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Keys to Watkins Glen: Turn 1: At the start of the race, expect a mess in turn one. The cars really get bunched up in this slow right hander. You can pick up a few positions if you take the outside, or a DNF if your not ready. Most of the cars will pull into the preferred line, the right or inside. Get on the brakes hard going into this turn. The Esses: Turns 2, 3 and 4. Getting through the esses is more about rhythm than anything. Feather the throttle getting into turn two so you don't slam yourself into the wall. Once your car makes the turn get back into the throttle hard and turn the car to the right to get set up for turn three. Once you are set up for you can accelerate up the hill lifting just a little (depending on your line) as you reach four. Your primary concern through the esses is survival. This is usually not a good place to pass. The Chicane: Turns 5 and 6 are both tricky turns that if taken wrong can lead to disaster for you and any other car near you. As you come down the straigtaway after the esses (turns 2, 3, and 4) you want to get your speed up to ~150 mph. Once you see the feet markers on the guard rail get onto the brakes hard, but don't turn the car because any little wiggle can turn into a spin real quick when you have the brakes on. As you maneuver through turn 6 be sure not to get into the gas too soon. Allow the car to straighten out before you get into the gas because the car will spin in that turn if you are not relatively straight. Turn 7: Turn seven is a sweeping right-hander. To make this turn you need to be set-up on the outside. Ride close to the white line the whole way through this turn but be careful not to get your wheels out in the grass. A little wheel-spin here can put you in the spin cycle. The Passing Lane: The long straightaway exiting seven is a good place to pass if you can get the preferred line, the outside or right. You can also try to out brake the competition entering turn eight. The Last Combination: You will enter turn 8 with a full head of steam. Make sure you prepare for this tricky turn by getting on the brakes hard. Don't get on the brakes too hard while trying to turn-this always lead to disaster! The short straightaway out of eight allows you to set up for turn nine. Get to the outside, left, and the cut hard to the inside to make turn nine. If you enter this turn too wide then you will have to get into the brakes scrubbing some speed. Start/Finish: As you make your way to the start finish line try to get to the inside of the competition. This will set you up perfectly for the first turn. Don't get too cocky as you cross the start/finish line-you still have 89 laps to go! |
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