Firestone Indy 225
Appearance
IndyCar Series | |
---|---|
Venue | Nazareth Speedway |
Corporate sponsor | Firestone |
First race | 1987 |
First ICS race | 2002 |
Last race | 2004 |
Distance | 225 miles (362 km) |
Laps | 225 |
Previous names | Nazareth 100 (1968–1969, 1982) Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (1987–1996) Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota (1997–2000) Lehigh Valley Grand Prix (2001) Firestone Indy 225 (2002–2004) |
Most wins (driver) | Emerson Fittipaldi (3) |
Most wins (team) | Penske Racing (7) |
The Firestone Indy 225 was an IndyCar racing event held at Nazareth Speedway from 1987–2004. From 1987–2001, the event was sanctioned by CART. In 2002, the race switched to the Indy Racing League. From 1987–1996, the race was scheduled for 200 laps. In 1997, the race was lengthened to 225 laps. Rising speeds had led to the races being completed very quickly, and CART officials worried that the fans were not getting their money's worth. The race was discontinued after the track closed permanently in 2004.
Nazareth also hosted the Marlboro Challenge all-star event in 1990 and 1992. IndyCar points racing would not return in Pennsylvania until their return to Pocono Raceway in 2013 for the first time since 1989.
Past winners
Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
Report | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||
USAC Champ Car history | ||||||||||
1968 | July 13 | Al Unser | Dunlop | Offy | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:00:21 | 100.068 | Report | |
1969 | July 12 | Mario Andretti | Kuzma | Offy | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 0:56:45 | 105.719 | Report | |
1982 | Dec 4 | Keith Kauffman | Gambler | Chevrolet | 54* | 54 (86.904) | Report | |||
CART Champ Car history | ||||||||||
1987 | Sept 20 | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | March | Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:33:02 | 129.026 | Report |
1988 | Sept 25 | Danny Sullivan | Penske Racing | Penske | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:20:47 | 148.526 | Report |
1989 | Sept 24 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Patrick Racing | Penske | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:29:02 | 134.767 | Report |
1990 | Oct 7 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Penske Racing | Penske | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:46:28 | 112.17 | Report |
1991 | Oct 6 | Arie Luyendyk | Granatelli Racing Team | Lola | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:31:23 | 131.31 | Report |
1992 | Oct 4 | Bobby Rahal | Rahal/Hogan Racing | Lola | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:33:07 | 128.848 | Report |
1993 | Sept 19 | Nigel Mansell | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:15:37 | 158.686 | Report |
1994 | Sept 18 | Paul Tracy | Penske Racing | Penske | Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:31:30 | 131.141 | Report |
1995 | April 23 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Penske Racing | Penske | Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:31:23 | 131.305 | Report |
1996 | April 28 | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:25:08 | 140.953 | Report |
1997 | April 27 | Paul Tracy | Penske Racing | Penske | Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:53:31 | 118.919 | Report |
1998 | April 26 | Jimmy Vasser | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:57:20 | 108.839 | Report |
1999 | May 2 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:46:13 | 120.225 | Report |
2000 | May 27* | Gil de Ferran | Penske Racing | Reynard | Honda | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 2:06:10 | 101.219 | Report |
2001 | May 6 | Scott Dixon | PacWest Racing | Reynard | Toyota | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:51:12 | 114.84 | Report |
IRL IndyCar Series history | ||||||||||
2002 | April 21 | Scott Sharp | Kelley Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 2:14:35 | 93.789 | Report |
2003 | Aug 24 | Hélio Castroneves | Team Penske | Dallara | Toyota | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:42:07 | 123.606 | Report |
2004 | Aug 29 | Dan Wheldon | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 225 | 225 (362.102) | 1:46:11 | 118.874 | Report |
- 1982: Race shortened due to rain.
- 2000: Originally scheduled for April 9; postponed due to snow.
Lights and Atlantics winners
Season | Date | Winning Driver | Season | Date | Winning Driver |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CART Indy Lights | SCCA and CART Atlantic Championship | ||||
1987 | September 20 | Mike Groff | |||
1988 | September 25 | Calvin Fish | |||
1989 | September 24 | Mike Groff | |||
1990 | October 7 | Robbie Groff | |||
1991 | October 6 | Robbie Buhl | 1991 | October 6 | Jovy Marcelo |
1992 | October 4 | Robbie Buhl | 1992 | October 3 | Harald Huysman |
1993 | September 19 | Bryan Herta | 1993 | September 18 | Claude Bourbonnais |
1994 | September 18 | Greg Moore | 1994 | September 17 | Mark Dismore |
1995 | April 23 | Greg Moore | 1995 | April 22 | Patrick Carpentier |
1996 | April 28 | David DeSilva | 1996 | April 27 | Patrick Carpentier |
1997 | April 27 | Cristiano da Matta | 1997 | April 26 | Alex Barron |
1998 | April 27 | Cristiano da Matta | 1998 | April 25 | Buddy Rice |
1999 | May 2 | Airton Daré | 1999 | May 1 | Anthony Lazzaro |
2000* | No race | 2000* | No race | ||
2001 | May 5 | Tony Ave |
- 2000: Originally scheduled for April 9, postponed due to snow. Indy Lights and Atlantic races were not made up.[1]
References
- ^ San Marino, Goody's 500, Nazareth, Driving Today, April 10, 2000, retrieved 2009-11-08