Mid-Ohio
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| Location | Troy Township, Richland County, at 7721 Steam Corners Road, Lexington, Ohio |
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| Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 40°41′21.46″N 82°38′10.94″W / 40.6892944°N 82.6363722°WCoordinates: 40°41′21.46″N 82°38′10.94″W / 40.6892944°N 82.6363722°W |
| Capacity | Bleachers: 10,000 Open seating: 65,000 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Green Savoree Mid-Ohio, LLC |
| Operator | Green Savoree Racing Promotions |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Major events |
Honda 200 Verizon IndyCar Series (2007-Present) Mid-Ohio Challenge NASCAR Xfinity Series (2013-Present) Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire AMA Pro Racing Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge American Le Mans Series (2001-2002), (2004-2012) EMCO Gears Classic presented by KeyBank Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series (2000-2001), (2003-2013) |
| Original Road Course | |
| Length | 2.4 mi (3.86 km) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Second Road Course | |
| Length | 2.258 mi (3.634 km) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Lap record | 1:03.8700 minutes (Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske (Dallara+Chevrolet+Firestone), 2016, IndyCar) |
| Website | www |
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside the village of Lexington. (Mid-Ohio has also colloquially become a term for the entire north-central region of the state, from south of Sandusky to north of Columbus.)
The track opened as a 15-turn, 2.4 mile (3.86 km) road circuit run clockwise. The back portion of the track allows speeds approaching 180 mph (290 km/h). A separate starting line is located on the backstretch to allow for safer rolling starts. The regular start/finish line is located on the pit straight. In 1990, the track underwent 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 was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.4-mile (3.9 km) circuit, and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mile (3.634 km) circuit. In 1990, the CART series began utilizing the 2.258-mile (3.634 km) layout. In 2006, a second 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" was created by connecting turn one with the backstretch, and another motocross oval was created by connecting the chicane straight with the backstretch. The additional layouts allow simultaneous use of the multiple course, for instructional and competitive uses. The improvements also included a motocross facility, that has since been closed. There is grandstand seating for 10,000 spectators, and three observation mounds alongside the track raise the capacity to over 75,000.
The track was opened in 1962 by Les Griebling and several Mansfield-area businessmen as a location for weekend sports car racing. In 1982, Mid-Ohio 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, underground tunnels and an updated paddock area. In 1990, the track underwent 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 was paved through the chicane, allowing for two different track layouts, the original 2.4-mile (3.9 km) circuit, and a new 13-turn, 2.258 mile (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 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 a faster, safer, more competitive and attractive facility for drivers, riders and race fans.
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