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Scott Dixon Pleased With Baltimore’s New Street Course

Baltimore, Md. – IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon flew into Baltimore this week to participate in a media event leading up to the Baltimore Grand Prix scheduled for the Labor Day weekend. The IndyCar set along with the American LeMans Series will race through the city streets on a two-mile, 13-turn temporary circuit. During the three-day Festival of Speed, the racers will weave their way past the picturesque Inner Harbor and the legendary Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles.

To assist with the kickoff activities, IndyCar champion Dixon flew here directly from a hasty trip to New Zealand that followed a test session at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Arriving in Baltimore at 2 a.m., Dixon was on duty five hours later, starting off the day with a radio interview followed by other media obligations.

In mid-morning, Dixon, BGP officials and local police representatives gathered at the Geppi Sports Legend Museum, adjacent to Camden Yards, to discuss the upcoming race and introduce the 2011 Smooth Operator campaign, a program sponsored by the state of Maryland to promote safe-driving on the state’s roadways.

Once the formal program ended, Dixon drove media members around the course, pointing out key areas of the track to include passing zones. He complimented track builders on providing a wide race surface along with low and high-speed corners and a number of passing zones.

Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. worked with the race officials on designing the track and Dixon complimented him for the guidance provided.

“They have all done a nice job, giving us a mix of opportunities for passing,” Dixon said. “The 90 degree turns will be a challenge and the medium to high-speed corners should be good ones. I think we should be able to hit 175 to 180 miles per hour on the longest straightaway (Pratt Street).”

According to Dixon, the IndyCar drivers will learn everything they can about the track when they walk around it prior to the start of the race weekend. “We will be able to see the curbs, the locations of the concrete barriers and the tire walls,” he said.

Although Dixon thought an upfront starting position was desirable, he didn’t think it essential, as he had has already identified several passing zones not often found on street courses. “With my luck, anything can happen,” he noted. “I’ve had the worst luck this year, being taken out of four of 10 races.” He said the track bears a resemblance to the St. Petersburg circuit.

After spending the day in Baltimore, Dixon flew home to Indianapolis to be with his wife, Emma, and daughter, Poppy, while awaiting the birth of their second daughter in early October.

Preparations for the BGP have been underway for nearly two years and according to Jay Davidson, president and CEO of the Baltimore Grand Prix, the track build-out is ahead of schedule. With about 30 days to go, bleachers have been set up and the tire barriers and Jersey walls are being installed. Also, more than 80 hospitality suites have been sold and additional ones are anticipated. By comparison, Davidson said the St. Petersburg Grand Prix only sold 26 suites.

For the next four weeks, race officials believe the excitement will continue to build in Baltimore with the initial on-track action to start on September 2 with the ALMS race taking place in late afternoon on September 3 and the Baltimore Grand Prix will take the green flag on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET.

In between the major races, the Firestone Indy Lights will compete along with the Star Mazda Championship Series and the USF2000 Series.

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