Ever since the notion of an American Formula One team started getting bandied about in January 2014 when Gene Haas responded to the FIA's "Call for Expression of Interest" regarding a Formula One entry, the names Haas and Circuit of the Americas have been inexorably linked.

Prior to Gene Haas forming Haas F1 Team, there hadn't been an American Formula One team since 1986. And prior to Circuit of the Americas, or COTA as it is better known, there hadn't been a Formula One race on American soil since the 2007 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

COTA put Formula One back on America's map when it became the country's first purpose-built Formula One facility. Constructed in 2011 and hosting its first Formula One race in 2012, COTA and its residency of Austin, Texas, have become a destination venue for the Formula One industry, which will descend upon the Violet Crown for the fifth time as the United States Grand Prix gets underway this weekend.

Coincidentally, Gene Haas secured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in 2011 as his driver and co-owner, Tony Stewart, won the series title in epic fashion by beating Carl Edwards in a tiebreaker. The two ended the season tied in points, but Stewart's five-win tally trumped Edwards' lone victory.

That championship put Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) into the elite rank of championship-winning NASCAR teams. Three years later and six removed from its inception in 2009, SHR won its second title with driver Kevin Harvick in 2014. After finishing second in the championship in 2015, SHR is again driving toward the series title, emphasized by Harvick's win this past Sunday at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

It was an impressive start to what will be an impressive week for Gene Haas. The man who founded Haas Automation in 1983 and has since turned the Oxnard, California-based company into the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America has made motorsports more than just a passion play. It's a cornerstone of his company's growth and part of Haas Automation's DNA. Gene Haas' involvement in Formula One is partly about the challenge of competing, but it is also about growing Haas Automation beyond North America.

"From an international standpoint, Formula One is the highest echelon of racing, and Haas Automation builds the highest-quality machine tools," Haas said. "When you hear 'F1' you know exactly what it is - a global racing series that showcases the latest technology and attracts the best talent in engineering and design. Haas Automation has an excellent reputation in the United States and I want that reputation to grow worldwide. Connecting Haas Automation with F1 in name and in practice is the best way to grow our business and elevate Haas Automation to a premium, global brand."

COTA serves as a key component in Gene Haas' vision.

"As an American team, having an F1 race on American soil is incredibly important," Haas said. "We come to COTA having scored some points and proving that we can hold our own with the established teams of Formula One. We're looking forward to our first home race."

Instead of Austin, perhaps it should be #Haastin. Haas F1 Team comes into the fourth to last race of the 2016 season as the most successful new Formula One team in recent memory. The 28 points Haas F1 Team has earned so far this season are the most of any new team in this millennium. When Jaguar debuted in 2000 and when Toyota came on the scene in 2002, each entity managed only two point-paying finishes in their entire first seasons for a combined total of six points.

After a run of misfortune in Singapore and Malaysia, Haas F1 Team righted the ship in Japan. You put both cars into the final round of qualifying for the first time in team history. Even though no points were scored in the race, the speed of the cars and their balance was on full display. How much confidence does this give you entering the United States Grand Prix?
Guenther Steiner: "It's difficult to say, but I think we learned a lot again. We keep on learning. We found a good balance for the car. With our new front wing we figured out how to set that one up. I hope we can do well in Austin like we did in Japan, but nothing is for sure. You know, everybody else will do a good job. So, we will see where we come out. The thing is we know the car can be quick. We just need to get the best out of it."

How significant is the upgraded front wing to the car's overall performance?
GS: "I think it was very significant. The delay in getting it to work is like when you are at a grand prix and you have problems in FP1 and FP2 - you focus on trying to find out what the tire is doing and the data on the tire and basic things. You cannot develop a new part on the car. We had problems in FP1 and FP2 in Singapore and Malaysia, so we didn't do a good job of finding out about the wing. But in Japan, we had good practice sessions and, sure enough, the wing came alive in Japan."

You've had some milestone moments in Haas F1 Team's inaugural season. How important was it to get both cars into the final round of qualifying in Japan after coming tantalizingly close all season long?
GS: "In F1, getting into Q3 - it's one of the things you need to do on speed. You don't get lucky to get in there. In the race there are other circumstances, but on a one-time lap you need to be fast. For me, it means as much as achieving points at the first race in Australia. To get both cars into Q3 is fantastic and I think everyone on the team would agree. I wouldn't say we were surprised because we felt like we were very good. We got it done. It was a fantastic moment."

How do you transfer a strong qualifying performance into a strong race performance?
GS: "Normally, if you start in a good position it's much easier to manage the race because you are in front. In Suzuka, we didn't expect the hard and medium tire to last as long as they lasted. We had to do a two-stop strategy anyway because we started on soft tires. We were the closest cars to Williams in speed, but we weren't sure if they could get it done with a one-stop, but they easily did it. They ended up in front of us. The track improved and they made the tires last, so we ended up 11th, again."

Since scoring points in Austria in early July, Haas F1 Team has compiled five 11th-place finishes - one spot shy of a point-paying result. How competitive is that gap between a non-points-paying finish and a finish in the points?
GS: "The midfield is so close. Sometimes we are ahead in the midfield, like we were in Japan. We were almost on par on a single lap with Force India and faster than Williams and McLaren. But then sometimes we are a little bit at the tail end. It's very close in that region. Whatever you do you need a little bit of luck and you need additional luck for a good performance to get in the points. We take away that it is our first season and sometimes we are doing more than is expected of us."

Even as development work on teams' 2016 cars has stopped, the midfield seems as competitive as ever. Is this due to teams fine-tuning what they have? If so, where can gains be made during this last stretch of races?
GS: "It is the fine-tuning and getting the last little bit out of the car. Getting the drivers motivated to put the extra effort in and mainly making the best decisions on your tires when you test them in FP1 and FP2 to know what you need to find a good setup."

How important is the United States Grand Prix to Haas F1 Team and to Formula One's recognition in America?
GS: "I think it is very important. We want to show well and do a good job, and what we mainly want to do is attract more of the public to not only watch Haas F1 Team, but to come out and watch F1 in general. I hope a lot of people are following us. We will see on Sunday."

Would you like to see another Formula One race in America?
GS: "I would like to see more Formula One races - plural. If you look at the United States, it is still the biggest economy in the world. F1 is one of the biggest global sports. The United States deserve more F1 races."

Would another Formule One race in America accentuate or take away from COTA's presence in Formula One?
GS: "It would not, in my opinion. It would mean a greater presence. It would mean more races at a decent time in the United States and not at two o'clock in the morning. I think that would help. I think another race would reinforce the one in Austin."

COTA marks a busy two weeks for Haas F1 Team, as it's a home race for the team followed by a home race in Mexico City for your driver, Esteban Gutierrez. How will you manage it all?
GS: "I think it will be very positive for the team. Our team likes attention, which we will hopefully get. And if we deliver good results, we deserve attention. We don't want attention because we are from here or Esteban is from Mexico. I hope we get attention for our results. We've gotten pretty good the last few races performing under pressure. I think we'll just continue."

The United States Grand Prix marks Romain Grosjean's 100th Formula One start. How big of a milestone is that for a Formula One driver?
GS: "One hundred is a good number. He is looking forward to the next 100. He is still pretty young because he started quite young. I think when you hit a milestone like 100 races, and he's been successful in it, it's a nice thing to celebrate."

Haas F1 Team has accomplished a lot in its debut season. Can you talk about the team's growth since the Haas VF-16 first turned a wheel in February during preseason testing at Barcelona?
GS: "The team has grown everywhere. Just getting going together, that was the biggest thing, and getting a better understanding of our processes. Everybody has grown so much. They should all be proud of how we did it. It wasn't done by adding 100 people. It was done with the people that were there from the beginning with us. They learned, and what they learned they immediately put in action the next week. That is how you grow, and I think they can all be proud of what they have achieved."

Austin has become a destination venue for the Formula One industry, much like Singapore and Monaco. Why does the city resonate so well with those in Formula One?
GS: "It's a cool city. People like the United States and Austin is a nice place to be. I think Austin for the team members stands before Monaco and Singapore because it's just a cool place."

The United States Grand Prix will be your 100th Formula One start. It's quite a milestone. What are your thoughts on achieving this mark?
Romain Grosjean: "Yes, it's great. To be fair, when I started in Formula One I thought it'll just be one race after the other, then here we are at 100 grands prix, 10 podium finishes, a few points and lots of good memories, and some a little more difficult. The good thing is, I don't know when I'm going to stop, but I think I've still got plenty of room in front of me to keep going and to keep trying to win. Definitely 100 grands prix is quite something in my lifetime."

Driving for an American team, how appropriate is it that your 100th start comes on American soil?
RG: "For us, it couldn't be better. I'm so proud to be part of this team and so proud to be able to bring the cars into Q3 in qualifying and bring points to the team. We've been working very hard and everyone is really giving 100 percent. It probably means more for us than other people."

When you first began racing, just getting to Formula One was the goal. Now you're here and you're established. What do you want to achieve next - for yourself and for Haas F1 Team?
RG: "For myself, I want to be world champion, ideally twice. That's been my dream since I started. I always wanted to be in Formula One but, on top of that, I want to be world champion. For Haas, the first goal was to score points and the second one was a top-five finish. We've done those two. The next goal is to be wearing the team's colors on the podium. That would be very nice. I'd like to bring the first win to the team, which would be unbelievable. I think the whole idea is wonderful and having the support of Gene (Haas) means a lot to all of us. The way Guenther (Steiner) and all the people involved are running the team is just something very special. I want to be the driver that everyone remembers at Haas."

In joining Haas F1 Team, you took a leap of faith in the vision Gene Haas had for an American Formula One team. What has it been like to be a part of this endeavor and what makes Haas F1 Team different from other Formula One teams?
RG: "It's been a great adventure. From day one I liked Gene's approach to Formula One and to the sport. He knows what he's talking about, so that made me think it would be a great adventure. We have had ups and downs, as you would expect, but generally it's been a wonderful first year. I still have a lot of faith in the team and I think the future is going to be bright for us."

Haas F1 Team has accomplished a lot in its debut season. Can you talk about the team's growth since the Haas VF-16 first turned a wheel in February during preseason testing at Barcelona?
RG: "The team has grown a lot, more than any other team. We arrived in February looking sharp and the team already felt like a team. Now, after 17 grands prix, everyone works more together. Everyone has a really good relationship and knows what they're doing on the car and so on. It's clearly a very good team."

You're racing for an American team in the United States Grand Prix. Because of that, does walking into the paddock at COTA and driving out of the garage and onto the track take on greater significance or give you an added sense of pride?
RG: "I think it's going to be great. I'm very much looking forward to it. America is a huge country and I'm really hoping we can get a lot of fans. Yes, there'll be an extra pride to be driving for an American team on the circuit, and hopefully getting a good result on Sunday."

Formula One returned to the United States after a four-year absence when it raced at COTA in 2012. You participated in that race. What was the industry's reaction to Formula One's return to America?
RG: "It was wonderful. We had a lot of fans and people really came to see the race. It's a great venue and one of the best new tracks we've had in quite a while. The track was great, the city is nice, and it was a very nice experience."

When you first competed at COTA, what did you think of the venue?
RG: "It was very nice and very well organized. The city is great. There are a lot of bars and concerts going on in the city, and people came from all over the country to see the race. It was amazing."

You equaled your career-best Formula One finish (second) at COTA in 2013. Talk about that race.
RG: "It was a wonderful race. I started third on the grid and proceeded to make a great start. We didn't think we'd keep Red Bull Racing behind, but we managed. We had a good car and, ultimately, I had a really good race."

COTA's first corner is at the top of a hill - a blind and tight left-hander that sends drivers into a section modeled after Silverstone's Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex. How do you approach that corner knowing there's a moment when you don't know what's on the other side?
RG: "You know that nobody's coming the wrong way, so that really helps when you come to the corner. It's really about focusing on the right thing at the right time. First the braking point, then the turning point, and then the apex and exit. Yes it's a blind corner, but once you've got in the rhythm you just take it all step-by-step and there are no surprises."

COTA has been described as having the most overtaking opportunities of any track on the Formula One calendar. Is this accurate and, if so, what makes COTA better for overtaking than other venues?
RG: "It's not that simple to overtake at COTA. You've got a huge straight line on the back straight, which helps, of course, with the DRS. The braking into turn one is very wide and you can have some chances there. But, on the other hand, it's very hard to follow in sector one, and into that very long right-hand side corner before the last two corners."

What is your favorite part of COTA?
RG: "All of sector one."

Describe a lap around COTA.
RG: "First you brake on the very wide track uphill into turn one. You then have tricky traction going downhill through sector one. It's very high speed - very similar to Silverstone. Here you try to carry some good speed. Then you go to the hairpin before the back straight, again you want good traction here. There's very big braking at the end. Then there's a very tight section with a double right corner. After that it's a long left hairpin, with tricky braking, then a full right-hand side corner, almost flat out in qualifying. Then it's the two mid-speed final turns, which are pretty interesting, going down into the first one, and the second one going up again before you finish the lap."

Austin has become a destination venue for the Formula One industry, much like Singapore and Monaco. Why does the city resonate so well with those in Formula One?
RG: "I think because it's the United States Grand Prix. Austin is a great city and it gets a lot of fans visiting, too. There's also a great atmosphere around the track."

How much of Austin have you been able to explore, and is there an area of the city you like the most?
RG: "I've seen quite a bit of Austin. The nightlife is amazing, too. During the day there are some nice shopping centers. We're going to go cycling this year and discover a bit more. It's a great place."

In joining Haas F1 Team, you embraced the vision Gene Haas had for an American Formula One team. What has it been like to be a part of this endeavor and what makes Haas F1 Team different from other Formula One teams?
Esteban Gutierrez: "The culture is different, and it's a philosophy that comes from Gene himself. He's a very humble person and he's very much a genius on the technical side. His vision is about making technology very simple and easy to use. This has been implemented throughout the team in an effort to represent America in the best way in Formula One."

Haas F1 Team has accomplished a lot in its debut season. Can you talk about the team's growth since the Haas VF-16 first turned a wheel in February during preseason testing at Barcelona?
EG: "It has grown in many different ways. The level of communication has improved a lot. Same with how the team works together. Being a new group has been very challenging from the beginning, but now we are in a very good position to say that we are a great team and we are now working forward to improve every day."

You're racing for an American team in the United States Grand Prix. Because of that, does walking into the paddock at COTA and driving out of the garage and onto the track take on greater significance or give you an added sense of pride?
EG: "It's important to represent America around the world, but now that we get back home and go to Austin for the U.S. Grand Prix, it's something very special because we are on American soil. That gives a special touch to our weekend. More motivation and great energy from the people to achieve a fantastic result."

Last year at COTA you were a reserve driver with Scuderia Ferrari and a week away from being named as a driver for Haas F1 Team. As you return to COTA for this weekend's United States Grand Prix, can you reflect on what this season has been like?
EG:"It's been very challenging, but very positive in many ways. During the first year the team has scored points. We've faced a lot of downsides or technical issues that we had to solve together as a team in many races. There have been a lot of challenges, but at the same time, scoring points and making it into the Q3 has been very special as a new team, and I am sure that this success will bring the team forward in the coming years."

At COTA, you're representing an American team on American soil. Next week at the Mexican Grand Prix, you're representing your home country in your home race. How big are these two weeks for you?
EG: "It's going to be an intensive experience - something that I will enjoy so much because it's probably the two most special events for me this year. It comes at a great time of the year where we can share all this passion with all the people that have been supporting us from America and from Mexico."

When you first competed at COTA, what did you think of the venue?
EG: "I thought it was fantastic. It was the United States Grand Prix, but it was also like a Mexican Gran Prix. A lot of Mexicans went there. It's not far away from my hometown, and that made it a very nice combination because America makes very great events and the atmosphere was very special. I could not have asked for a better experience. Now that we have a full United States Grand Prix and then a full Mexican Grand Prix, the experiences are more intense."

COTA's first corner is at the top of a hill - a blind and tight left-hander that sends drivers into a section modeled after Silverstone's Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex. How do you approach that corner knowing there's a moment when you don't know what's on the other side?
EG: "It makes it an iconic corner for COTA. It's a very different type of corner. The approach is very different, and after that you have a track that has been designed with the best corners around the calendar."

COTA has been described as having the most overtaking opportunities of any track on the Formula One calendar. Is this accurate and, if so, what makes COTA better for overtaking than other venues?
EG: "The angle of the corners and the right combination of having high-speed corners, slow-speed corners, very technical parts which allow the cars to run behind each other and in a long straight create an opportunity to overtake."

What is your favorite part of COTA?
EG: "The first sector is my favorite."

Describe a lap around COTA.
EG: "You come into turn one, which is completely uphill. It's very important to use all the speed on the entry without losing the line for the exit. You come down to turn two, which is flat out, and you come into corners three, four, five and six, which are very similar to Becketts at Silverstone - very high-speed corners. You enter with a lot of speed and you have to slow down as you go through the corners without losing the line. Then you go out of turn nine, which requires very good traction. Turn 10 is a flat-out corner, very big braking into turn 11 and very important to prepare the exit there as you have the long straight before turn 12 - big braking into turn 12, 90-degree corner to the left using as much of the curb as possible and as much apex speed as possible. Then the technical part of the track comes down, which are (turns) 13, 14 and 15. Very important to change the brake balance as this combination of corners makes it very challenging for the brakes. You have a lot of lateral load when you are braking in the car. The exit of turn 15 is a very unique part of the track. Then you come into (turns) 16, 17 and 18, which is basically flat out or almost flat out. Hopefully it's flat out with our car. Turn 19 is a medium-speed corner where you enter with a lot of speed and it's very easy to miss the apex. It's a very precise corner. Turn 20 is a little bit uphill with a little bit of small banking. It's important to get good traction on the exit."

Austin has become a destination venue for the Formula One industry, much like Singapore and Monaco. Why does the city resonate so well with those in Formula One?
EG: "Because the city itself already has a good vibe and then when some big event comes from outside, it becomes a full weekend of parties. Austin is famous for that and people love it."

How much of Austin have you been able to explore, and is there an area of the city you like the most?
EG: "I love the center of the city and the vibe that's going on around the whole weekend. In the first year I was there I was the third driver, so in the same kind of way I lived the first season of the Mexican Grand Prix, I lived the Austin Grand Prix. It was really special going around the restaurants and having all the people, everything full and a great atmosphere."