Just before the Memorial Day weekend, Michigan Intl Speedway unveiled it's brand new Pit Suite complex & Media Center.

Those of us in the media are going to be VERY HAPPY ! Incredible work areas for print - photo - radio - team pr. Gotta have a happy media and MIS has really raised the bar.

The 17 Million dollar job started after the August 2009 race weekend and finishing touches were being cared for during my visit. Corporate suites have really taken on a new meaning at MIS. These aren't your fathers MIS suites !

Fireplaces, marble counters, awesome seating arrangements and with "move-able" glass walls, these suites can take care of smaller or larger corporate partners & sponsors. The roof will provide a nice escape to watch more of the race track and pit road.

Race fans with pre-race pit passes will find concessions stands on the back side of the new pit suites, along with restrooms. The pre race drivers meeting for NASCAR will now be viewable by race fans. The drivers meeting will take place in a room which has a glass wall to see inside, and current plans are to have audio pumped out of the room into the race fans viewing area ...thats cool.




Remember where the cars at MIS came out of the garage, under the old suites and then onto pit road ?????....... Well, the cars will still drive under the new suites, but now they come out down pit road towards turn one about 100 feet or so.

Solar panels on the roof are a great addition in this day and age.

Something else you'll notice if you've been a long time fan at MIS.... the old under ground / "gopher hole" that was near MIS victory lane for the pedestrian tunnel is GONE.

The new MIS Pedestrian Tunnel now has an entry point behind the Pit Suites.

The tunnel now goes under pit road. Years past would see this tunnel close during the race, but now can remain open throughout the race. Badly needed, but its still pretty narrow. If you've never walked it, you should. The pedestrian tunnel is one of the very few elements of MIS that is "original" from it's 1968 construction. Pit Pass is required.

Photos and Review by
Ken Friend
Getracinginfo.com
Contributing Editor