Indy Japan 300

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**Indy Japan 300**

Venue	Twin Ring Motegi
Corporate sponsor	Bridgestone
First race	1998
First IRL race	2003
Distance	300 miles
Number of laps	200
Previous names	Budweiser 500k (1998) Firestone Firehawk 500k (1999-2001) Bridgestone Potenza 500k (2002)

The Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 is an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race held at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan.

The first American open-wheel race in Japan was held in 1966 at Fuji Speedway. Jackie Stewart won the Fuji Japan 200, which was held as an exhibition race, and no championship points were awarded. USAC did not return.

For a short period in the late 1980s and early 1990s the CART series explored the prospects of holding a race in Japan. Possible locations would be either Suzuka, Fuji, or a street course in another city. The FIA objected, citing conflicts with Formula One and other interests. In addition, rules were put into place requiring that any CART race outside of North America be held on an oval. Despite the objections, in 1991 CART made their first trip across the Pacific Ocean, and held a street race at Surfer's Paradise, Australia. The plans for a race in Japan were scrapped.

In 1994, Honda joined the CART series, and by 1996, was widely successful. Interest in holding a race in Japan resurfaced, and upon the completion of the Twin Ring Motegi oval, a race was first held in 1998 without FIA objection. The race continued as a Champ Car event through 2002. In 2003, Honda switched alliances to the Indy Racing League, and the race became an Indycar Series event.

From 2003-2006, the race marked the final IRL race before the Indianapolis 500. The extended travel time required typically found the race held the weekend before or after Easter, leaving one or two weeks of travel and rest time until practice began at Indianapolis in early May. This situation was widely unpopular for fans, and for television, because it would leave a large gap in the schedule, and disrupt continuity leading to the series' premier event. Starting in 2007, the race at Kansas Speedway was moved immediately after Motegi, and would serve as a more popular lead-in to the Indianapolis 500.

[edit] Past results

Season	Date	Winning Driver	Chassis	Engine
USAC Championship Car history (Fuji)
1966	October 9	Jackie Stewart	Lola	Ford
CART Champ Car history
1998	March 28	Adrian Fernandez	Reynard	Ford
1999	April 10	Adrian Fernandez	Reynard	Ford
2000	May 13	Michael Andretti	Lola	Ford
2001	May 19	Kenny Bräck	Lola	Ford
2002	April 27	Bruno Junqueira	Lola	Toyota
IRL Indycar Series history
2003	April 13	Scott Sharp	Dallara	Toyota
2004	April 16	Dan Wheldon	Dallara	Honda
2005	April 30	Dan Wheldon	Dallara	Honda
2006	April 22	Helio Castroneves	Dallara	Honda