Jimmy Bryan Memorial

Last updated
Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix
Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix logo.png
Phoenix-international-raceway-2011-new.svg
IndyCar Series
Venue Phoenix Raceway (1964–2005, 2016–2018)
First race1964
Last race2018
Distance255.5 mi (411.2 km)
Laps250
Previous namesPhoenix 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
Most wins (driver) Johnny Rutherford (3)
Bobby Unser (3)
Rick Mears (3)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: Dallara (10)
Engine: Chevrolet (10)

The Jimmy Bryan Memorial was an IndyCar Series race held at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, United States. USAC moved the fall race and added a spring race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979, and joined the Indy Racing League in 1996. It was held continuously through 2005.

Contents

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).

History

During its time on the USAC Championship Car circuit, Phoenix International Raceway 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 Indy Racing League beginning in 1996.

Citing low attendance, the race was put on hiatus after the 2005 season. In 2007, the Grand Prix Arizona for the Champ Car series was planned on a street circuit in downtown Phoenix nearby to the original course used for the United States Grand Prix. The event was cancelled four months before the event due to insufficient sponsorship funding. [1]

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. [2] Following the 2018 race the raceway announced the series would not return for 2019, citing poor attendance. [3]

Past winners

Phoenix International Raceway

SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngine/Aero KitTiresRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
LapsMiles (km)
USAC Championship Car history
1964 March 22 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Anstead-Thompson Racing Watson Offenhauser F 100100 (160.934)0:55:48107.536
1965 March 28 Flag of the United States.svg Don Branson Leader Card Racing Watson Offenhauser F 150150 (241.401)1:24:33106.456
1966 March 20 Flag of the United States.svg Jim McElreath John Zink Company Brabham Ford F 150150 (241.401)1:31:0598.828
1967 April 9 Flag of the United States.svg Lloyd Ruby Gene White Firestone Mongoose Ford F 150150 (241.401)1:44:1886.296
1968 April 7 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Leader Card Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 150150 (241.401)1:29:10100.938
1969 March 30 Flag of the United States.svg George Follmer George Follmer Racing Cheetah Chevrolet F 150150 (241.401)1:21:55109.8
1970 March 28 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing P.J. Colt Ford F 150150 (241.401)
1971 March 27 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing P.J. Colt Ford F 150150 (241.401)1:20:40111.565
1972 March 18 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser All American Racers Eagle Offenhauser G 150150 (241.401)1:27:32102.805
1973 March 17Race postponed by rain and eventually cancelled due to infrastructure damage and scheduling conflicts.
1974 March 17 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley Agajanian-Leader Card Racing Eagle Offenhauser F 150150 (241.401)1:17:08116.663
1975 March 16 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren Offenhauser G 150150 (241.401)1:21:06110.971
1976 March 14 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Bob Fletcher Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 150150 (241.401)
1977 March 27 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren Cosworth DFX G 150150 (241.401)1:20:48111.395
1978 March 18 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat Drake Goosen Sparks G 150150 (241.401)1:17:05116.757
CART Championship Car history
1979 March 11 Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Penske Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:15:23 119.389
1980 March 2Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
1981 March 22 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Cars Chaparral Cosworth DFX G 150150 (241.401)1:17:08116.681
1982 March 28 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears Team Penske Penske PC-10 Cosworth DFX G 150150 (241.401)1:15:48118.727
1983 March 20Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
1984 April 14 Flag of the United States.svg Tom Sneva Mayer Racing March 84C Cosworth DFX G 150150 (241.401)1:14:39120.555
1985 March 31Race postponed due to general deterioration of the track; it was held on the originally discontinued fall date
1986 April 6 Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Cogan Patrick Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX G 200200 (321.868)1:39:42120.345
1987 April 12 Flag of Colombia.svg Roberto Guerrero Granatelli Racing Team March 87C Cosworth DFX G 200200 (321.868)1:26:56138.02
1988 April 10 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T8800 Chevrolet Indy 265A G 200200 (321.868)1:38:22121.992
1989 April 9 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears Team Penske Penske PC-18 Chevrolet Indy 265A G 200200 (321.868)1:35:09126.112
1990 April 8 Flag of the United States.svg Rick Mears Team Penske Penske PC-19 Chevrolet Indy 265A G 200200 (321.868)1:35:01126.291
1991 April 21 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arie Luyendyk Granatelli Racing Team Lola T9100 Chevrolet Indy 265A G 200200 (321.868)1:32:18129.988
1992 April 5 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal Rahal/Hogan Racing Lola T9200 Chevrolet Indy 265A G 200200 (321.868)1:31:56130.529
1993 April 4 Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola T9300 Ford-Cosworth XB G 200200 (321.868)1:36:53123.847
1994 April 10 Flag of Brazil.svg Emerson Fittipaldi Team Penske Penske PC-23 Ilmor Indy 265D G 200200 (321.868)1:51:41107.437
1995 April 2 Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon Walker Racing Reynard 95i Ford-Cosworth XB G 200200 (321.868)1:29:33133.98
Indy Racing League history
1996 March 24 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arie Luyendyk Treadway Racing Reynard 95i Ford-Cosworth XB F 200 200 (321.868) 1:42:14 117.368
1997 March 23 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Guthrie Blueprint Racing Dallara Oldsmobile F 200 200 (321.868) 2:14:33 89.19
1998 March 22 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile G 200 200 (321.868) 2:02:19 98.11
1999 March 28 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Scott Goodyear Panther Racing G-Force Oldsmobile G 200200 (321.868)1:56:40102.856
2000 March 19 Flag of the United States.svg Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing Riley & Scott Oldsmobile F 200200 (321.868)1:47:11111.957
2001 March 18 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Hornish Jr. Panther Racing Dallara Oldsmobile F 200200 (321.868)1:35:57125.072
2002 March 17 Flag of Brazil.svg Hélio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet XG F 200200 (321.868)1:43:00116.504
2003 March 23 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda HI3R Indy V8 F 200200 (321.868)1:59:55100.073
2004 March 21 Flag of Brazil.svg Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda HI4R Indy V8 F 200200 (321.868)1:33:46127.981
2005 March 19 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Hornish Jr. Team Penske Dallara Toyota Indy V8 F 200200 (321.868)1:30:24137.753
2006

2015
Not held
IndyCar Series history
2016 April 2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Chevrolet Indy V6
Chevy Aero Kit 16
F 250255.5 (411.186)*1:49:39139.822
2017 April 29 Flag of France.svg Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet Indy V6
Chevy Aero Kit 16
F 250255.5 (411.186)1:46:25144.058
2018 April 7 Flag of the United States.svg Josef Newgarden Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet Indy V6
Universal Aero Kit 18
F 250255.5 (411.186)1:44:00147.395

Support races

Selected race summaries

CART Championship Car

IndyCar Series

References

  1. Berry, Jahna (29 August 2007). "Grand Prix Arizona canceled". The Arizona Republic.
  2. "PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY NAMES DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY TITLE SPONSOR OF APRIL 2 PHOENIX GRAND PRIX". Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. Ayello, Jim (22 June 2018) IndyCar will not return to Phoenix in 2019 Indystar. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  4. "Auto Racing Roundup : Cogan Gets a Break and Beats Sneva for First Indy-Car Win". Los Angeles Times . Avondale, Arizona. Times Wire Services. April 7, 1986. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  5. "Sharp/Dismore Fined for Phoenix Infractions". The Auto Channel. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  6. Glick, Shav (March 16, 2001). "Penske CART Team Using Phoenix Race as Indy 500 Tuneup". Los Angeles Times . Avondale, Arizona . Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  7. "IRL: Hornish secures lucky 13th win at PIR". Motorsport.com . Motorsport.com, Inc. March 22, 2005. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.