SunTrust Indy Challenge

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 near Richmond, Virginia from 2001-2009. From 2001-2007, the race was scheduled for 250 laps (187.5 miles), from 2008-2009, the race distance was extended to 300 laps.

The event debuted as a Saturday night race in 2001. The event became one of the more popular races on the schedule, and was arguably the most successful IndyCar race held in traditional "NASCAR Country". The race hearkened 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 on the event 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

External links

• IndyCar.com race page
• champcarstats.com