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IndyCar Series | |
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Venue | Phoenix Raceway (1964–2005, 2016–2018, 2026) |
First race | 1964 |
Distance | 255.5 mi (411.2 km) |
Laps | 250 |
Previous names | Phoenix 100/150/200: 1964, 1973–1974, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1997 Jimmy Bryan Memorial: 1965-1968 Jimmy Bryan 150: 1969–1972, 1976–1978 Bricklin 150: 1975 Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150: 1979 Kraco Car Stereo 150: 1981–1982 Dana–Jimmy Bryan 150: 1984 Dana 200: 1986 Checker 200: 1987–1988 Checker Autoworks 200: 1989 Autoworks 200: 1990 Valvoline 200: 1991–1993 Slick-50 200: 1994–1995 Dura-Lube 200: 1996, 1998 MCI WorldCom 200: 1999–2000 Pennzoil/Copper World Indy 200: 2001 Bombardier ATV Indy 200: 2002 Purex/Dial Indy 200: 2003 Copper World Indy 200: 2004 XM Satellite Radio 200 presented by Argent Mortgage: 2005 Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix: 2016–2018 Former second race:
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Most wins (driver) | Johnny Rutherford (3) Bobby Unser (3) Rick Mears (3) Former fall race: A. J. Foyt (4) Al Unser (4) |
Most wins (manufacturer) | Chassis: Dallara (10) Engine: Chevrolet (10) |
The Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, United States has hosted American open-wheel car racing since 1964. The United States Auto Club (USAC) moved the fall race from the Arizona State Fairgrounds and added a spring race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The races became part of the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series in 1979. The fall race was cancelled after 1986, but the spring race continued and joined the Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1996. It was held continuously through 2005.
After a hiatus of eleven years, the race was revived by the IndyCar Series in 2016. It was held on Saturday night under the lights. Long considered[ by whom? ] a popular Indy car track, Phoenix saw the final career victory for Mario Andretti (1993).
The race was last held in 2018 as part of the IndyCar Series. It was often known as the Jimmy Bryan Memorial in its early years. During its last stint it was known as the Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons. The race is slated to return in 2026. [1]
The previous fall race occurred from 1964 to 1986. The Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 was the final name of a CART race held annually at the Raceway from 1979 though 1986; it was known as the Miller High Life 150 for five editions and by multiple other names during that period. Prior to that, it was operated under USAC.
In 1915, and again from 1950 through 1963, AAA and then USAC sanctioned championship car races were held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds speedway, the Phoenix 100. The race date transferred to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) upon its opening in 1964.
During its time on the USAC championship car circuit, PIR typically held two races annually, one in the spring, and one in the fall. During the CART years, two races were scheduled through the mid-1980s, but the track dropped down to one race per year starting in 1987. In many years, Phoenix served as the CART season opener. After a feud between the track ownership and CART series officials, the track was dropped from the CART schedule after 1995, and immediately switched to the IRL beginning in 1996.
Over the entire history of the fall race, A. J. Foyt and Al Unser each won four times, the most of any driver. Foyt's wins came in 1960 at the Fairgrounds and then in 1965, 1971, and 1975 at the Raceway. Unser's wins all came at the Raceway, in 1969, 1976, 1979, and 1985. The most consecutive wins was three, by Tom Sneva in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sneva's three wins were the most by any driver under CART's sanction of the race (1979–1986).
Citing low attendance, the spring race was put on hiatus after the 2005 season. In 2007, the Grand Prix Arizona for the Champ Car World Series was planned on a street circuit in downtown Phoenix, near the original course used for the United States Grand Prix. The event was cancelled four months before the event due to insufficient sponsorship funding. [2]
After a long hiatus, the track returned to the IndyCar Series schedule in 2016. The race was the only 1-mile oval on the schedule. The race was scheduled for a twilight start, and raced into the night under the lights. With the reconfiguring of the track in 2011, the circuit measured 1.022 miles in length, and the race was scheduled for 255.5 miles. Desert Diamond West Valley was announced as the title sponsor of the race for 2016 on March 23. [3] Following the 2018 race the raceway announced the series would not return for 2019, citing poor attendance. [4]
In 2025, Racer reported that Phoenix would make a return for the 2026 season. [1] [5] On September 16, it was confirmed that Phoenix will return to the calendar, in conjunction with NASCAR. [6]
Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | Report | ||
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Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||||
USAC Championship Car history | |||||||||||
1964 | March 22 | ![]() | Anstead-Thompson Racing | Watson | Offenhauser | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 0:55:48 | 107.536 | ||
November 22 | ![]() | Bill Forbes Racing | Halibrand RE | Offenhauser | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:51:23 | 107.736 | |||
1965 | March 28 | ![]() | Leader Card Racing | Watson | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:24:33 | 106.456 | ||
November 21 | ![]() | Anstead-Thompson Racing | Lotus RE | Ford | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 2:00:01 | 99.99 | |||
1966 | March 20 | ![]() | John Zink Company | Brabham | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:31:05 | 98.828 | ||
November 20 | ![]() | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:54:38 | 104.697 | |||
1967 | April 9 | ![]() | Gene White Firestone | Mongoose | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:44:18 | 86.296 | ||
November 19 | ![]() | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:49:13 | 109.872 | |||
1968 | April 7 | ![]() | Leader Card Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:29:10 | 100.938 | ||
November 17 | ![]() | Gerhardt Racing | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:54:19 | 104.972 | |||
1969 | March 30 | ![]() | George Follmer Racing | Cheetah | Chevrolet | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:55 | 109.8 | ||
November 15 | ![]() | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola | Ford | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:48:59 | 110.109 | |||
1970 | March 28 | ![]() | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | P.J. Colt | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | ||||
November 21 | ![]() | All American Racers | Eagle | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:17:30 | 116.807 | |||
1971 | March 27 | ![]() | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | P.J. Colt | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:20:40 | 111.565 | ||
October 23 | ![]() | Anstead-Thompson Racing | Coyote 71 | Ford | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:18 | 110.333 | |||
1972 | March 18 | ![]() | All American Racers | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:27:32 | 102.805 | ||
November 4 | ![]() | All American Racers | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:10:31 | 127.618 | |||
1973 | March 17 | Race postponed by rain and eventually cancelled due to infrastructure damage and scheduling conflicts. | |||||||||
November 3 | ![]() | STP-Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:18:15 | 115.015 | |||
1974 | March 17 | ![]() | Agajanian-Leader Card Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:17:08 | 116.663 | ||
November 2 | ![]() | STP-Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:12:28 | 124.202 | |||
1975 | March 16 | ![]() | Team McLaren | McLaren | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:06 | 110.971 | ||
November 9 | ![]() | Gilmore-Foyt Racing | Coyote | Foyt TC | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:02 | 111.055 | |||
1976 | March 14 | ![]() | Bob Fletcher Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | ||||
November 7 | ![]() | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:23:34 | 107.695 | |||
1977 | March 27 | ![]() | Team McLaren | McLaren | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:20:48 | 111.395 | ||
October 29 | ![]() | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:22:53 | 108.597 | |||
1978 | March 18 | ![]() | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Offenhauser | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:17:05 | 116.757 | ||
October 28 | ![]() | Team McLaren | McLaren | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:14:24 | 120.974 | |||
CART Championship Car history | |||||||||||
1979 | March 11 | ![]() | Patrick Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:15:23 | 119.389 | Report | |
October 20 | ![]() | Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:13:03 | 123.203 | |||
1980 | March 2 | Race cancelled due to Salt River floods | |||||||||
November 8 | ![]() | Jerry O'Connell Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:30:04 | 99.925 | |||
1981 | March 22 | ![]() | Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:17:08 | 116.681 | ||
October 31 | ![]() | Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:20:10 | 112.266 | |||
1982 | March 28 | ![]() | Team Penske | Penske PC-10 | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:15:48 | 118.727 | ||
November 6 | ![]() | Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March 82C | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:05 | 110.997 | |||
1983 | March 20 | Race cancelled due to Salt River floods | |||||||||
October 29 | ![]() | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:11:03 | 126.671 | |||
1984 | April 14 | ![]() | Mayer Racing | March 84C | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:14:39 | 120.555 | ||
October 13 | ![]() | Truesports | March 84C | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:31:47 | 98.048 | |||
1985 | March 31 | Race postponed due to general deterioration of the track; it was held on the originally discontinued fall date | |||||||||
October 13 | ![]() | Team Penske | March 85C | Cosworth | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:14:35 | 120.644 | |||
1986 | April 6 | ![]() | Patrick Racing | March 86C | Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:39:42 | 120.345 | ||
October 19 | ![]() | Kraco Racing | March 86C | Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:29:06 | 134.676 | |||
1987 | April 12 | ![]() | Granatelli Racing Team | March 87C | Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:26:56 | 138.02 | ||
1988 | April 10 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T8800 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:38:22 | 121.992 | ||
1989 | April 9 | ![]() | Team Penske | Penske PC-18 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:35:09 | 126.112 | ||
1990 | April 8 | ![]() | Team Penske | Penske PC-19 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:35:01 | 126.291 | ||
1991 | April 21 | ![]() | Granatelli Racing Team | Lola T9100 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:32:18 | 129.988 | ||
1992 | April 5 | ![]() | Rahal/Hogan Racing | Lola T9200 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:31:56 | 130.529 | ||
1993 | April 4 | ![]() | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola T9300 | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:36:53 | 123.847 | ||
1994 | April 10 | ![]() | Team Penske | Penske PC-23 | Chevrolet | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:51:41 | 107.437 | ||
1995 | April 2 | ![]() | Walker Racing | Reynard 95i | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:29:33 | 133.98 | ||
Indy Racing League history | |||||||||||
1996 | March 24 | ![]() | Treadway Racing | Reynard 95i | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:42:14 | 117.368 | Report | |
1997 | March 23 | ![]() | Blueprint Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 2:14:33 | 89.19 | Report | |
1998 | March 22 | ![]() | Kelley Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 2:02:19 | 98.11 | Report | |
1999 | March 28 | ![]() | Panther Racing | G-Force | Oldsmobile | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:56:40 | 102.856 | ||
2000 | March 19 | ![]() | Hemelgarn Racing | Riley & Scott | Oldsmobile | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:47:11 | 111.957 | ||
2001 | March 18 | ![]() | Panther Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:35:57 | 125.072 | ||
2002 | March 17 | ![]() | Team Penske | Dallara | Ford-Cosworth | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:43:00 | 116.504 | ||
2003 | March 23 | ![]() | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:59:55 | 100.073 | ||
2004 | March 21 | ![]() | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:33:46 | 127.981 | ||
2005 | March 19 | ![]() | Team Penske | Dallara | Toyota | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:30:24 | 137.753 | ||
2006 – 2015 | Not held | ||||||||||
IndyCar Series history | |||||||||||
2016 | April 2 | ![]() | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 250 | 255.5 (411.186)* | 1:49:39 | 139.822 | Report | |
2017 | April 29 | ![]() | Team Penske | Dallara | Chevrolet | 250 | 255.5 (411.186) | 1:46:25 | 144.058 | Report | |
2018 | April 7 | ![]() | Team Penske | Dallara | Chevrolet | 250 | 255.5 (411.186) | 1:44:00 | 147.395 | Report | |
2019 – 2025 | Not held | ||||||||||
2026 | March 7 | Dallara | Report |
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