Nearly 75,000 expected at nearby NOLA Motorsports
Expected to draw an estimated 80,000 fans with a need for speed, NOLA Motorsports Park in nearby Avondale will offer three days of Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana racing for the first time.
The action-packed event will feature a new layout, representing the state of Louisiana’s $4.5 million investment in the park’s course. The nearly three-mile track offers more than a dozen challenging turns and long straights, including overtaking passing zones to accommodate Verizon Indy Series and Mazda Road to Indy Series cars topping out at speeds up to 180 mph.
Racing will be held April 10-12 with practice races at 12:15 p.m. on Friday and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Qualifying races run at 4:15 p.m. Saturday with the green flag dropping at 2:37 p.m. Sunday.
In August of last year, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said track upgrades were underway to transform the Motorsports Park into a Verizon IndyCar Series circuit, complete with state-of-the-art equipment, grandstands and viewing platforms.It brings open-wheel racing to New Orleans for the first time.
The three-day weekend festival will attract party-goers from all over the world to witness this first-time action packed event.
The newly designed NOLA Motorsports Park facility feature a 2.74-mile track with 13 turns that incorporate passing zones suitable for the Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy Series.
“I think everybody is pretty excited about coming to New Orleans for the race,” said Jimmy Hinchcliffe, IndyCar Series Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver. “This is a city that’s pretty famous for throwing a hell of a party.” Along with Hinchcliffe, a host of drivers will appear, including Juan Pablo Montoya winner at St. Petersburg round one, who holds the early points lead in the series with 51. Will Power is ranked No. 2 with 44 points and Tony Kanaan secured the No. 3 spot with 35 points, according to nextginindy.com.
“I love being here in New Orleans,” IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden said on the Grand Prix of Louisiana’s Facebook page. “This is a brand new market for us in Indy car racing. We’ve been so excited to come here and work with everyone, see this new town, see this new track that we’ve never been to, it’s just an amazing place for us. This is a party town, you guys do it better than anyone else, we just love to be here racing IndyCars, the fastest cars on the planet.”The event also will feature entertainment, local cuisine and a family environment.
Adult tickets start at $45 for Friday’s practice round and run to $125 for a three-day pass. Junior passes start at $5 for general admission and run up to $30 depending on seating. Children under 5-years-old are free with a ticketed adult. An Andretti Club pass also will be available for $495 to $995.
There is no public parking at the NOLA Motorsports Park. Parking will be available at Lapalco Neutral Ground and Segnette Field from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday, at $20 a car per day for cash only.
Parking also will be available at the Avondale Shipyard from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at $20 a car day, also cash only payment, and Harrah’s Hotel and Casino 7 a.m. thru 7 p.m. Friday to Sunday – $5 per person also cash only round trip.
For a full price list, visit gpofnola.com. Parking rates include shuttle service to NOLA Motorsports Park at 11075 Nicolle Blvd., Avondale, La. 70094.
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