Another First for Austin - Fastest City in America

Austin now boasts another couple of firsts to add to the growing collection of things that make us one of the greatest cities in America.

We are now the home of the Circuit of the Americas raceway which is the only Formula 1 track in the United States. Also, in contrast, we just completed the opening a new highway just south of Austin with a speed limit higher than any other roadway in the U.S. at 85 miles per hour.

Texas prides itself on being the biggest — now it’s also the fastest.

The official ambassador of Circuit of the Americas, Mario Andretti, took the wheel in the first lap marking the opening of the new track. Following his lap Andretti said, “The track is phenomenal and it has all the race features that you are looking for. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into it.” Andretti drove the 3.4 mile track in the same kind of car he drove to win the F1 World Championship in 1978. November's race will be the first Formula One United States Grand Prix since 2007.

As far as the new toll road boasting the 85 mph speed limit – the jury may be out on that one.

Designed to help ease travel time for motorists in the area, it has been faced with an unexpected problem. Stretches of the new road are proving to be a potential problem in that it is also popular with the local Feral Hog population which crosses the road at night.

In fact several accidents occurred on the night after the opening. This has raised concern about how the problem should be alleviated. By the way, we have placed a bounty on the critters.

In the end, the thrill of the new highway has more to do with avoiding gridlock than playing chicken with Feral Hogs on our new Autobahn.

For more info: Check out the Austin Racing Center