I had my first outing on the 3.51-mile Daytona road course this morning. The course includes the high-banked turns 2, 3 & 4. I have to say that the first time up onto the bank was not intimidating until I actually stared up the incline. The approach coming out of the infield looks pretty tame, but as you stretch out, accelerating up the slope one gets the impression of racing inside a tube. Well at least I did. It felt like the track was enclosing me.
The infield seemed pretty easy to negotiate, not simple, but not brain surgery. Turn one entry speed takes time to figure out, the corner tightens considerably. The little kink after T1 is no big deal, but it helps if you exit T1 aligned to shoot through the kink. Next we accelerate down to the horseshoe (T3), planning on a late apex to avoid running out of room on the exit. The next left-hander (T4) takes some nerve to stay on the gas. Slower riders can plug up this corner. The next right-hander (T5) calls for another late apex. Then there is a fast short chute up to T6, a slow left-hand turn that dumps you onto the NASCAR T1/T2 complex called T7 on the road course. Once you learn to aim up-track to maintain position on the banking, the NASCAR turns are not so menacing.
T7 turns into the back stretch, a straight that seems like it should be a lot longer than it takes to negotiate. Two downshifts entering the T8, 9, 10, 11 chicane. Entry speed here is fast. In fact entry speed feels way too fast. Then back onto NASCAR 3/4, on to the Tri-Oval and back down to T1.
After a half dozen laps (two very short practice sessions shortened by Scott “Mr. Daytona” Russell crashing in T1 and breaking his arm) today I feel more confident about riding here. Tire wear is surprisingly low. After this many miles on a typical short road course I would have considerable tire roughing, but the asphalt here is super smooth after the re-paving.
I have 2 rounds of practice tomorrow and two races. Then late in the afternoon I have to qualify for Sunday’s Michelin Pro Thunderbike race. Sunday I Also have the Lightweight Formula 40 National championship race. More to come, so stay tuned.
