Pocono Raceway Explained

Pocono Raceway (formerly Pocono International Raceway), also known as The Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. It is the site of three NASCAR national series races and an ARCA Menards Series event in July: a NASCAR Cup Series race with support events by the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. From 1971 to 1989, and from 2013 to 2019, the track also hosted an Indy Car race, last sanctioned by the IndyCar Series. Additionally, from 1982 to 2021, it hosted two NASCAR Cup Series races, with the traditional first date being removed in 2022.

Pocono is one of the few tracks NASCAR competes at which are not owned by either NASCAR or Speedway Motorsports, the dominant track owners in NASCAR. Pocono CEO Nick Igdalsky and president Ben May are members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Rose and Joseph Mattioli.[1] Mattco also owns South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia.

Outside NASCAR and IndyCar Series races, Pocono is used throughout the year by the Stock Car Experience, Bertil Roos Driving School, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) as well as many other clubs and organizations. The triangular track also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – the north course, east course and south course. Each of these infield sections use separate portions of the track or can be combined for longer and more technical course configurations. In total Pocono Raceway has offers 22 different road course configurations ranging from .5 miles to 3.65 miles in length. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs or driving schools can use the track simultaneously by running on different infield sections. All of the infield sections can also be run in either clockwise or counter clockwise direction which doubles the 22 course configuration to 44 total course options.

Track configuration

The track was designed by 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward.[2] Pocono Raceway has a unique design, as each turn is modeled after a turn at a different track.

The circuit is sometimes considered a tri-oval, but the turns are much more severe than those of a more typical tri-oval such as Daytona and other intermediate speedways. An additional complication is that the three turns are in no way the same, nor are any of the three straights identical in length. The banking of each turn is considerably less than on many other long superspeedways.

Although the track is long [{{convert|2.500|mi|km|abbr=on}}], the sharp nature of the turns and the low banking tend to make the average speeds on NASCAR racecars lower than at other tracks of similar lengths. Because of its unique characteristics, Pocono is sometimes referred to as a roval (an oval track that behaves like a road course). Others refer to Pocono as a modified road course, due to the use of shifting gears to handle the range between the slowest turn and the fastest straightaway.

The unique design makes the setup of the car and the crew's ability to make chassis adjustments more crucial than at many other tracks. Often it is the difference between a winning performance and a poor performance.

Shifting

In 1991 some drivers in NASCAR (notably Mark Martin) experimented with shifting gears down the long, front straight. The ratios for third gear and fourth gear were set so that third was used for most of the circuit (including the turns), and fourth was used for the later part of the long front stretch. This method provided a better RPM range around the track and improved overall lap times. By 1993, the entire field was shifting at Pocono, and using a special transmission (manufactured by Jerico) to shift gears without using the clutch. Shifting was criticized by some drivers (Rusty Wallace stated that the Jerico took away the ability to pass cars while Terry Labonte called it "a pain in the butt"). However, the practice continued until 2005, when a new gear rule eliminated the effectiveness of shifting. In 2011 the gear rule was changed again, and shifting returned to Pocono.

IndyCar races at Pocono

See main article: Pocono 500 (IndyCar). From 1971 to 1989, first USAC and then the CART IndyCar World Series held a 500miles race at Pocono as part of the IndyCar 500-mile Triple Crown. In 1989, Emerson Fittipaldi set a qualifying track record of 211.715mi/h. Following the 1989 race, however, the track was criticized for its roughness, lack of catch fencing and runoff areas. After continuing squabbles between the management and the sanctioning body, it was removed from the IndyCar schedule.

In the wake of a meeting between Pocono CEO Brandon Igdalsky and IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard at the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, speculation developed throughout 2012 regarding the possibility of a 2013 IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway. On the September 30, 2012, edition of Speed Channel's WindTunnel with Dave Despain, Bernard officially confirmed that the IndyCar Series would return to Pocono with a 400-mile race on July 7, 2013. Further acknowledging Pocono's place in IndyCar history, Bernard also announced that from 2013, the Indianapolis 500, Pocono IndyCar 400 and MAVTV 500 at California's Auto Club Speedway would mark a revival of IndyCar's all-oval Triple Crown. A $1 million bonus will be paid to a driver who wins all three races in a single season. Thanks to the popularity of their return to Pocono, they announced that they would lengthen the race to its original distance of 500-miles/200-laps. The 2014 event marked the first 500-mile IndyCar race at Pocono since 1989. It also became the fastest 500-mile race in motorsports history as Juan Pablo Montoya completed the race at an average speed of 202.402 MPH, breaking Mark Martin's record that he established at Talladega Superspeedway in May 1997.

During the 2015 ABC Supply 500, Andretti Autosport driver Justin Wilson was struck in the head by Sage Karam's nose cone after he crashed in turn 1 late in the race. Wilson died from his injuries on August 24, 2015, the day after the race, at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On lap 7 of the 2018 edition, Ryan Hunter-Reay and rookie Robert Wickens collided at the exit of the Tunnel Turn while battling for 3rd, that saw Wickens' car fly into the catch fence, necessitating a lengthy red flag. Wickens survived the crash, but was paralysed from the waist down. In 2019, racing driver Felix Rosenqvist was hospitalised following a five-car collision, resulting in calls by Wickens for IndyCar to remove Pocono from the schedule.[3] In their post-race press conference, Scott Dixon, Will Power, and Simon Pagenaud spoke in defense of returning to Pocono.[4]

On September 1, 2019 the IndyCar Series released the 2020 schedule, and they will not be returning to Pocono in 2020. No reason was specified, and Pocono's date was moved to Richmond Raceway.

Race of Champions

From 1977 to 1991, Pocono Raceway hosted the Race of Champions Modified race. From 1977 to 1979, the race was held on the 2.5miles triangular superspeedway; from 1980 onward, the three-quarter-mile infield oval was used. Richie Evans and George Kent were the leading winners, each winning two of the fifteen RoC events at Pocono. In 1992, the Race of Champions was moved to Flemington Raceway.

Notable events

Races

Current

Former

Records

Lap Records

As of July 2022, the fastest official race lap records at Pocono Raceway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Triangular Oval: 4.023 km (1971–present)
0:40.9009 2014 Pocono IndyCar 500
0:47.8590[22]
0:51.298[23] 2017 Overton's 400
0:53.359[24] 2022 Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
0:53.609[25] 2021 CRC Brakleen 150
Road Course: 4.023 km (1985–present)[26]
1:15.440[27] 1985 Grand Prix at Pocono
1:23.080 1985 Grand Prix at Pocono
1:24.940 1985 Grand Prix at Pocono
1:30.030 1985 Grand Prix at Pocono
Road Course: 4.506 km (1973–1984)
1:20.200[28] 1976 Pocono F5000 round
1:23.280[29] 1984 Grand Prix at Pocono
1:26.940[30] Jim Adams
1:30.800[31]
1:34.000[32]
1:36.280 1984 Grand Prix at Pocono
Short Road Course: 2.897 km (1969–1984)
54.344[33] 1973 Pocono F5000 round

NASCAR Cup Series records

(As of 28/06/20)[34]

Most wins 7 Denny Hamlin
Most top-5s 20 Mark Martin
Jeff Gordon
Most top-10s 34 Mark Martin
Most starts 55 Ricky Rudd
Most poles 5 Ken Schrader
Bill Elliott
Most laps completed 9884 Terry Labonte
Most laps led 1040 Jeff Gordon
Best avg. start* 4.7 David Pearson (6 races)
Best avg. finish* 9.8 Davey Allison (13 races)
* from minimum five starts

Environmental initiatives

In July 2010 Pocono Raceway began the installation of a 3 megawatt solar photovoltaics system. Upon completion the racetrack became the largest solar-powered sports facility in the world. The "solar farm" encompasses approximately 25 acres and consists of almost 40,000 solar modules, which satisfies the energy consumption for the entire racing complex and will help power 1,000 homes.[35] By December 2010, with less than four months in operation, the Pocono system had surpassed the 1,000,000 kilowatt hour production mark. Over the next 20 years the system is expected to produce in excess of 72 million kilowatt hours and offset 3,100 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Sheep are used to keep the grass to a low level.[36]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.poconoraceway.com/our-staff.html Pocono Raceway Staff
  2. Web site: Reph. Liz. Pocono Raceway. Lehigh Valley Marketplace. May 25, 2016. 6 June 2016.
  3. News: 'It's a toxic relationship'. BBC Sport.
  4. News: 'Dixon, Power, Pagenaud defend Pocono after crashes'. Motorsport.
  5. http://www.racewayreport.com/news/pocono.html SAFER barriers installation complete at Pocono
  6. http://www.neweratickets.com/company/in-the-news/New-Era-Tickets-Helps-NASCAR-Fans-Speed-Through-the-Ticket-Gates/
  7. Web site: Doc Mattioli, Pocono Raceway Patriarch, Passes . January 27, 2012 . Poconoraceway.com . 2012-08-11.
  8. http://www.timesleader.com/sports/Doc_rsquo_s_last_lap_01-31-2012.html
  9. Web site: David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM . Spectator killed by lightning strike at Pocono - Aug 07, 2012 . Nascar.Com . 2012-08-07 . 2012-08-11 . August 9, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120809010538/http://www.nascar.com/news/120805/pocono-fans-struck-by-lightning/index.html . dead .
  10. Web site: Bandoim. Lana. Hurricane Sandy Affects NASCAR: Fan View. Yahoo! Sports. 2012-10-31. 2012-10-31.
  11. Web site: Castroneves gains ground at Pocono - July 6, 2014 . July 6, 2014 . 2014-09-27.
  12. Web site: Justin Wilson in coma after suffering severe head injury during race. ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. August 24, 2015. August 24, 2015.
  13. News: Olson. Jeff. IndyCar driver Justin Wilson in a coma after Pocono crash. August 23, 2015. USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.. August 23, 2015. Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
  14. News: IndyCar Driver Justin Wilson Has Died of a Head Injury. August 25, 2015. ABC News. Associated Press. ABC News Internet Ventures. August 25, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150825045249/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/indycar-driver-justin-wilson-died-head-injury-33293479. August 25, 2015 . Indianapolis.
  15. Web site: Robert Wickens after massive IndyCar crash at Pocono. August 19, 2018. August 19, 2018. Toronto Star. Torstar.
  16. Web site: Leg, arm injuries for Robert Wickens following horrific IndyCar crash. August 20, 2018. August 19, 2018. Guelph Today.
  17. News: IndyCar 2020: Richmond part of 17-race schedule. IndyCar Series. Brickyard Trademarks, Inc.. September 1, 2019. September 1, 2019.
  18. Web site: Harrison . Courtney . Dr. Rose Mattioli, co-founder of Pocono Raceway, dies . WNEP-TV . wnep.com . June 30, 2020 . June 30, 2020.
  19. News: Montoya wins IndyCar pole at Pocono. January 19, 2016. ESPN News Services. Associated Press. ESPN Internet Ventures. July 6, 2014. Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
  20. [Pocono IndyCar 500#Past winners]
  21. Web site: ARCAracing.com Asks, 'Where Are They Now?'; Like Dad, Like Daughter, a Steele Family Tradition. November 24, 2009. ARCA. 27 April 2010.
  22. Web site: 2013 Pocono Indy Lights . 30 May 2022.
  23. Web site: NASCAR Cup 2017 Pocono II . 30 May 2022.
  24. Web site: NASCAR XFINITY 2020 Pocono . 30 May 2022.
  25. Web site: NASCAR Truck 2021 Pocono . 30 May 2022.
  26. Web site: Pocono Raceway - Racing Circuits . 31 May 2022.
  27. Web site: Pocono 500 Kilometres 1985 . 31 May 2022.
  28. Web site: 1976 Pocono F5000 . 2 June 2022.
  29. Web site: Pocono 500 Kilometres 1984 . 30 May 2022.
  30. Web site: Pocono 500 Miles 1981 . 30 May 2022.
  31. Web site: Pocono 100 Miles 1977 . 30 May 2022.
  32. Web site: Trans-Am Pocono 1976 . 30 May 2022.
  33. Web site: 1973 Pocono F5000 . 2 June 2022.
  34. Web site: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers' Statistics for Pocono Raceway. NASCAR. 2017-07-30. 2017-07-30.
  35. http://www.poconoraceway.com/NEWS-2009_07_31a.asp Pocono Raceway Takes The "Green" Flag In Solar Energy
  36. Web site: Pocono Raceway Hits One Million kWh Mark . Limelighttimes.com . 2010-12-13 . 2012-08-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321042617/http://limelighttimes.com/nascar-pocono-raceway-solar-hits-one-million-kwh-mark/ . 2012-03-21 .