5 Things You Might Not Know About The United States Grand Prix

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F1 heads west this weekend for the penultimate round of the 2013 Formula 1 season at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The United States Grand Prix returned to the calendar last year after a five year absence. Here are five things you might not know about the race:

1. Purpose built

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The Circuit of the Americas is the only race track in the United States that has been purpose built for Formula 1. The 3.247 mile circuit is the 10th venue to host the US Grand Prix and became the 70th track to host an F1 race when it debuted last year.

2. Winning

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Lewis Hamilton is the only driver on the 2013 grid to have previously won a United States Grand Prix. Alongside winning last year's race, he also took victory at the last F1 round to be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007 - a race that is also notable for Sebastian Vettel making his debut.

3. Super track

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The Circuit of the Americas was designed by Tavo Hellmund and Kevin Schwantz, along with assistance from experienced F1 track designer Hermann Tilke. Some of the sections at the venue were inspired by European race circuits, merging some of the sport's most iconic corners together to create one epic super track. Turns three to six were inspired by the Maggots/Becketts/Chapel complex at the Silverstone circuit and recreations of Hockenheim's arena section and the formidable turn eight at Istanbul Park in Turkey also feature.

4. Record breaking

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Ticket sales for the 2012 United States Grand Prix were record breaking. Tickets were sold in all 50 US states, 46 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. Over the three days of on-track action, 265,000 people visited the circuit. 32,736 gallons of beer were sold over the race weekend along with 12,000 pounds of chips. 2.2 million pounds of ice was used over the weekend and enough hotdogs were sold to wrap around the circuit 1.5 times.

5. Going up

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The first corner at the Circuit of the Americas is a second-gear left-hander with a tricky blind apex and wide track on entry to encourage overtaking. It is also unique in the fact that there is a rise of 133 feet on the run to the corner, one of the steepest inclines on the 2013 calendar.