United States Grand Prix East
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The title of United States Grand Prix East was applied to two different Formula One World Championship events. It was used to refer to:
- the United States Grand Prix races held at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course from 1976 through 1980; this was to distinguish it from the United States Grand Prix West, held in Long Beach, California from 1976 through 1983.
- the Formula One races held at the Detroit street circuit from 1982 through 1988; the Detroit races were also called the Detroit Grand Prix.
In 1982, the U.S. became the first country to host three Grands Prix in one season. In addition to the Long Beach (United States Grand Prix West) and Las Vegas races, the new event was held in Detroit, Michigan on another street course, encompassing the Renaissance Center. The original circuit had seventeen corners in 2.493 miles, including two very tricky hairpins and a tunnel that enclosed a gentle right-hand bend next to the river, and proved to be even slower than Monaco. The rough, demanding, course even included a railroad track crossing. In 1986, Ayrton Senna overcame a tire puncture to win his first of five American races in six years.
For 1989, it was originally planned to move the F1 grand prix to a new circuit at Belle Isle. However, early on, an agreement could not be established, and the grand prix moved to Phoenix for 1989-1991. Upon the departure of F1, the Detroit race was replaced by an event sanctioned by CART, North America's premier open-wheel series of the time. Instead of moving the race, the Renaissance Center circuit was again utilized, with the main straight chicane removed. Beginning in 1992, the race was moved to the previously planned course on Belle Isle, a city park in the Detroit River. The Grand Prix was discontinued after the 2001 race because there were not enough paved areas on the island for support activities, and the overall uncompetitive nature of the course. In 2006, Roger Penske spearheaded talks to revive the race for 2007 as part of the Indy Racing League. On September 29, 2006, it was announced that the Detroit Grand Prix would return as the penultimate race of the 2007 Indy Racing League schedule. The American Le Mans Series will serve as the support race.
[edit] Winners
Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.
Note: The official title of the 1982 and 1984 events was United States Grand Prix East; the official title of the 1983 and 1985-1988 events was United States Grand Prix. For the winners of the 1976-1980 events, see: United States Grand Prix.
[edit] See also
- List of Formula One Championship events
- United States Grand Prix
- United States Grand Prix West
- Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Detroit Indy Grand Prix
| Races in the Formula One championship: |
| 2007 championship Grand Prix events: Australian | Malaysian | Bahrain | Spanish | Monaco | Canadian | U.S. | French | British |
| Past championship Grand Prix events: Argentine | Austrian | Dutch | European | Indy 500 | Las Vegas | Luxembourg | Mexican | Morocco |
