An American trilogy – Part 3 – photographing IndyCar at Mid-Ohio

Report by David Harbey

12 July 2024

The final stop on my bucket list tour of classic American parkland tracks is Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – to see IndyCar supported by other single seater classes. Despite the name, I guess I won’t be seeing any sports cars this weekend!

Les Griebling, a local businessman, successfully raised the funds to establish the track in the early sixties and mapped out the 2.25 mile, 13 turn layout following the contours of the land. The map does not really do justice to the ups and downs of the track on the undulating hills of Mid-Ohio.

We had purchased inside parking just across from the finish line and with two hot days in prospect, weather wise, that proved to be good idea allowing us to return to the car to top up drinks or swap lenses.

These photos will take you round the track “backwards” starting at the Carousel and Turn 13. There is a good view up the pit lane – here IndyNXT, the feeder series to IndyCar are about to start their practice session. Brits Jamie Chadwick #28 and Louis Foster #26 are both seeing success this year. Chadwick won her first IndyNXT race at Road America and Foster is leading the Championship.

The Carousel is at the end of a fast sequence of uphill bends, and it seems that this catches drivers out from time to time. As we started walking down the hill towards Turn 11 the FCY lights came on – yes, someone had misjudged their braking for the Carousel ! The run up from Turn 9 is lined by high fences – so more reminiscent of some British tracks. There is a shot near the footbridge looking back to Turn 9 with a long lens.

Taking the foot bridge to the outside of track then allowed us to walk down to Turn 9 in the shade of the trees. It’s shooting through the fence here; you are further away from the fence that I would like but it is in the shadow of the trees which helps. On Saturday I got this shot panning with the 70-200mm.

Sunday morning for the US F2000 race, a head on shot needed the 500mm prime plus 1.4x teleconverter, so 700mm focal length, to get rid of the fence shadows on the image.

Walking to the right angle of the corner there is a gap in the fence to allow for a clear rear shot as the cars crest the rise after the corner before the fast sequence to the Carousel known as Thunder Valley.

Returning over the footbridge, we walked to the inside of Turn 9. There is a clean shot of the cars, although in parts it is less easy to get above the armco. A step or the rear deck of your truck (pick-up in the UK) would see you clear. Jack Harvey #18 and debutant Toby Sowery #51 were the British runners in the main IndyCar race.

From there, you see the cars coming over the brow of Turn 7 at the end of the lovely sequence of left and right, up and down bends from Turn 4 known as the Esses. There’s a fair bit of fence in this section but there are clear areas firstly approaching Turn 7. There’s also window you can “borrow”.

Then on the apex of Turn 6.

On the walk up the hill to Turn 5 – a blind crest, left hander - there are three or four windows in the fence, mainly designed for accredited snappers. By race day this area was lined with canopies, and you need just the right angle and quick reactions to get the car in the window.

Above Turn 5 there is a large spectator area giving views of the fast straight into Turn 4 and then up the hill to Turn 5. Using the 500mm prime plus TC allows you to get the action at Turn 4.

Walking down to fence line at Turn 4 to 5 there’s a clean shot of the cars coming out of the corner or heading over the crest of Turn 5. Here’s Brit Liam McNeilly #9 on his way to his USF Juniors win.

The run down from Turn 3 is fence lined on the inside and has a large grandstand on the outside. Even the top row of the grandstand is not above the top of the fencing so it’s a place to watch rather than shoot from. It gives panoramic views of the probably half the track from Turn 1 through to Turn 7.

We did not walk up to the outside of Turn 2 known as the Keyhole – it was a long way; it was hot, and it is all fenced. Rather we walked to the inside of Turn 1. Close to the track and not a fence in sight – glorious ! Time to get slow panning.

To my disappointment, after the very open paddocks at IMSA and TransAm, the IndyCar paddock required a pass – enough people wandering around seemed to have wristbands, so I assume it was mainly for corporate guests. There was a pitlane walk for the IndyCars but that appeared to require a trek half way round the circuit to access it – and it was too hot! 

As to the race – our tickets included a grandstand seat so, to the relief of the ever wonderful, patient and lovely Mrs H, we sat and watched the race along with the big crowd.

Kit wise, the majority of the shots were taken with the 70-200mm zoom except where noted that the 500mm / teleconverter was pressed into service. Although it felt like there was a lot of fence, in reality there are plenty of good shots available at a range of locations and I reckon less than many British circuits.

Mid-Ohio is the final stop on this road trip and each circuit has provided good racing and spectator photography opportunities. It’s worth saying that each of the tracks is, in relative terms, in the middle of nowhere – in each case we found an Airbnb within around 20 to 30 minutes of the track.

Will we return? I’d be happy to come back to any of the three tracks (and for that matter VIR and Road Atlanta visited last year) and they do make a refreshing change to my more regular haunts in the UK and Europe.