Why didn’t they think of this sooner? And, I’m guessing they didn’t start this either as I haven’t heard about it.
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Gossage announced plans today for construction of a massive retractable roof that is scheduled for completion by the 2011 Samsung 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race traditionally held in April. The expansive project is expected to cost $900 million to transform the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval into the first major domed speedway in the history of motorsports.
“The Houston Astrodome was known as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World,’ so it is only fitting that Texas – and Texas Motor Speedway – will be the future home of the ‘Ninth Wonder of the World,’ “ Gossage said. “This will be a massive undertaking, but it will be a landmark project in the world of motorsports.”
The project is expected to take 24 months with daily construction crews in excess of 1,000 workers. It is scheduled to begin immediately following this season’s Dickies 500 Sprint Cup race on Nov. 2. Construction will be halted for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2009 and 2010 race weeks and resume following the completion of each of the three current major event weeks: The Samsung 500 in April, Bombardier Learjet 550k in June and Dickies 500 in November.
AFD Construction, of Fort Worth, will handle the design and construction of the retractable roof, additional exterior walls, air conditioning and heating systems as well as an elaborate exhaust system to remove fumes and smoke generated by the cars. The entire roof structure will be a staggering 3.7 million square feet, with the retractable portion being 1.3 million square feet. In comparison, the square footage for the roof – which also will be retractable – for the new state-of-the-art Cowboys stadium will be 745,800 square feet.
“We are extremely excited to undertake this project and make history with Texas Motor Speedway,” said Sidd Finch, who will serve as AFD’s project manager. “It will be truly remarkable to see a retractable dome roof on a speedway of this magnitude.”
Gossage is expected to unveil the specific details of the project later this week at a press conference during the Samsung 500 race weekend.
“It’s only appropriate that we announced such an outlandish project like this on the first day of April,” Gossage said. “We’d be foolish to think it would be possible.”
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Sheesh did we break FR?
If only...but it could only happen in Texas!
How are they going to ventilate it?
This was discussed and discarded years ago for drag strips.