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Hot Weather Arrives for F1, NASCAR, IMSA

By Alex Herbst

Jul 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Sprint Cup driver Austin Dillon drives over the yard of bricks during practice for the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Sprint Cup driver Austin Dillon drives over the yard of bricks during practice for the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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With high temperatures anticipated for NASCAR, F1, and sports car racing this weekend, both fans and drivers will be sweating while watching the action on track.

In the dog days of summer, you’ll often find people trying to find places to stay cool and out of the bright sunshine. However, many will be sweating and steaming to watch some great racing with NASCAR at Indianapolis, IMSA racing from Lime Rock Park, and F1’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be baking under the intense summer heat of Indiana, with temperatures expected to be in the upper eighties to near ninety on both Saturday and Sunday. And while fans will try and stay cool in the grandstands, temperatures will be even hotter in the cars racing this weekend around IMS, easily pushing over 100 degrees.

With high temperatures and sticky conditions, afternoon and evening pop-up thunderstorms cannot be ruled out of the forecast. While there is a small chance of some to form in the latter stages of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, Sunday’s Brickyard 400 has the better chance of rain, with a 40 percent chance throughout the day. Here’s the full forecast:

  • Saturday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly after 2 pm. Partly sunny and hot. High 91. Winds west at around 5 mph becoming calm by evening.
  • Saturday Night:  Chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 pm, then a slight chance overnight. About a 30 percent chance overall. Low 76. Light and variable wind.
  • Sunday:  A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Otherwise, partly cloudy and hot. High 90. Winds southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Over on the east coast at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, the GT categories of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will run in some of the hottest conditions all year. The Saturday show, which can be seen on your local FOX station, will run with plentiful sunshine, and temperatures in the low nineties. The heat index could push the temperatures above that, making for an uncomfortable day in the stands and behind the wheel.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will get their turn in the spotlight on broadcast television this weekend, with live eliminations from Bandimere Speedway near Denver, Colorado on FOX. However, the fastest sport in the world could be dodging raindrops this weekend, with Friday’s qualifying sessions being slowed by thunderstorms. Temperatures here too will be hot in the afternoon, in the upper eighties to low nineties.

Finally, the Formula One world championship will race on Sunday from the Hungaroring in the Hungarian Grand Prix. In a departure from previous weeks, there is no precipitation in the forecast for the race weekend, but instead partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid eighties. It will be a welcomed change after races in Monaco and Silverstone started in the wet.

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No matter where you are seeing racing this weekend, if you’re heading out to the track, make sure you check the weather forecast first. With hot temperatures spreading over much of the United States, be sure to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen ahead of prolonged exposure. Most importantly, though, enjoy the race.

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