Before the Formula One race cars start their engines, a much slower race will take place two weeks earlier at Circuit of The Americas.

During its Oct. 23 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a mass gathering permit for COTA and RunTex to host Formula Run, a 5K race and open house at the racetrack and event center, on Nov. 3.

"RunTex will be producing a 5K ... racing event with select local/regional entertainment that will utilize the track for the race, the paddock area, the main grandstand and the parking lots," according to the permit application. "Anticipated attendance is 5,000–10,000 attendees. This event will also serve as an open house for attendees to gain public admittance to the COTA facility."

COTA representatives addressed the court and answered questions during the meeting.

The parking lot is scheduled to open at 6 a.m., and the race is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m.–noon, according to the permit application.

Nikelle Meade, a partner with Brown McCarroll LLP, said the open house will occur later in the day, and all activity will end by 5 p.m.

She estimated that 5,000 people would participate in the 5K and 5,000 people would visit for the open house.

COTA and RunTex will pay for the total cost of the event, including additional public safety costs. Tickets will be available through RunTex's website.

County staff said that the public will be able to visit some of buildings, such as the grandstand, only if those facilities pass inspections and receive the appropriate certificates. Some of the buildings already have temporary certificates.

Representatives from the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and the county's fire marshal and sheriff's offices said plans of the event met county standards.

The traffic plan for the event will be much simpler than the one for the United States Grand Prix 15 days later. The 10,000-person maximum attendance is a fraction of the site's 120,000-person capacity.

County staff said they did not anticipate that traffic would be "all that extreme" for the event.

For more information about how to participate, visit the RunTex website.