SunTrust Indy Challenge
IndyCar Series | |
---|---|
Venue | Richmond International Raceway |
Corporate sponsor | SunTrust Banks |
First race | 2001 |
Last race | 2009 |
Distance | 225 miles (362 km) |
Laps | 300 |
Previous names | SunTrust Indy Challenge Presented by XM Satellite Radio (2006-2007) |
Most wins (driver) |
Sam Hornish, Jr. (2) Scott Dixon (2) |
Most wins (team) | Andretti Green Racing (3) |
The SunTrust Indy Challenge was an IndyCar Series race held at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. From 2001-2009. From 2001-2007, the race was scheduled for 250 laps (187.5 miles). Starting in 2008, the race was extended to 300 laps.
The event debuted as a Saturday night race in 2001. The event has become one of the more popular races on the schedule, and has become the most successful race to date held in traditionally "NASCAR Country". The race harkens back to the classic short track "bull ring" style of racing known for during the AAA and USAC eras of Indy car racing.
ISC traditionally paired the race with other open-wheeled racing. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour once accompanied the race, but in later years USAC open-wheel short track racing had been on the undercard.
AAA held two National Championship sprint car races at the track when it was still a half-mile dirt track under the name Strawberry Hill Speedway. Later, NASCAR sanctioned two Championship Car events at nearby Martinsville Speedway in 1952 and 1953.
On July 30, 2009, RIR track President Doug Fritz announced that the Suntrust Indy Challenge would not be on the 2010 IndyCar Series schedule. The costs to put the event on and possible loss of sponsorship was cited as the reason for the IRL and RIR to not come to an agreement on the event.[1]
Past winners
Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
Report | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||
AAA Championship Car history | ||||||||||
1946 | October 12 | Ted Horn | Ted Horn Engineering | Offy | 20 | 10 (16.093) | 0:07:27 | 80.537 | ||
November 10 | Tommy Hinnershitz | Ted Horn Engineering | 25 | 12.5 (20.116) | ||||||
1947–2000: Not held | ||||||||||
IRL IndyCar Series history | ||||||||||
2001 | June 30 | Buddy Lazier | Hemelgarn Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:55:27 | 97.435 | Report |
2002 | June 29 | Sam Hornish, Jr. | Panther Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:53:30 | 99.124 | Report |
2003 | June 28 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | G-Force | Toyota | 206* | 154.5 (248.643) | 1:26:48 | 106.798 | Report |
2004 | June 26 | Dan Wheldon | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:38:11 | 114.589 | Report |
2005 | June 25 | Hélio Castroneves | Team Penske | Dallara | Toyota | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:38:33 | 114.153 | Report |
2006 | June 24 | Sam Hornish, Jr. | Team Penske | Dallara | Honda | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:26:49 | 129.572 | Report |
2007 | June 30 | Dario Franchitti | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 250 | 187.5 (301.752) | 1:24:20 | 133.408 | Report |
2008 | June 28 | Tony Kanaan | Andretti Green Racing | Dallara | Honda | 300 | 225 (362.102) | 2:04:06 | 108.79 | Report |
2009 | June 27 | Scott Dixon | Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 300 | 225 (362.102) | 1:48:02 | 124.952 | Report |
- 2003: Race shortened due to rain.
References
- ↑ Paulk, Ralph N. (30 July 2009). "RIR loses IndyCar Series race". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
External links
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