In addition, the race distance was reduced from 500 miles to 400 miles. Starting in 2002, the race became an Indy Racing League/ Ind圜ar Series event. Series officials and track management were able to put together a deal to hold the 2001 race, but talks ceased and the contract was not renewed for 2002. Despite some of the most competitive CART events in the track's history, largely due to the use of the Hanford Device, fans continued to stay away. The track had expanded its seating capacity (namely for its two NASCAR races) and the typical CART crowds of 50,000 spectators looked visibly unspectacular. In addition, the fast speeds were again raising safety concerns. Over the next couple of seasons, attendance sharply declined for the CART-sanctioned race. Roger Penske sold the track to International Speedway Corporation in 1999. The Indy Lights series initially did not race at Michigan, but eventually made its first appearance in 1996. In several seasons (1987–1995, 1997), IROC was held as a support race to the Michigan 500. The Michigan 500 was shifted to the last weekend in July for 1994 and beyond. In 1994, the Brickyard 400 was scheduled for the first weekend in August, creating a conflict. The prize was never won.ĭuring the 1980s and early 1990s, the Michigan 500 was traditionally held in late July or early August. On network television, however due to tobacco regulations, the race was still advertised as the "Michigan 500." From 1988 to 1991 the race was part of the Marlboro Million, a cash prize awarded to any driver who won the Marlboro Grand Prix, the Marlboro 500, and the Marlboro Challenge All-Star event in the same year. In 1987, the Michigan 500 secured the sponsorship of Marlboro and became known as the Marlboro 500. The lap was an Indy car speed record that would stand for a decade. NBC agreed to broadcast the race live, making it the first 500-mile Indy car race to be broadcast live.ĭuring a private test session in November 1986, Rick Mears set an Indy car closed-course speed record driving a March 86C/ Ilmor- Chevrolet with a lap of 233.934 mph. For 1981, the summer race at Michigan was expanded to 500 miles, effectively replacing Ontario. As a result, Indy car racing's "triple crown" ( Indianapolis, Pocono, Ontario) lost one of its prestigious 500-mile races. In 1979, both the summer race and the fall race at Michigan switched to CART sanctioning.Īt the end of the 1980 season, Ontario Motor Speedway closed. On multiple occasions, the USAC Championship Car races at Michigan were held as part of a doubleheader with the USAC Stock Car series.ĬART The pace car leads the field to the start of the 1988 Michigan 500. Through 1980, all events were either 200 or 250 miles in length, with some events consisting of twin 125-mile races. In 1973, a second race was added to the USAC Championship Car schedule, a fall race usually held in September. Indy car owner and promoter Roger Penske purchased the track in 1972, and it became a mainstay on the Indy/Championship Car calendar. In 1970, USAC returned with what would become a traditional July race date. In 1968, American open wheel racing debuted at the circuit with a 200-mile (320 km) USAC Championship Car event. Twelve drivers have scored their first - and in some cases only - Indy car race win at Michigan. In addition, the track has produced many surprise winners, owing much to the frequently high attrition. ![]() Two drivers ( Michael Andretti and Scott Goodyear) won the Michigan 500 twice, while Tony Kanaan won a 500-mile race and a 400-mile race. (189.727 mph) was the fastest 500-mile race in history at the time, a record that stood until 2002. The races at Michigan gained a reputation for high speeds, being rough on equipment, high attrition, and for devastating crashes. ![]() The final Indy car race (as of 2023) was held in 2007. In 2002, the summer race switched to the Indy Racing League, and the distance was shortened to 400 miles. 500.Īfter 1986, the fall race was dropped. A total of twenty-two 500-mile Indy car races were held at Michigan, including 21 annual editions of the Michigan 500, plus the 1996 U.S. In 1981, the summer race was expanded to 500 miles, and the Inaugural Michigan 500 was won by Pancho Carter. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, the facility typically hosted two events per season, one race during the summer, and one race during the fall. The first event was a 250-mile USAC race won by Ronnie Bucknum. Held from 1981 to 2001, the event was held in high prestige, constituting part of Indy car racing's 500-mile "Triple Crown".īetween 19, Michigan International Speedway hosted a total of 55 Indy car races, across USAC, CART, and Indy Racing League sanctioning. The Michigan 500 was an Ind圜ar Series race held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
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