I got near nuttin, but Austin is growing like a fertilized weed, construction is everywhere. Best bet, I think is to use Waze on your phone for directions. They've made it way too easy to stray onto a toll road with limited exits. If you do stray onto a toll road, no worries, they'll mail your bill, when they get around to it. Have a safe trip and enjoy the race.
You might consider leaving I-10 at Beaumont and heading WNW across the less populated areas on secondary roads and sneak into Austin on the east side to miss some traffic? Thinking you could go through Conroe to Brenham (think Blue Bell ice cream) into Austin.
If you get time you might run up I-35 to Temple, take hwy 53 east ~ 10 miles to Zabcikville and visit Green's Sausage House.
