010. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- ^ "GOVERNADOR GERALDO ALCKMIN DÁ INÍCIO ÀS OBRAS DE EXTENSÃO DA LINHA C" (in Portuguese). CPTM - Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos. 2005-11-21. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=643. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
- ^ "COMPANHIA INICIA OBRAS PARA BENEFICIAR POPULAÇÃO DA GRANDE SÃO PAULO" (in Portuguese). CPTM - Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos. 2005-12-27. http://www.cptm.sp.gov.br/e_noticias/webnoticias/one_news.asp?IDNews=753. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Autódromo José Carlos Pace |
- Info from the Official Formula 1 Website
- Official Brazilian Grand Prix website (English site)
- SaoPauloEsportes.com
- Info from BBC's circuit guide
- Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace History and Statistics
- Satellite picture by Google Maps
- Ciro Pabón's Racetracks 3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
