Kyle Busch Highlights a Phoenix-Esque Flaw in COTA Despite a Major Revamp

The race at Bristol Motor Speedway had drivers fumbling for tire strategy and us glued to our screens. The race was exhilarating, to say the least, with drivers utilizing their core racing talents. However, it is time to move on to the next adventure set to flag off at the EchoPark Automotive Grad Prix at Circuit of the Americas. 

The race track has undergone a revamp recently. Following complaints from both NASCAR and F1 drivers, the track authorities set down to initiate a resurfacing program. However, veteran racer Kyle Busch, who has won an Xfinity race there, is not too impressed with the changes.

Kyle Busch reduced the COTA revamp to a negligible change

The Circuit of the Americas track located in Southeast Austin, Texas has inherent foundation problems. The shifting clay soil is unstable, expanding in wet weather and shrinking in summer. Rainstorms overwhelm the drainage system and produce cracks. Hence, track authorities came up with a plan to fix these problems.

In January, COTA mapped the track to identify the repairs needed. Accordingly, they worked to repave Turns 12 through 16 and build a concrete pad to reinforce the areas at Turns 2 and 10. Contractors were hired to ensure that the new asphalt and concrete foundations were even. But even after all these efforts, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch is not satisfied.

In a press conference, Busch recently talked about the changes. “I think they got rid of the bump on the exit of 1. I think they did a little bit into the backstretch straightaway through, is that 12 or 13? And then out of the carousel and into 19. So I don’t foresee it changing a whole lot. Like, it’ll be lack of grip, probably through the carousel, and you’ll pick up grip on the exit and be able to go much faster through 19.”

But then Busch shared negative feedback about the track, which may be as unpassable as the short-track package in Phoenix. “But then out of 19, it’s back to the old asphalt. And turn 20 is very slow, with the old asphalt being as slick as it is. I don’t think that really opens up any more opportunities of passing or anything like that, just smoother surface, I’d imagine.”

Kyle Busch was happy with a different development at COTA, though. In the Truck Series, NASCAR reversed its longer restart zone lengths to reduce crashes. Busch was glad that some breathing room was allowed. In last year’s Cup Series race at COTA, he battled it out with Tyler Reddick, but the latter prevailed as the winner in the end.

COTA’s track issues were observed by racers from a different motorsport.

F1 veterans were fed up with the bumps at COTA

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The track officials at COTA were nudged into reworking the race track due to complaints from Europe. F1 hosts races at the 3.41-mile road course which has faced complaints since its opening in 2012. Recently, F1 bigwigs opened up about the problems.

Max Verstappen, three-time F1 champion, said, “I love this track. Honestly, the layout is amazing, but we definitely need new tarmac and it needs to be a lot smoother because we already have been asking for this for quite a few years and it’s not been done.”

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion and five-time USGP winner, also added his take, “I like some of the bumps because it adds character to a circuit, but there’s way too many here,” Hamilton said. “The drivers are open to discussing with them and helping them, like maybe not doing the whole thing so it doesn’t cost a fortune.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads into its sixth race of the season at COTA this weekend. Kyle Busch already has dampened hopes about it. Let us wait and see what the actual race brings into action.

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