I attended the last half-dozen or so F1 races at Watkins Glen.
There were/are places at the fence where one could get a frame-
filling image of a car with a 100mm lens. A 200 was almost enough
to get you in the cockpit, unless you got up early enough to get into
the pits before the security personnel came on duty. Then it was
possible to get into the cockpit with a 35mm lens :-)
John P was correct about photography from the standard spectator
seats. There's just no avoiding the Brickyard's debris fencing,
among other photographic disasters. Now if you happen to score
some pit roof seats, that's another story...
I posed this question to a colleague who has attended the 500
and knows a little about the Brickyard. Here's what he had to say:
"I shot with a 300mm and wanted more. The prime spot to
shoot is upstairs in turn 1. Gives you a great shot as
they come straight for you. This will be the same turn
for the GP, just a different grandstand, as they will be
going clockwise for the GP and anti-clockwise for the
American-style races.
But, I agree that 500mm is a minimum for just about every
shot that commoners can take."
Access is the key, and lack of same is one of the big changes
between the current era and the "old days", when it was possible
to go down to the garage area and actually speak with the drivers
and be close enough to the cars to be able to touch them. About
the only event I attend any more is the vintage race at Watkins.
Great people, interesting cars, wonderful access.
Take a look at http://www.indyf1.com/press/circuit-120298.html
and hope for low fences (and good access)...
jim
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