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IndyCar reveals Sao Paulo track

The IndyCar Series has unveiled the layout of the Sao Paulo street course that will open its 2010 season on 14 March.

The 2.6-mile circuit will host the championship’s first visit to South America, and the first event for Indy-style cars in Brazil since the last Champ Car race at Rio in 2000.

Located in the Anhembi area of the city, its startline is situated in the Sambodromo, an area that already features large grandstands used during carnival parades.

Circuit designer Tony Cotman expects the track to provide both a challenge for the drivers and close racing.

“Two of the long straightaways have relatively slow corners leading onto them,” said Cotman. “There are some good 90-degree turns at the end of them, and on one occasion a little tighter than that.

“It’s a track that’s challenging but can create some exciting racing. I like to see a course that is really quite challenging on a driver and has potential for the driver to either a) take multiple lines or b) entice them into mistakes.

“Running through the middle of the stadium that hosts Carnival, which holds about 30,000 people, I think will be an electric atmosphere for the drivers. That portion of the track through the stadium is concrete and everywhere else will be asphalt, so there will be some surface changes. That’s always good for the racing.”

He acknowledged that the design and facilities might need tweaking for subsequent races, but believes the venue and IndyCar’s collaboration with the Sao Paulo authorities has great potential.

“Everybody we’re working with is incredibly motivated to showcase the event,” Cotman said. “I’m sure there will be some fine-tuning in the future, but to be perfectly honest it’s no different than going to any of the temporary circuits where we currently race.

“It will be fast. It will be fun. It will be exciting. It will be safe. Most importantly, from a fan’s perspective, they’ll see a lot of action.”

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