Michigan International Speedway

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Michigan International Speedway

Image:MIS track photo.jpg
Location	12626 U.S. 12 Brooklyn, Michigan, 49230
Capacity	137,243
Owner	International Speedway Corporation
Operator	International Speedway Corporation
Broke ground	September 28, 1967
Opened	October 13, 1968
Construction Cost	$4-6 million
Architect	Charles Moneypenny
Former Names	Michigan Speedway (1996-2000)
Major events	NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizens Bank 400 3M Performance 400 NASCAR Nationwide Series Carfax 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Con-way Freight 200 ARCA Remax Series Hantz Group 200 (June)
D shaped oval
Circuit Length	2.0 mi (3.2 km)
Banking	Turns - 18°

Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile (3.22 km), moderate-banked, D shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1,400 acres ^[1] near Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of California Speedway. The track is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (to open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest to stock car standards).

Michigan is now one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR due to its wide, sweeping corners and long straightaways; typical qualifying speeds are in excess of 190 mph and corner entry speeds easily exceed 200.

Contents 1 History 2 Other Events 3 Current Races 4 Records 5 External links 6 Notes

[edit] History

Groundbreaking took place on September 28, 1967. Over 2.5 million yards of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval. The track opened in 1968 with a total capacity of 25,000 seats. The track was originally built and owned by Lawrence H. LoPatin, a Detroit-area land developer who built the speedway at an estimated cost of $4-6 million. ^[2]

In 1972 Roger Penske purchased the speedway for an estimated $2 million. During Penske's ownership the track was upgraded several times from the original capacity to 125,000 seating capacity. From 1996 to 2000, the track was referred to as Michigan Speedway. This was to keep consistency with other tracks owned by Roger Penske's Motorsports International before its merger with ISC. ^[3]

In 1999 the speedway was pruchased by International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and in 2000 the track was renamed to its original name of Michigan International Speedway. In 2000 10,800 seats were added via a turn three grandstand bringing the speedway to its current capacity. In 2004-2005 the largest renovation project in the history of the facility was ready for race fans when it opened its doors for the race weekend. The AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza - a reconfiguration of over 26 acres behind the main grandstand - provided race fans a new an improved area to relax enjoy sponsor displays, merchandise, and concessions during breaks of on-track activity. A new, three-story viewing tower housing the Champions Club presented by AAA and 16 new corporate suites also awaited VIP Guests, while a state-of-the-art press box and an expansive race operations facility high above the 2-mile oval welcomed the media and race officials. ^[4]

[edit] Other Events

In addition to motor racing, the venue hosts the Michigan High School Athletic Association cross country finals for the Lower Peninsula. ^[5]

[edit] Current Races

• Sprint Cup Series - Citizens Bank 400
• Sprint Cup Series - 3M Performance 400
• Nationwide Series - Carfax 250
• Craftsman Truck Series - Michigan 200
• ARCA - Hantz Group 200

[edit] Records

• CART Qualifying (one lap): Paul Tracy, 30.645 sec. (234.949 mph) Official Track Record, 2000
• CART Race (500 miles): Al Unser, Jr., 2 hrs. 38 min. 7.316 sec. (189.727 mph) 1990
• IRL Qualifying (one lap): Tomas Scheckter, 32.365 sec. (222.458 mph), 2003
• IRL Race (400 miles): Helio Castroneves 2 hrs. 3 min. 43.7441 sec. (193.972 mph), 2006
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying: Ryan Newman, 37.069 sec. (194.232 mph), 2005
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race: Dale Jarrett, 2 hrs. 17 min. 56 sec. (173.997 mph), 1999
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying: Kasey Kahne, 38.608 sec. (186.490 mph), 2003
• NASCAR Nationwide Series Race: Mark Martin, 1 hr. 10 min. 46 sec. (169.571 mph), 1995
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying: Kyle Busch, 39.645 sec. (181.612 mph), 2005
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race: Brendan Gaughan, 1 hr. 17 min. 54 sec. (154.044 mph), 2003

[edit] External links

• Michigan International Speedway Official Site
• Michigan International Speedway Page on NASCAR.com
• 2008 Michigan International Speedway Schedule

Coordinates: 42°03′58.68″N, 84°14′29.18″W

[edit] Notes

v • d • e Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racetracks
ISC Tracks Chicagoland - Darlington - Daytona - Fontana - Homestead - Kansas City - Martinsville - Michigan - Phoenix - Richmond - Talladega - Watkins Glen SMI Tracks Atlanta - Bristol - Charlotte - Loudon - Fort Worth - Las Vegas - Sonoma Other tracks Dover - Indianapolis - Pocono

v • d • e Current NASCAR Nationwide Series racetracks
Atlanta, Bristol, Brooklyn, Michigan, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona, Dover, Fontana, California, Fort Worth, Indianapolis (ORP), Joliet, Illinois, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Loudon, Madison, Illinois, Memphis, Mexico City, Miami, Milwaukee, Montreal, Nashville, Phoenix, Richmond, Sparta, Kentucky, Talladega, Watkins Glen

v • d • e Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racetracks
Atlanta, Bristol, Brooklyn, Michigan, Charlotte, Daytona, Dover, Fontana, California, Fort Worth, Indianapolis (ORP), Kansas City, Las Vegas, Loudon, Madison, Illinois, Mansfield, Martinsville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Phoenix, Talladega, Sparta, Kentucky

v • d • e Tracks of the Indy Racing League
Ovals	Indianapolis Motor Speedway · Chicagoland · Homestead · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Milwaukee · Motegi · Nashville · Richmond · Texas
Road/Street Courses	Detroit · Mid-Ohio · Sonoma · St. Pete · Watkins Glen
Former Tracks	Atlanta · California · Charlotte · Dover · Gateway · Las Vegas · Loudon · Michigan · Nazareth · Phoenix · Pikes Peak · Walt Disney World

v • d • e Tracks of the USAC Championship Series

Former Tracks (1956-1981) Arizona Fairgrounds • Atlanta • Darlington • Dayton • Daytona • Detroit • Dover • DuQuion • Hanford • Indianapolis • Lakewood • Langhorne • Michigan • Milwaukee • Nazareth • Ontario • Phoenix • Pocono • Sacramento • Sedalia • Springfield • Syracuse • Texas World • Trenton • Williams Grove Road Courses Brainerd • Castle Rock • IRP • Las Vegas • Mont-Tremblant • Mosport • Pikes Peak • Riverside • Sears Point • Seattle International Brands Hatch • Fuji • Monza • Rafaela • Silverstone

v • d • e Tracks of the Champ Car World Series

Current Tracks (2007) Assen • Cleveland • Edmonton • Houston • Las Vegas • Long Beach • Mexico City • Mont-Tremblant • Portland • Road America • San Jose • Surfers Paradise • Toronto • Zolder Former Tracks (Ovals) Atlanta • California • Chicago • Gateway • Homestead • Las Vegas • Loudon • Michigan • Milwaukee • Nazareth • Ontario • Phoenix • Pocono • Sanair • Texas • Texas World • Trenton Former Tracks (Road Courses) Belle Isle • Denver • Detroit • Laguna Seca • Las Vegas • Meadowlands • Mid-Ohio • Montreal • Riverside • St. Pete • Tamiami Park • Vancouver • Watkins Glen Former Tracks (International) Brands Hatch • EuroSpeedway • Monterrey • Motegi • Rio • Rockingham Future Tracks Laguna Seca • Jerez

v • d • e Tracks of IROC
Ovals Atlanta • California • Charlotte • ChicagoLand • Darlington • Daytona • Indianapolis • Michigan • Nazareth • Richmond • Talladega • Texas Road Courses Cleveland • Daytona • Mid-Ohio • Riverside • Watkins Glen

v • d • e Tracks of the ARCA Re/Max Series Cayuga • Daytona • DuQuoin • Illinois • Iowa • Joliet • Kansas • Kentucky • Michigan • Nashville • New Jersey • Pocono • Rockingham • Salem • Talladega • Toledo

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