Chicagoland Speedway, Chicago race tickets, Chicagoland travel packages, Chicagoland race tours and packages, Chicagoland Speedway track diagram

Chicagoland Speedway


	Chicagoland Speedway Track Diagram
		Chicagoland Speedway 500 Speedway Blvd. Joilet, IL 60433

This magnificent speedway is the result of over five years of painstaking effort by Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George, International Speedway Corporation Chief Executive Officer Bill France and nine local Joliet entrepreneurs: George Barr, Jim Bingham, Dale Coyne, Jerry Papesh, Ed Rensi, Steve Spiess, Dale Steffes, Jack Steffes and Rex Steffes. The plan to build a superspeedway in the third-largest market in the nation had been rumored for years. Auto-racing executives and major-league sanctioning bodies had long maintained that the untapped market of Chicago was perhaps the most lucrative in the country. The Motorsports Alliance, consisting of George, France, and home-remodeling magnate John Menard, was formed in the spring of 1996 and immediately began considering sites that summer. The quest for the site of Chicagoland Speedway was a long road. The group looked at several locations, including property near downtown Chicago, as well as in all neighboring counties. The first effort to begin the project was to focus on a 500-acre plot of land less than 30 miles from downtown Chicago, near the Dupage County Airport. Faced with constructing a facility that would be able to host NASCAR and the Indy Racing League on a small parcel of land, the trio decided that the extremely high price of real estate would not fit properly into the budget. Menard then withdrew from the Motorsports Alliance, citing an increased demand to attend to his business affairs. However, as auto racing's visibility continued to skyrocket, the desire to begin racing in Chicago grew. Aware of the trials and tribulations Motorsports Alliance were having in building a superspeedway, Coyne suggested Joliet officials meet with the ownership group to discuss the possibility of building a 1.5-mile state-of-the-art speedway adjacent to Route 66 Raceway property to host NASCAR, Indy Racing League and other events. This multi-purpose motorsports complex would feature a 1.5-mile, D-shaped, tri-oval superspeedway, drag racing's ultimate stadium-style seating 1/4-mile drag strip and a 1/2-mile dirt oval track. Joie Chitwood III was named vice president and general manager of the massive facility. With all of the pieces finally in place, development of the 930-acre dream began in August 1999. "The construction of a major league racing facility of this magnitude and quality in the Chicago metropolitan market symbolizes the ongoing transformation of auto racing from a narrowly-focused regional competition to a major mainstream sport. This type of racing will rival the NFL, NBA and Major League baseball for fan and sponsorship involvement," said France during the celebration. "We are absolutely thrilled to be here." The news that all of Chicago was waiting for was finally revealed on May 8, 2000, during a press conference at scenic Navy Pier. The onlookers learned the name of the track - Chicagoland Speedway Joliet, Ill. - and the schedule of events for its inaugural season, including: NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series and the IRL IndyCar Series. Indeed, auto racing tradition and heritage have always held a significant place in Chicago. Chicagoland Speedway will give area race fans the ultimate racing environment and atmosphere, insuring a comfort level that has never been seen before in motorsports. While it remains to be seen just where the Chicagoland Speedway will be placed in the history of auto racing years from now, one thing seems certain - its place among the great speedways in the world has been secured.

Track Facts Information: Overview: Adjacent to its sister track, Route 66 Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois is a $130 million, 1.5-mile, D-shaped tri-oval speedway that annually hosts the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, NASCAR Busch Series, ARCA RE/MAX Series, IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series and IRL IndyCar Series. Chicagoland Speedway sits on 930 acres of land, which is large enough to accommodate 42 United Centers (Home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks). Chicagoland Speedway provides 500 acres of free parking for over 50,000 vehicles. Grandstands and Suites: Number of Seats: 75,000 Number of Suites: 40 The height of the grandstands is 15 stories tall, which is the same height as the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in downtown Chicago. The grandstands are 2,480 ft. long, which is slightly longer than two John Hancock buildings laid end-to-end. Infield: Media Center: 3,500 Square-Ft. Care Center: 3,900 Square-Ft. RV Spots: 624 - Infield 85 - Outside the track, along the back stretch 500 - located in RV Land The infield is 1,200 Ft. x 2,850 Ft., which is equivalent to four Soldier Fields (Home of the Chicago Bears). Garages: Size: 11,050 Square Ft. Number of Garages: 4 Number of Bays: 120 Front Stretch: Banking: 11 Degrees Length: 2,400 Ft. Width: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 27 Ft. Pit Road: Number of Stalls: 43 (Stock Car) 34 (Open-Wheel) Turns 1 & 2: Banking Turn 1: 18 Degrees Width Turn 1: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 27 Ft. Banking Turn 2: 18 Degrees Width Turn 2: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 27 Ft. Backstretch: Banking: 5 Degrees Length: 1,700 Ft. Width: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 24 Ft. Turns 3 & 4: Banking Turn 3: 18 Degrees Width Turn 3: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 27 Ft. Banking Turn 4: 18 Degrees Width Turn 4: 55 Ft. Apron Width: 27 Ft. Policy Information: The following items ARE allowed past the Turnstile Gates and into the Grandstands: One unopened factory sealed plastic bottle of water per guest Cell phones Scanners and head-sets Cameras Binoculars Seat cushions Pagers Fanny packs, purses, backpacks, camera bags and other small bags are also permitted, but are subject to search at any time. NOTE: Chicagoland Speedway reserves the right to disallow bags deemed to be too large. The following items ARE NOT allowed past the Turnstile Gates and into the Grandstands: Coolers of any size (unless required to store prescribed medicine for guest) Food and Beverage Drugs (unless prescribed by a medical physician and medically necessary) Umbrellas Glass Containers Pets (unless registered as an aide dog) Fireworks, sharp objects, firearms or weapons of any kind. Bicycles, roller blades, wagons, scooters and skateboards Strollers Folding chairs Laser pointers Large flags or poles of any type Any items deemed to be an obstruction to other spectators *All security measures are subject to change at anytime without prior notice.