Anyone with track experience at the 1.6 mile, 13 turn infield road course at California Speedway in Fontana? I'm looking for setup hints (camber, tire pressures, etc.).

Is this considered a horsepower track or a handling track? Is is bumpy or smooth? Would you use higher spring/dampening rates or lower? Is the surface hard on tires or easy?

How hard is this track on brakes?

Thanks for any help.

 

I've run there a few times, but the layout always included part of the oval. The track is easy on brakes IMO (my track car is a 1900lb CRX) and its smooth. The infield is a handling track more than an HP track. I like to have a nice stiff suspension for that track. Its great fun, you're going to love it.

 

Yes, but only on the drag strip. It gets hot there, so not exactly ideal conditions for that... Track looks very cool though...

 

It was almost thirteen months ago that I ran my 350Z track model in the SpeedVentures event at Fontana preceding the JGTC. It really is a classic 'roval', with good high speed straights and banked T1 and T2. The infield offers a mix of medium-to-low speed turns and chicanes. Fontana was a medium hard course for brakes in my experience. Race pads will definitely help after 3-4 hard sessions.

My Z does not have adjustable front a-arms, but if yours does, I'd consider running camber at around 2-2.2 degrees negative. Depending on the air and track temeratures, I'd start with cold tire temps at 30-32 ft./lbs. and see what kind of pressure gain you get after the first session. Pavement was smooth as a baby's you-know-what and tire wear was on the moderate side (heat cycling was more of an issue).

For a more detailed description on driving the 2.8 mile, 21 turn Fontana circuit, check out Sport Z Magazine's Spring '05 issue ("JGTC Assault"; pp. 38-42).

David Muramoto
Sport Z Magazine Motorsports Editor

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

dkmura, yes I do have adjustable front camber arms, and I usually run them at between 2 and 2.5 degrees negative. I certainly have race pads. Sounds like I can use stiff springs there. 30-32 lbs. seems like a good place to start for tire pressures too. So it sounds like nothing really very different from my expectations.

Unfortunately, for the time attack that I will be running, we will not get to run the banking, just the 1.6 mile infield course. I had really hoped to run the full course. IMHO, the Z is better at the high speed stuff (like long fast sweepers), not as good at lower speed infield stuff (like quick low-speed transitions), so I might be at a slight disadvantage to some of the lighter cars. But I have a fair amouint of auto-x experience too, so we'll see.