SAFER Barrier added at Watkins Glen

Several safety improvements were made to the Watkins Glen International circuit in the off-season.

Paved runoff areas designed to give drivers a better chance to recover from an off-course excursion were added to the Inner Loop and Turn 10 areas. They replaced the gravel traps that tended to snare the cars, bringing out caution periods to remove them.

Steel and Foam Energy Recovery (SAFER) barriers have also replaced the previous tire walls in the Inner Loop and Turn 11.

The Turn 11 SAFER barrier could be put to the test this weekend on more than one occasion. It was installed several feet closer to the track than the existing guardrail, effectively reducing the runoff area at the exit of the corner. The drivers may have to adapt their exit lines with the barrier's proximity to the track edge.