XM Satellite Radio Indy 300
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Venue | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
| Corporate sponsor | XM Satellite Radio |
| First race | 1985 |
| First IRL race | 2001 |
| Distance | 300 miles |
| Number of laps | 200 |
| Previous names | Beatrice Indy Challenge (1985)
Miami Indy Challenge (1986) Nissan Indy Challenge (1987-1988) Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota (1995-2000) Infiniti Grand Prix of Miami presented by 123.com Americatel (2001) 20th Anniversary Miami Grand Prix (2002) Toyota Indy 300 Presented by XM Satellite Radio (2006) |
The XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 is an Indy Racing League Series race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. In 2007, on television, the race was advertised as the Ethanol 300 Presented by XM Satellite Radio.
The first championship car race that took place in the Miami-area was on February 22, 1926 at Fulford-Miami Speedway in nearby Fulford. A 300-mile race sanctioned by AAA took place only once at the 1.25-mile wooden board track. Peter DePaolo was the winner.
Modern American open wheel racing in the Miami-area dates back to 1985. In that year, the CART Champ Car series began racing on a temporary street circuit in Tamiami Park, a small outdoor sports facility in the nearby suburb of Tamiami. The served as the season finale. In 1987-1988, the short-lived CART all-star exhibition race, the Marlboro Challenge, was also held at the Tamiami circuit, in conjunction with the main event. The races did not enjoy the same interest or attendance that had been experienced by the annual IMSA races in March, which was held at a different street course in Miami. After 1988, the Tamiami Park race was discontinued. As of 2007, subtle remnants of the course are still visible.
In 1995, race promoter Ralph Sanchez brought open wheel racing back to Miami. He had already begun construction on the Homestead Motorsports Complex (now known as Homstead-Miami Speedway), where the race would be, but the track would not be completed until later in the year. For 1995 only, CART held a race on the Bicentennial Park circuirt, on Biscayne Bay, formerly used by IMSA from 1983-1993. It was, however, run in the opposite direction to prevent drivers familiar with the circuit from having an experience advantage. The course wound through roads surrounding the current site of AmericanAirlines Arena and traversed down Biscayne Boulevard. As of 2007, some of the course layout remains intact.
In 1996, CART debuted at the Homestead oval with a 200-mile CART Champ Car event. In 1997, the race was lengthened to 225 miles. In 2001, the event switched to an Indycar Series event and was again lengthened, to 300 miles. In 2007, the race was moved from a Sunday afternoon event to a Saturday night event under the lights. The XM Satellite Radio Speed Jam will feature the XM Satellite Radio Indy 300 along with the Linder Industrial Komatsu Grand Prix of Miami, part of the Rolex Sports Car Series.
Contents |
[edit] Past winners
[edit] Previous Logos
 2002 event logo |
 2006 event logo |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Google Maps satellite image of former Bicentennial Park race course
- eTracks map of Tamiami Park circuit
- Google Maps satellite image of former Tamiami Park race course
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