The track opened as a 15-turn, 2.4 mile (3.86 km) road circuit run clockwise. The back portion of the track allows speeds approaching 180 mph (290 km/h). A separate starting line is located on the backstretch to allow for safer rolling starts. The regular start / finish line is located on the pit straight. There is grandstand seating for 10,000 spectators and three observation mounds alongside the track raise the capacity to over 75,000.
The first practice session would occur on Friday, August 10, at 1:35 PM EST and would last for one hour and 20 minutes.[2]Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:25.829 and an average speed of 94.709 miles per hour (152.419 km/h).[3]
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Friday, August 10, at 4:05 PM EST and would last for 50 minutes.[2] As rain would hinder the session, only five cars would make a lap. Brendan Gaughan of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:32.649 and an average speed of 87.738 miles per hour (141.201 km/h).[3]
Qualifying was held on Saturday, August 11, at 11:30 AM EST.[2] Since the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course, the qualifying system was a multi-car system that included two rounds. The first round was 25 minutes, where every driver would be able to set a lap within the 25 minutes. Then, the second round would consist of the fastest 12 cars in Round 1, and drivers would have 10 minutes to set a lap. Whoever set the fastest time in Round 2 would win the pole.[4]
Austin Cindric of Team Penske would win the pole, setting a time of 1:24.336 and an average speed of 96.386 miles per hour (155.118 km/h) in the second round.[5]
