Fans can catch F1 fever during USGP Pit Walkabout
The Pit Walkabout is the official kickoff to the United States Grand Prix weekend at IMS and serves as a preface to practice Friday, June 15, practice and qualifying Saturday, June 16 and the race Sunday, June 17.
Public gates open at 7 a.m. (local time) June 14. The Pit Walkabout is free to all Race Day ticket holders and is scheduled for 8 a.m.-noon on pit lane.
Once on pit lane, fans can stand adjacent to the open garages, providing a clear view of the sleek, high-tech cars, equipment and highly skilled personnel of all 11 Formula One teams, including 2006 Formula One Constructors Championship winners ING Renault F1 Team, fan-favorite Scuderia Ferrari, current Championship leader Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Scuderia Toro Rosso, which fields the car of American F1 driver Scott Speed.
The Indy Pro Series paddock also will be open during the Pit Walkabout, allowing fans to get close to the cars of the IndyCar Series' primary development series, which will race twice on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Liberty Challenge during USGP weekend. The other USGP support series are Formula BMW USA and IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.
A variety of other exciting USGP-related fan activities are scheduled during the day in the Pagoda Plaza area, located directly behind the Bombardier Learjet Pagoda, including driver question-and-answer sessions, Grid Girl appearances, face painting, Cardio Check cholesterol screenings, F1 video games and interactive displays. Driver autograph sessions will take place in the Plaza Pavilion.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Official Trackside Gift Shops and IMS concession stands adjacent to the Pagoda Plaza and Hall of Fame Museum, and the Formula One team/driver official merchandise trailers, located in the east parking lot of the Museum, will be open all day.
Details about specific activities for the 2007 United States Grand Prix Pit Walkabout:
Question-and-answer sessions: From 10:15 a.m.-3:10 p.m., SPEED TV presents question-and-answer sessions with the stars of F1 on the SPEED TV Stage in Pagoda Plaza. SPEED broadcasters Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, Peter Windsor, Sam Posey and Derek Daly will play host.
Scheduled participants (subject to change):
10:15 a.m.: Christijan Albers and Adrian Sutil, Spyker F1 Racing drivers
10:45 a.m.: Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers
11:45 a.m.: Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen, ING Renault F1 Team drivers
Noon: Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri F1 Team drivers
12:15 p.m.: Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari drivers
12:30 p.m.: Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed, Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers
1 p.m.: Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, Honda Racing F1 Team drivers
1:15 p.m.: Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers
1:45 p.m.: Fernando Alonso, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver
1:50 p.m.: Nico Rosberg and Alex Wurz, AT&T Williams F1 Team drivers
1:55 p.m.: Lewis Hamilton, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver
3 p.m.: David Coulthard and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing drivers
Autograph sessions: From 10:30 a.m.-3:35 p.m., Formula One drivers will sign autographs in the Plaza Pavilion. A wristband is required for each autograph session and will be distributed beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the Pagoda Plaza. Each autograph session will have a unique wristband. The first 80 people in line will receive a wristband (subject to change based on driver availability). One autograph per person per driver is permitted.
The autograph session schedule (subject to change):
10:30 a.m.: Christijan Albers, Adrian Sutil, Spyker F1 Racing drivers
11 a.m.: Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli, Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers
Noon: Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen, ING Renault F1 Team drivers
12:15 p.m.: Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri F1 Team drivers
12:30 p.m.: Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Scuderia Ferrari drivers
12:45 p.m.: Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed, Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers
1:15 p.m.: Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, Honda Racing F1 Team drivers
1:15 p.m.: Fernando Alonso, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver
1:30 p.m.: Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers
1:40 p.m.: Lewis Hamilton, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver
2:05 p.m.: Nico Rosberg and Alex Wurz, AT&T Williams F1 Team drivers
3:15 p.m.: David Coulthard and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing drivers
Speedway officials and local law enforcement will make every effort to minimize the traffic caused by the mix of Formula One fans arriving for the Pit Walkabout and normal morning rush-hour traffic. IMS officials offer the following tips for race fans traveling to the Pit Walkabout:
Arrive early: IMS officials encourage fans to arrive early to avoid most rush-hour and Pit Walkabout traffic. The two gates that will be open for the walkabout – Gate 2 and Gate 7 – are both equipped for automobile and pedestrian traffic.
Traffic tips and parking: Pit Walkabout customers driving into the Speedway from north and west of the track are encouraged to enter the grounds via Gate 7, off of Georgetown Road, as cars traveling east on 16th Street toward downtown Indianapolis will not be permitted to make a left turn at Gate 2. Gate 2 will be open only to cars traveling west on 16th Street that can make a right turn into the gate.
Free parking will be available in the infield, accessible from either Gate 2 or Gate 7.
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2007 USGP tickets: Reserved Race Day and three-day "Season Passes" for the 2007 United States Grand Prix, June 15-17, are on sale to all customers.
Ticket information can be found any time at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com or by calling the IMS Ticket Office at (800) 822-4639 or (317) 492-6700. Ticket Office hours are from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.