Marlboro Challenge
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The Marlboro Challenge was an All-star style event of the CART series from 1987-1992, sponsored by Marlboro. It was normally held in conjunction with the final race weekend of the season, and was comprised of all race winners since the previous years' Marlboro Challenge.
It was held at three different locations during its history:
- Tamiami Park (1987-1988)
- Laguna Seca (1989, 1991)
- Pennsylvania International Raceway (1990, 1992)
After 1992, the race was discontinued, in part because the Phillip Morris reorganized its race sponsorship after the Marlboro Grand Prix of New York fell through.
[edit] Past winners
Season | Date | Location | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | October 31 | Tamiami Park | Bobby Rahal | Lola | Cosworth |
1988 | November 5 | Tamiami Park | Michael Andretti | Lola | Cosworth |
1989 | October 14 | Laguna Seca | Al Unser, Jr. | Lola | Chevrolet |
1990 | October 6 | Nazareth | Rick Mears | Penske | Chevrolet |
1991 | October 19 | Laguna Seca | Michael Andretti | Lola | Chevrolet |
1992 | October 3 | Nazareth | Emerson Fittipaldi | Penske | Chevrolet |
[edit] Marlboro Million
During its tenure, from 1988-1991, the race was part of the Marlboro Million bonus program, which was similar to NASCAR's Winston Million. Any driver who won the Marlboro Grand Prix at the Meadowlands, the Marlboro 500 at Michigan, and Marlboro Challenge in the same season, would win a $1,000,000 bonus. The award was never achieved.