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30-450: There is grandstand seating for 12,000 spectators and three observation mounds alongside the track raise the capacity to over 75,000. Mid-Ohio is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit. The track opened in 1962 as a 16-turn road course run clockwise. After only one year, the "Oak Tree Bend" series of turns (in the northeast corner) was removed due to being too slow. It was replaced by the "Thunder Valley" downhill straight, which remains to

60-424: A circuit with a Grade 2 layout also has other layouts in other grade/s, will be shaded   on other grade lists. There are 55 Grade Three circuits for a total of 59 layouts as of June 2024. Circuits holding Grade Three certification may host events involving "Category II Automobiles with a weight/power ratio of between 2 and 3 kg/hp". Since 2020, there is also a specific grade given for Formula E circuits; which

90-796: A controlling stake in the team which became Andretti Green Racing. Shortly thereafter the team moved to the IRL IndyCar Series where it won league championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and 2007. Green and fellow co-owner Kevin Savoree left AGR in September 2009 to run Green Savoree Racing Promotions , an auto race promotion company. Currently, GSRP promote Indycar Series races in St. Petersburg, Florida, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Portland, Oregon. On March 2, 2011 Green Savoree purchased

120-503: A faster, safer, more competitive and attractive facility for drivers, riders and race fans. On March 2, 2011, it was announced that the track had been purchased from Truesports by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes other IndyCar races, ending Truesports' 29 years of ownership. The course had first hosted SportsCar racing in 1963 as part of the United States Road Racing Championship . The race

150-427: A location for weekend sports car racing. The track originally had 16 turns, with a left turn in what is today known as "thunder valley," but the turn was straightened after just one year of operation due to complaints of the track being too slow. The track hosted Can-am and F5000 through the 1970s and in 1980, it would host its first CART race with Johnny Rutherford taking victory with Chaparral . In 1982 Mid-Ohio

180-403: A refurbishment. A new retaining wall was built, the entire track was resurfaced, widened and concrete was paved in the apexes of the turns to prevent asphalt deterioration. In addition, a straightaway segment was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.40 mi (3.86 km) circuit and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mi (3.634 km) circuit which bypasses

210-422: A weight/power ratio of less than 1 kg/hp." As such, a Grade One certification is required to host events involving Formula One cars. There are 66 Grade Two circuits for a total of 79 layouts as of August 2024. Circuits holding Grade Two certification may host events involving "Automobiles of Groups D (FIA International Formula) and E (Free formula) with a weight/power ratio of between 1 and 2 kg/hp." If

240-659: Is a British-Australian former racing driver who was the co-owner and Chief Executive Officer of Andretti Green Racing , a racing team in the Indycar Series . Green is a native of the United Kingdom who grew up in Australia . He now resides in St. Petersburg, Florida . He began his racing career in 1981 with Newman Racing in the Can-Am series. After winning five wins and six poles during

270-557: Is called as "Grade 3E". As of June 2024 there are 10 Grade Four circuits. Circuits holding Grade Four certification may host events involving "Category I Automobiles. Category II Automobiles with a weight/power ratio higher than 3 kg/hp." As of June 2024 there are 22 Grade Six circuits with 25 layouts. Grade Six is split into three parts: Grade 6A for all classes of Autocross vehicles, Grade 6R for all classes of Rallycross vehicles and Grade 6G for all classes of Ice Racing vehicles. Kim Green (racing driver) Kim Green

300-445: The ARX came to the track which was the first time rallycross had come to the circuit. The course was a 10-turn, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) and utilized the keyhole section of the track. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the track was once again fully repaved after utilizing a test section in turn one. The track was opened in 1962 by Les Griebling and several Mansfield-area businessmen as

330-527: The American Le Mans series the next year. The track continued to host the two series until 2012 when ALMS dropped the race, Grand-Am would follow suit the next year. In 2018, track would host the WeatherTech SportsCar championship . Mid-Ohio would host its first CART race in 1980 as a 156 mi (251 km), 65 lap race. There would be a brief hiatus as the race would not return until 1983, and

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360-715: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series . The unofficial lap record is 1:03.8700, set by Simon Pagenaud during the qualifying of the 2016 Honda Indy 200 . As of August 2024, the fastest official race lap records on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are listed as: Founded in 1993, The Mid-Ohio School offers licensed drivers and motorcycle riders programs in defensive driving, high performance driving and performance track riding programs. Students in each course partake in classroom and private instruction and group drills. Participants test their newly refined skills in

390-528: The Road to Indy , Global Mazda MX-5 Cup , and Stadium Super Trucks . In 2015, hometown favorite Graham Rahal won at Mid-Ohio for the first time, thirty years after his father, Bobby Rahal , won his first race at the track. Scott Dixon has the most wins at the track with six. In 2013, the track hosted its first NASCAR event as a 200 mi (320 km) race with the NASCAR Xfinity Series . The length of

420-707: The 1981-82 racing seasons, Green joined the Champ Car team Forsythe Racing in 1983. Over the next decade, Green continued honing his managerial skills in the CART series. In 1994, Green joined his brother Barry's Team Green as team manager, and competed in the 1994 CART IndyCar World Series with driver Jacques Villeneuve , eventually winning both the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the CART PPG IndyCar World Series Cup that same year. In 1996 Team Green became known as

450-499: The Brahma Sports Team for a season, with driver Raul Boesel . In 1997 KOOL cigarettes took over as a major sponsor with Parker Johnstone , and the team was renamed Team KOOL Green , before expanding to a two-car effort in 1998 with Paul Tracy and rising youngster Dario Franchitti . In 2001, Michael Andretti joined the team in a separate effort headed by Kim Green, known as Team Motorola . In July 2002, Andretti purchased

480-544: The FIA are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, depending on the suitability of the circuit for different types and groups of cars, with 1 being the highest grade and the only circuits that can host Formula One races. A circuit holding a particular grade can also host events featuring categories of cars at lower grades. The grades are issued "with the sole purpose of permitting the registration of races on the FIA International Calendar, for

510-610: The Mid-Ohio School, including 18,500 teenagers and 13,300 motorcycle riders. List of motor racing circuits by FIA Grade#Grade Two Appendix O to the FIA International Sporting Code defines the inspection and licensing process for auto racing circuits intending to host races sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's governing body. The grades issued by

540-404: The apexes of the turns to prevent asphalt deterioration. In addition, a straightaway was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.400 mi (3.862 km) circuit and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mi (3.634 km) circuit. In 2006 the track again underwent extensive renovation. The track and pit lane were completely resurfaced and connectors were added to

570-589: The categories of vehicles specified". Grades 1–4 concern various categories of cars depending on their power to weight ratio , and grade 6 relates to autocross , rallycross and ice racing courses. Grade 5 was previously designated for alternative energy vehicles until September 2022 when this was changed to designate developing circuits with FIA Provisional Circuit Licences . There are 40 Grade One circuits with 50 layouts. Circuits holding Grade One certification may host events involving "Automobiles of Groups D (FIA International Formula) and E (Free Formula) with

600-413: The chicane. Major series including CART / Champ Car , IndyCar , IMSA , and NASCAR have mostly elected to bypass the chicane, while motorcycles and amateur/ club racing typically use the 2.4-mile layout (with the chicane). In 2006 another major refurbishment saw several improvements. The entire circuit was repaved and the concrete patches in the turn apexes were removed. A new motorcycle "short course"

630-566: The controlled environment of the facility's Vehicle Dynamics Center and on the track. The Mid-Ohio School is AAA Approved and recognized as a recent recipient of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Partners for Safety award. 18 programs are available to drivers and riders of all ages and ability levels from defensive driving programs for teens and adults, on-track high performance courses for the automotive enthusiasts to current and aspiring racers. There have been over 50,000 graduates from

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660-405: The present day. For 1963 and beyond, a 15-turn, 2.40 mi (3.86 km) layout was established. The back portion of the track allows speeds approaching 200 mph (320 km/h). A separate starting line and flagstand is situated on the backstretch to allow for safer and more competitive rolling starts. The regular start/finish line is located on the pit straight. In 1990 the track underwent

690-561: The race at Cleveland instead. In addition, some observers felt that the powerful Champ Cars had "outgrown" the narrow, winding course, citing a lack of passing and competition over the previous several years. The race would return in 2007 under the Indy racing league and would partner as a doubleheader with the American Le Mans Series until 2012 when ALMS dropped the circuit from the calendar. The race has also featured support series such as

720-484: The race was shortened in 2018 to 170 mi (270 km). The race has partnered with Trans-Am , Stadium Super Trucks, F4 United States Championship and partnered ARCA in 2020. Unlike most of the events held at the track, the Xfinity Series uses the normal start/finish line located on the pit straight to start the races, instead of the start line on the back straight. NASCAR realigned the race in 2022, moving it to

750-453: The race would be extended as a 200 mi (320 km) race. CART appeared annually until 2003, when CART president Chris Pook hinted at dropping Mid-Ohio from the CART schedule going forward, citing various issues. For many years, Mid-Ohio was on the schedule alongside the Grand Prix of Cleveland , and Pook stated it was not viable to have two races in such close proximity, and favored keeping

780-425: The track's famed Keyhole section to allow for three separate road course configurations. Also completed was the removal of concrete patches from the track, the relocation of the wall and guardrail at Turn 1, the expansion of gravel traps at the exits of Turn 1 and the keyhole, the replacement of all remaining old-style catch fencing and the standardization of curbing throughout the circuit. These changes have resulted in

810-401: The track. In 1986 Trueman had died from cancer, making his wife and daughter taking over management for the facility. In 1989 Truman's daughter, Michelle Trueman, was named the president of the circuit in 1989 and saw day-to-day operations of the track. In 1990 the track underwent a refurbishment. A new retaining wall was built, the entire track was resurfaced, widened, and concrete was paved in

840-541: Was 168 mi (270 km) and was won by Ken Miles . The race would be held until the race series was folded in 1968, but the race would return as a 6-hour enduro under the IMSA GT championship in 1972. The track would also hold the U.S. Formula 5000 series from 1970 to 1976 and was replaced by the revived Can-Am series in 1977–1980. The track continued to host IMSA GT until 1993, and would not return until 2000 with Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. The track would also add

870-472: Was created by connecting turn one with the backstretch and another motorcycle/ autocross oval was created by connecting the chicane straight with the backstretch. The additional layouts allow simultaneous use of the multiple courses, for instructional and competitive uses. The improvements also included a motocross facility, that has since been used for the AMA Vintage Motorcycle days event. In 2019

900-435: Was purchased by Jim Trueman , a renowned road racer and the founder of Red Roof Inns . Trueman added permanent grandstands, amphitheater-style seating, garages with spectator balconies, a five-story media and hospitality center, tunnels and an updated paddock area. In addition, a tall, three-sided scoreboard tower was constructed in the infield, strategically placed such that it was visible from nearly all spectator areas around

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