Michigan International Speedway



Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile (3.22-km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1400 acre in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).

Michigan is currently the fastest track in NASCAR due to its wide, sweeping corners and long straightaways; typical qualifying speeds are in excess of 195 mi/h and corner entry speeds are anywhere from 215-220 mph (340-350 km/h) after the 2012 repaving of the track.

History
Groundbreaking took place on September 28, 1967. Over 2.5 million yards (1,900,000 m3) of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval. The track opened in 1968 with a total capacity of 25,000 seats. The track was originally built and owned by Lawrence H. LoPatin, a Detroit-area land developer who built the speedway at an estimated cost of $4–6 million.

In 1972, Roger Penske purchased the speedway for an estimated $2 million. During Penske's ownership the track was upgraded several times from the original capacity to 125,000 seating capacity. From 1996 to 2000, the track was referred to as Michigan Speedway. This was to keep consistency with other tracks owned by Roger Penske's Motorsports International before its merger with ISC.

In 1999, the speedway was purchased by International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and in 2000 the track was renamed to its original name of Michigan International Speedway. In 2000 10,800 seats were added via a turn three grandstand bringing the speedway to its current capacity. In 2004-2005 the largest renovation project in the history of the facility was ready for race fans when it opened its doors for the race weekend. The AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza—a reconfiguration of over 26 acre behind the main grandstand—provided race fans a new an improved area to relax enjoy sponsor displays, merchandise, and concessions during breaks of on-track activity. A new, three-story viewing tower housing the Champions Club presented by AAA and 16 new corporate suites also awaited VIP Guests, while a state-of-the-art press box and an expansive race operations facility high above the 2 mi oval welcomed the media and race officials. Michigan was repaved prior to the 2012 season. This marks the first time since 1995 that the oval was resurfaced, along with 1967, 1975, and 1986. Also new for 2012 is the addition of a new 20-space trackside luxury campsite to be known as APEX. Situated in Turn 3, the each site will offer 20×55-foot area, with water and electric hookups, picnic table and grill. Besides front-row seating for the racing action, the APEX area will offer personalized service to its guests, including a concierge to address any of their needs during race weekend. To accommodate these new campsites, the remaining silver grandstands in turns 3 and 4 were removed. *

Notable accidents

 * 1978: Al Holbert flipped on the backstretch during the first race of the 1978 IROC V racing season.


 * 1981: A. J. Foyt slammed sideways into the Armco barrier during the Michigan 500 and almost lost an arm.


 * 1984: Pancho Carter flipped violently on the final lap of the Michigan 500.


 * 1984: Al Unser Jr. and Chip Ganassi crashed into the inside retaining wall on the backstretch. The crash effectively ended Ganassi's driving career.


 * August 1985: During practice for the Michigan 500, polesitter Bobby Rahal crashed hard into the wall, an accident blamed on the newly introduced Goodyear radial tires. Competitors refused to race the following day, and the race was postponed. The following weekend, just 10 of 30 cars finished the race. 10 due to mechanical failures and 10 due to wrecks. Danny Ongais flipped several times down the backstretch while Mario Andretti broke his collar bone and hip, and had to miss the next race.


 * June 1986: Rick Baldwin crashed in turn 2 during Winston Cup qualifying. His window net failed when he smacked the wall with the drivers side of the car. His head protruded enough out of the window to smack the wall. He sustained massive head injuries and was in a coma for 11 years before passing away in 1997. He was 42.


 * August 1992: Clifford Allison, son of retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison, was killed during a practice-run crash for the NASCAR Busch Series race.


 * August 1993: In a Busch Grand National Series race, Johnny Benson got airborne on the backstretch and flipped 5 times before coming to rest. He was uninjured.


 * August 1994: Ernie Irvan crashed in an early morning practice session. According to drivers on the track, a right front tire deflated, sending Irvan's car into the Turn Two wall at over 170 mi/h. Emergency workers at the track extricated him from the car, and he was immediately airlifted to Saint Joseph's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was diagnosed with critical brain and lung injuries and given only a 10% chance of surviving the night. After making a full recovery, Irvan returned to NASCAR in 1995. In 1997 Irvan won his final race at the June race at Michigan. Exactly 5 years after his near fatal accident there, Irvan crashed at Michigan while driving his own #84 Irvan-Simo Federated Auto Parts Pontiac in a practice session for the Busch Series race. Ernie was again airlifted from the track and was diagnosed with a mild head injury and a bruised lung as a result of the accident. Less than two weeks later, on September 3, 1999, surrounded by his wife and two children, Irvan announced his retirement from driving at a tearful press conference in Darlington, SC.


 * July 28, 1996: In the first lap of the Marlboro 500, Emerson Fittipaldi tried to overtake Greg Moore by the third place in turn one, but they had a contact and Emmo's car was launched to the outside wall. As the result of the accident, Fittipaldi had the seventh cervical vertebrae smashed. This accident ended his professional career.
 * July 26, 1998: Three spectators were killed and six injured from flying debris during a CART race crash. Those killed were Kenneth Dale Fox, 38, of Lansing, Michigan; and Sheryl Ann Laster, 40, and Michael Terry Tautkus, 49, both of Milan, Michigan.


 * 2000: Elliott Sadler went on a wild ride when he flipped twelve times in a practice accident after cutting a tire in turn 1.


 * August 2003: Todd Bodine and Kurt Busch got together in turn 2 on lap 63. Bodine's car went up the track into Kenny Wallace and turned head on into the wall. Todd's car lifted into the air onto the hood of Wallace's and slid down the track as Wallace's car burst into flames. Both drivers quickly got out of their cars and were alright.


 * 2004: Chad McCumbee rolled six times over and over after contact with a few cars in an ARCA race.


 * 2007: Dario Franchitti went spectacularly airborne during the IRL Michigan/Firestone Indy 400, but escaped without significant injury.


 * June 2009: Brian Scott pounded the turn 4 wall, breaking his wrist in a Camping World Truck Series race.


 * August 2012: Mark Martin gets turned by Kasey Kahne into pit road striking the end of a pit wall right behind the drivers compartment climbing out of the car uninjured in a Sprint Cup Series race.

Other events
In addition to motor racing, the venue hosts the Michigan High School Athletic Association cross country finals for the Lower Peninsula.

The track also hosts concerts in conjunction with its race weekends. A concert will be held on Saturday, June 14, and Saturday, August 16.

Driving schools are held throughout the year.

The Formula SAE competition is now held at MIS.

Great Lakes Wine Festival
Starting in 2010, MIS has hosted the annual Great Lakes Wine Festival. In 2011, 25 Michigan wineries and 17 breweries attended this event. The 2011 Great Lakes Wine Festival was a three day event beginning Friday May 20 until Sunday May 22. The festival offers different wine tasting and food pairings. MIS has camping available for festival goers to spend the entire weekend.

Current schedule

 * ARCA RE/MAX Series - RainEater Wiper Blades 200, June 15, 2012
 * NASCAR Nationwide Series - Alliance Truck Parts 250, June 16, 2012
 * NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Quicken Loans 400, June 17, 2012
 * NASCAR Camping World Truck Series - VFW 200, August 18, 2012
 * NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Pure Michigan 400, August 19, 2012

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Records
(As of 8/21/11) * from minimum 5 starts.