Project Includes Modifications to Turn 4

All phases of an improvements project at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course were completed by mid-December, including modifications around Turn 4 and safety improvements in three areas of the natural road course that has hosted the INDYCAR SERIES since 1980.

The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET Sunday, July 6 (live, FOX, INDYCAR Radio Network). Tickets are on sale at midohio.com.

This fall’s facility alterations were a collaborative effort using the design and engineering expertise of Arcadis, Dallara’s race testing simulations and construction services of Ohio-based Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. and Kokosing Materials, Inc. Kokosing began initial excavation work Oct. 14 and completed its phase of the project Nov. 8.

Modifications were made to Turn 4, located at the end of the backstraight and known as the beginning of the “Esses” turns complex. Turn 4’s original footprint was preserved, with the existing apex curbing kept in place at driver’s right. Its banking was reduced from 4 to 2 degrees by removing 520 feet of track surface and excavating up to 18 inches along the outside edge. This track section was reconstructed with new underdrains, aggregate base and high-performance asphalt to match the surface repavement completed in October 2023.

Another aspect of this project was improving the drainage in and around Turn 4. Both sides of the track were regraded, starting 400 feet before the turn, to address water flow. New catch basins were added on the inside of the turn, and a new 24-inch pipe was installed under the track to move water behind the runoff area north of Turn 4.

The Turn 4 runoff area was also reshaped. The original runoff gravel was stripped, and extensive material, including 500 concrete blocks repurposed from around the track, was brought in to fill and raise the surface level of this area. After the runoff area was regraded, the original gravel was respread over the new surface. Also, track millings were used to create access roads at the top and bottom on the back hillside of the graded runoff to facilitate maintenance and safety access when the track is in use.

This latest investment brings the first track modification to the natural terrain road course in Lexington, Ohio, since 1989, when the entire racing surface was repaved and widened to 40 feet. The late 1989 project also included the installation of a straight option between Turn 1 and the 180 degree turn known as the “Keyhole.” It created the popular 2.258-mile, 13-turn configuration used by most professional racing series today in addition to the original 2.4-mile, 15-turn format.

Project Facts and Figures

• Five new catch basins
• 520 linear feet of track paving
• 1,370 feet of new drainage pipes, ranging from 4-inch to 24-inch diameter
• 1,600 tons of millings
• 1,875 loads of material hauled by 24 trucks
• 4,900 tons of asphalt
• 15,500 cubic yards of fill material
• 500 concrete block repurposed, originally used at the IMSA events in downtown Columbus, Ohio (held from 1985-88)

Another phase of the work this offseason was the replacement of concrete barrier blocks with 5,300 feet of guardrail and new fencing around the track. Areas include the front straight on driver’s right, the back straight on both sides, and then the Turn 4 area, including driver’s right through the “Esses” segment.

Additionally, Kokosing repaved 4,920 linear feet equating to 201,000 square feet of the facility’s access and service roads which are used by spectators and competitors.