Originally Posted by axmea?

Well, here is my experience in Vegas.

We drove from Valencia, CA and took us only 4 hrs to get there. No traffic, no fuss, and got to Elara without a hitch. I took my camera with me but that was a fail. No friggin pro cameras were allowed.

Why all the moaning from many? It was a very good race. It didn't start as planned but it progressed nicely. This venue has great potential. Lot's of upside and better than Miami. COTA for the purist, Vegas is a race and a sideshow. Really nice for Vegas to create its own personality an no reason to emulate other races. Promoters should allow movement around the track, have access to different experiences and entertainment vs relegated to the zone you're in. Not saying having access to all zones, just be able to go around. I bought race day tickets only which was in the HGV zone, a clubhouse in front of the straight from the small chicane at the end of the strip on Harmon to T17. Cars were so fast I had to get used to my eyes focusing quickly to figure out who was who as cars drove by. For those who were new to this, I could just imagine them struggling to keep up. Was asked a couple of times who was passing by/showing me their phones asking who was driving on their blurry shot. Have the race earlier next year is a given. The RR Phantom limo ride to Bellagio was weird until I heard they needed to set up the stage in front of the paddock. Its like setting up for the halftime show which many Europeans would never understand. Daytime traffic can be fixed with coordinated/smart traffic lights. It wasn't bad going around the city during the day. We drove around the strip, Harmon, Sands without issue. Driving into the inside of the track and find parking was also a non-issue. Having a race day ticket gave us access to P3 and qualifying watch party on super large monitors spread out on the terrace with bottomless drinks and food and live entertainment from dudes who in their prime were from NSYNC and Back Street Boys. People had a blast, I was there for the racing. I couldn't drink and was done with alcohol by race day. Sections of the track needed more monitors. No pro cameras were allowed so that part sucked. They were strictly enforced. The only way to get a great shot anyway was to be on the track itself and have access to the crow's nest. Fences and walls wouldn't look good on the frame anyway. Security was understandably elevated. Never had to do this in COTA but they scan you in and out when leaving the zone.

Some smaller hotels, restaurants, and apartment condos along the track pretty much had free access to view the racetrack in front of them. Cars and vans parked on the backlot of a hotel in front of us and people just stood on top to watch the race. It was cold, i got sick, drunk, stuffed, and had a blast. So for anyone across the pond who hated this or wanted this event to fail, well they're just a bunch of wankers who aren't open to what a great event it can be. This race was a good one....so good, i would put it on the top 5 (3 even) of the year.