Conway seeks advantage on Streets of Baltimore

Conway won on the streets of Long Beach. Can he do it again in Baltimore?

Mike Conway figures he has a small advantage over the other 27 drivers who he will compete against at the Baltimore Grand Prix this weekend.

Conway and Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing are the only IZOD IndyCar Series drivers to get an advance look at the track (on foot and passenger car tour) that abuts the Inner Harbor and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

On his visit a couple of weeks ago to unveil his No. 27 Team Buffalo Wild Wings livery and sponsor program, race organizers even made up a faux street sign for the driver whose surname is the same as the short section of the course coming out of a hard left-hand turn that leads to pit lane/Turn 6.

"I like my chances on that particular stretch, but maybe that's just me," Conway said.

It's a slower segment, which will require — among other things — patience from the drivers. The street course, which received an asphalt makeover in the past six months, gets positive reviews from Conway.

"There are quick corners with long straights leading up to them, which is always difficult but fun," Conway said. "Those are 90-degree corners in third gear, which are going to be quite fast. We go around the baseball stadium and the main straight (Pratt Street) is four lanes wide that leads into a right-hander (Turn 1), so that will be a passing zone.

"A new circuit is always fun, and I think it's going to be a lot like the Long Beach atmosphere."