Where to sit for USGP?

High up in H or J is a good view, IMO, but the F1 track turns into infield quickly at that point.....

Front rows of A and B Upper are good to view pit action, and really at some point you should walk into the Infield and watch thru the "slow turns" as that's as close as you'll get to the cars, for good photos!

HTH...have fun!

Lower A and B would have the same problem as Indy Turn #3, debris and fuel get thrown thru the catch fence as cars crash into the wall.....Safer System has lessened that though......

Souvenier tires are all well and good, but hard to catch mid air........

 

Hook up with FCA or the Fcar Corral if taking a Ferrari........or even if not!

 

I have been to every USGP since it has been at Indy, and for the last couple of years we have had our seats in Grand Stand J (just past turn 1) and we sit 3/4 the way up. I have to say they are the best seat in the house. You can see all the way down the front straight, turn 1, and all the way around to the turn leading on to the back straight. You have to sit farther up so you dont have to look throught the fence. Hope this helps.

Jim

 

Yep, a good "Spotter's" vantage point (J) there, for sure!

 

Every seat is a compromise, so you need to decide what is best for you. Sit low and you will get a closer view of the cars for a split second, but sit higher to see more of the race and get a better overall view. Sit across from the Pits and you will see great pit-stop action, but sit at turn 1 to see the best passing action.

I prefer to sit high at turn 1. I think the best seats are the NW Vista Deck. Great view of the straight approaching turn 1, amazing view of turn 1 and the rest of the first quarter of the track. The NWVista Deck is curved, so you want to sit as close to the start of the curve so that you can see down toward the start-finish line. There are only 2 rows in the Deck, so you don't wind up standing the whole race to see what is happening (I went to the 1st race in the rain in Section H, and had to stand the whole race since everyone else in front of us was also standing).

I agree with BigTex, take a walk around during the race to see the other venues. Also, don't miss qualifying, it is much less crowded and you can move around (no assigned seats). During qualifying I like to sit across from the pits, but also other venues.

Have fun!

 

Yes, you can see them as they make those turns and disappear down the shorter 'back straight"......

As mentioned, you see all the Turn #1 (F1) jostling really well, and that's where the action's been.

If an engine blows on the straight, or someone overshoots the turn, the runoff goes right past you......

 

I'd agree about NW Vista but elevation will improve visability..

I was up at the top corner of J watching Qualifying and it was as good and closer..

My actual tickets were a front row of A 2nd level...good view of Pits and final two turns..

The NASCAR fence is really tall, these days.....

 

I wish I could afford a trip to the USGP this year, unfortunately I think I'll have to settle for ALMS in Houston since it's so much closer.

 

I suggest that no matter where you sit at this year's race, walk around on qualifying and get a sense of the track and what seats you want for the future (hopefully it will continue at Indy).

The best seat to "see" the race is at home on TV. Going to the race is more about "participating" in the event. That said, the rule of thumb on visibility is Higher is Better (note that the price for tickets in the "Decks" and "Penthouses" are priced higher than the regular sections).

From my seats in NW Vista Deck, I get an amazing view of the start/finish line, main straight, turns 1-5 Jumbo-tron and turn 7 (turn 6 is slightly obstructed by the jumbo-tron). Within the NWVista Deck, you want to sit close to the "N" and not to the "V" in the "NWV" on your map because the further along the curve that you move the less that you can see the start/finish and main straight. I got 2 extra tickets (free tickets from Michelin) in the NWVista (not Deck) to go along with my deck tickets and tried sitting in them at qualifying to see if the "Deck" was worth the difference (the regular NWVista is below the Deck), and although they were good (and high in the NW Vista), the Deck is really worth the premium.

The Deck is just 2 rows up a tall stairway above the top of the section. Great unobstruted views. If you are in the first row, you have nobody in front of you, so no need to stand to see. If you are in the second row, you have the fence behind you (My daughter and I mount our Ferrari Flag) and can see great because the people in front in row 1 don't stand up. The downside to being totally unobstructed is that you are totally exposed in the rain and wind...try to visualize one of those stunts where a person lives up on a billboard. You are also isolated from the crowd (good and bad) and miss out on the enthusiasm of being crowded together with 1000 other people.

I sat in H for the first year (with the Ferrari Club) and couldn't see much and had to stand the whole race in the rain (since everyone in front of me was standing), but it was fun to be in a Ferrari crowd. I have also sat in the Suites and it was a great view of the start/finish and trophy presentation but I watched most everything else on the monitor. Again, all seats are a compromise.

No matter where you sit, you will have a great time.

 

The turn 6 terrace is great. You can see the end of the straight and the first few turns from there. We will be sitting there this year. It's also close to "photographers' hill," which is where I will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

-John

 

I have a name and phone number where I camp out.....four houses from the track..

Not as many folks do that for F1 as do at Indy 500, but it's fun and cheap!

I had the real crew uniform so they thought I was a 'working guy"...the Yellow Hat ladies all gave me a hug as I entered the Track every day.....

"Forza Ferrari!!!"

Only the kids from Houston blew my cover when they saw me in the Museum....LOL!

 

How's the view from the roof of the paddock suites?