Road America adds new video boards, makes further track investments - MotorSportsTalk

Road America is prepping for its 2015 race season with a series of enhancements. The full track release is below.

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Road America fans will now be able to experience all of the thrills and on-track excitement from several popular areas around the 640-acre facility thanks to four new networked high-definition (HD) LED video display boards.

Currently, one video board is in place in the widely popular Turn 5, and the additional video boards will be permanently placed in Turn 1, Turn 3, Turns 7 and 8 and Turn 12. For thousands watching from the stands and around the revered racetrack, the video display boards will deliver incredible views of the on-track action and unique content to keep fans engaged during events.

“We are constantly reinvesting funds to improve the fan experience,” said Road America President and General Manager, George Bruggenthies. “From our terraced seating in several locations around the facility, to our new video boards and even improved access and viewing areas along Turns 11 and 12, it is our intent to bring fans closer to the action.

“At Road America, we like to say ‘come for the experience and stay for the race’ and with all of these new improvements and technology we are confident that everyone will appreciate what we have done and what we intend to do in the future to make Road America a favorite place to be for generations.”

In addition to the new video boards, the 4-mile racetrack was resurfaced in several areas to improve the experience for participants. New pavement was added to Turns 5, 6, 8 and 14 – there were no changes to the width of the racing surface.

“We take great pride in not only improving the facility for fans, but for competitors as well,” Bruggenthies added. “We have many club events, schools, vehicle tests and private events at Road America and the integrity of the racing surface is just as important as our amenities, concessions, programs and many entertainment offerings.

“This new resurfacing project wasn’t immediately necessary but we wanted to make the improvements now to keep up with the demands that our 4-mile roadcourse endures throughout the season and we guarantee the track will be ready for our first event.”

Road America’s first event is quickly approaching, as legendary racing vehicles from around the world will compete at the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) Spring Vintage Weekend. Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17.

An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”