Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix

Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix
Venue Arizona State Fairgrounds (1915, 1950–63)
Phoenix International Raceway (1964–2005, 2016–)
First race 1915
Distance 255.5 miles
Laps 250
Previous names Bobby Ball Memorial
Jimmy Bryan Memorial
Most wins (driver) Al Unser (6)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chassis: March
Dallara (9)
Engine: Offenhauser (25)

The Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix is a Verizon IndyCar Series race held at the Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Open wheel racing in the Phoenix area dates back to 1915 on a dirt oval at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. The race was revived in 1950 by the AAA, and then passed to the United States Auto Club in 1956. USAC moved the race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979, and joined the Indy Racing League in 1996. It was held continuously through 2005.

After a hiatus of eleven years, the race was revived by the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2016. It is currently held on Saturday night under the lights. Long considered a popular Indy car track, Phoenix has a rich history of open wheel races, including a spectacular crash involving Johnny Rutherford (1980), and the final career victory for Indy legend Mario Andretti (1993).

History

During its time on the USAC Championship Car circuit, Phoenix International Raceway typically held two races annually, one in the spring, and one in the fall. During the CART years, two races were scheduled through the mid-1980s, but the track dropped down to one race per year starting in 1987. In many years, Phoenix served as the CART season opener. After a feud between the track ownership and CART series officials, the track was dropped from the CART schedule after 1995, and immediately switched to the IRL beginning in 1996.

Citing low attendance, the race was put on hiatus after the 2005 season. In 2007, the Grand Prix Arizona for the Champ Car series was planned on a street circuit in downtown Phoenix nearby to the original course used for the U.S. Grand Prix. The event was cancelled four months before the event due to insufficient sponsorship funding.[1]

After a long hiatus, the Phoenix Grand Prix returned to the IndyCar Series schedule in 2016. The race was the only 1-mile oval on the schedule. The race was scheduled for a twilight start, and raced into the night under the lights. With the reconfiguring of the track in 2011, the circuit measured 1.022 miles in length, and the race was scheduled for 255.5 miles. Desert Diamond West Valley was announced as the title sponsor of the race for 2016 on March 23.[2]

Past winners

Arizona State Fairgrounds

Season Date Race Name Driver Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
AAA Championship Car history
1915 November 20 United States Earl Cooper Stutz Stutz 109 109 (175.418) 1:42:30 64.39
1916

1949
Not held
1950 November 12 Phoenix 100 United States Jimmy Davies Ewing Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:16:54 78.020
1951 November 4 Phoenix 100 United States Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:54 84.626
1952 November 11 Phoenix 100 United States Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:09:52 85.87
1953 November 11 Phoenix 100 United States Tony Bettenhausen Kurtis Kraft Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:11:30 83.916
1954 November 7−8* Bobby Ball Memorial United States Jimmy Bryan Kuzma Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:59 84.524
1955 November 6 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Jimmy Bryan Kuzma Offy 97* 97 (156.106) 1:09:24 83.862
USAC Championship Car history
1956 November 12 Bobby Ball Memorial United States George Amick Lesovsky D Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:05:20 91.826
1957 November 11 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Jimmy Bryan Kuzma Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:09:46 86.001
1958 November 11 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Jud Larson Lesovsky D Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:04:42 92.738
1959 October 18 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Tony Bettenhausen Kuzma Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:07:50 88.458
1960 November 20 Bobby Ball Memorial United States A.J. Foyt Meskowski Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:07:21 89.079
1961 November 19 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Parnelli Jones Lesovsky Offy 89* 89 (143.231)
1962 November 18 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Bobby Marshman Kuzma Offy 51* 51 (82.076) 0:33:13 92.124
1963 November 17 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Rodger Ward Watson Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:35 85.01

Phoenix International Raceway

Season Date Race Name Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
USAC Championship Car history
1964 March 22 Phoenix 100 United States A.J. Foyt Watson Offy 100 100 (160.934) 0:55:48 107.536
November 22 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Lloyd Ruby Halibrand RE Foyt 200 200 (321.868) 1:51:23 107.736
1965 March 28 Jimmy Bryan Memorial United States Don Branson Watson Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:24:33 106.456
November 21 Bobby Ball Memorial United States A.J. Foyt Lotus Ford 200 200 (321.868) 2:00:01 99.99
1966 March 20 Jimmy Bryan Memorial United States Jim McElreath Brabham Ford 150 150 (241.401) 1:31:05 98.828
November 20 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Mario Andretti Hawk Ford 200 200 (321.868) 1:54:38 104.697
1967 April 9 Jimmy Bryan Memorial United States Lloyd Ruby Mongoose Ford 150 150 (241.401) 1:44:18 86.296
November 19 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Mario Andretti Hawk Ford 200 200 (321.868) 1:49:13 109.872
1968 April 7 Jimmy Bryan Memorial United States Bobby Unser Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:29:10 100.938
November 17 Bobby Ball Memorial United States Gary Bettenhausen Gerhardt Offy 200 200 (321.868) 1:54:19 104.972
1969 March 30 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States George Follmer Cheetah Chevrolet 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:55 109.8
November 15 Bobby Ball 200 United States Al Unser Lola Ford 200 200 (321.868) 1:48:59 110.109
1970 March 28 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Al Unser Colt Ford 150 150 (241.401)
November 21 Bobby Ball 150 United States Swede Savage Eagle Ford 150 150 (241.401) 1:17:30 116.807
1971 March 27 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Al Unser Colt Ford 150 150 (241.401) 1:20:40 111.565
October 23 Bobby Ball 150 United States A.J. Foyt Coyote Ford 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:18 110.333
1972 March 18 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Bobby Unser Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:27:32 102.805
November 4 Best Western 150 United States Bobby Unser Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:10:31 127.618
1973 March 17 Phoenix 150 Race postponed by rain and eventually cancelled due to infrastructure damage and scheduling conflicts.
November 3 Arizona 150 United States Gordon Johncock Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:18:15 115.015
1974 March 17 Phoenix 150 United States Mike Mosley Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:17:08 116.663
November 2 Phoenix 150 United States Gordon Johncock Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:12:28 124.202
1975 March 16 Bricklin 150 United States Johnny Rutherford McLaren Offy 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:06 110.971
November 9 Phoenix 150 United States A.J. Foyt Coyote Foyt 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:02 111.055
1976 March 14 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Bobby Unser Eagle Offy 150 150 (241.401)
November 7 Bobby Ball 150 United States Al Unser Parnelli Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:23:34 107.695
1977 March 27 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Johnny Rutherford McLaren Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:20:48 111.395
October 29 Bobby Ball 150 United States Gordon Johncock Wildcat DGS 150 150 (241.401) 1:22:53 108.597
1978 March 18 Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Gordon Johncock Wildcat DGS 150 150 (241.401) 1:17:05 116.757
October 28 Miller High Life Bobby Ball Memorial 150 United States Johnny Rutherford McLaren Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:14:24 120.974
CART Indy Car World Series history
1979 March 11 Arizona Republic / Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Gordon Johncock Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:15:23 119.389
October 20 Miller High Life 150 United States Al Unser Chaparral Racing Chaparral Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:13:03 123.203
1980 March 2 Phoenix 150 Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
November 8 Miller High Life 150 United States Tom Sneva O'Connell Phoenix Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:30:04 99.925
1981 March 22 Kraco Car Stereo 150 United States Johnny Rutherford Chaparral Racing Chaparral Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:17:08 116.681
October 31 Miller High Life 150 United States Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:20:10 112.266
1982 March 28 Kraco Car Stereo 150 United States Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:15:48 118.727
November 6 Miller High Life 150 United States Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:05 110.997
1983 March 20 Phoenix 150 Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
October 29 Miller High Life 150 Italy Teo Fabi Forsythe Racing March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:11:03
1984 April 14 Dana-Jimmy Bryan 150 United States Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:14:39 120.555
October 13 Stroh's 150 United States Bobby Rahal Truesports March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:31:47 98.048
1985 March 31 Phoenix 150 Race cancelled due to general deterioration of the track.
October 13 Dana 150 United States Al Unser Penske Racing March Cosworth 150 150 (241.401) 1:14:35 120.644
1986 April 6 Dana 200 United States Kevin Cogan Patrick Racing March Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:39:42 120.345
October 19 Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 United States Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing March Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:29:06 134.676
1987 April 12 Checker 200 Colombia Roberto Guerrero Granatelli Racing Team March Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:26:56 138.02
1988 April 10 Checker 200 United States Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:38:22 121.992
1989 April 9 Checker Autoworks 200 United States Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:35:09 126.112
1990 April 8 Autoworks 200 United States Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:35:01 126.291
1991 April 21 Valvoline 200 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk Granatelli Racing Team Lola Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:32:18 129.988
1992 April 5 Valvoline 200 United States Bobby Rahal Rahal/Letterman Racing Lola Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:31:56 130.529
1993 April 4 Valvoline 200 United States Mario Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:36:53 123.847
1994 April 10 Slick-50 200 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:51:41 107.437
1995 April 2 Slick-50 200 United States Robby Gordon Walker Racing Reynard Ford-Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:29:33 133.98
Indy Racing League / IndyCar Series history
1996 March 24 Dura Lube 200 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk Treadway Racing Reynard Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:42:14 117.368
1996-97 March 23, 1997 Phoenix 200 United States Jim Guthrie Blueprint Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 200 200 (321.868) 2:14:33 89.19
1998 March 22 Dura-Lube 200 United States Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 200 200 (321.868) 2:02:19 98.11
1999 March 28 MCI WorldCom 200 Canada Scott Goodyear Panther Racing G-Force Oldsmobile 200 200 (321.868) 1:56:40 102.856
2000 March 19 MCI WorldCom 200 United States Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn Racing Riley & Scott Oldsmobile 200 200 (321.868) 1:47:11 111.957
2001 March 18 Pennzoil / Copper World Indy 200 United States Sam Hornish, Jr. Panther Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 200 200 (321.868) 1:35:57 125.072
2002 March 17 Bombardier ATV Indy 200 Brazil Helio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 200 200 (321.868) 1:43:00 116.504
2003 March 23 Purex / Dial Indy 200 Brazil Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 200 200 (321.868) 1:59:55 100.073
2004 March 21 Copper World Indy 200 Brazil Tony Kanaan Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 200 200 (321.868) 1:33:46 127.981
2005 March 19 XM Satellite Radio 200
Presented by Argent Mortgage
United States Sam Hornish, Jr. Team Penske Dallara Toyota 200 200 (321.868) 1:30:24 137.753
2006

2015
Not held
2016 April 2 Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix New Zealand Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Chevrolet 250 255.5 (411.186)* 1:49:39 139.822
2017 April 29 Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix France Simon Pagenaud Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 250 255.5 (411.186) 1:46:25 144.058

Support races

Season Date Winning Driver Chassis Engine
ARS / Indy Lights Series
1986 April 6 New Zealand Steve Millen March Buick
October 19 Italy Fabrizio Barbazza March Buick
1987 April 12 United States Jeff Andretti March Buick
1988 April 9 Canada Paul Tracy March Buick
1989 April 8 United States Mike Groff March Buick
1990 April 7 Canada Paul Tracy March Buick
1991 April 21 United States Robbie Groff March Buick
1992 April 5 Mexico Adrián Fernández March Buick
1993 April 4 United States Sandy Brody Lola Buick
1994 April 10 Canada Greg Moore Lola Buick
1995 April 2 Canada Greg Moore Lola Buick
2003 March 22 United Kingdom Mark Taylor Dallara Infiniti
2004 March 20 Brazil Thiago Medeiros Dallara Infiniti
2005 March 20 United States Jon Herb Dallara Infiniti
2016 April 2 United States Kyle Kaiser Dallara Mazda-AER

Season Date Winning Driver
USAC Mini-Indy Series
1977 October 29 United States Herm Johnson
1978 March 18 United States Tim Richmond
October 28 United States Kevin Cogan
SCCA Super Vee Series
1980 November 8 United States Al Unser, Jr.
1981 October 31 United States Pete Halsmer
1982 March 28 United States Michael Andretti
November 6 United States Michael Andretti
1983 October 29 Canada Ludwig Heimrath, Jr.
1984 April 15 Canada Ludwig Heimrath, Jr.
1985 October 13 United States Jeff Andretti
1986 October 19 United States Mike Groff
1987 April 12 United States Ken Johnson
1988 April 10 United States Ken Murillo
1989 April 9 United States Robbie Groff
1990 April 8 United States Stuart Crow

Selected race summaries

CART series

IndyCar Series

References

  1. Berry, Jahna (29 August 2007). "Grand Prix Arizona canceled". The Arizona Republic.
  2. "PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY NAMES DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY TITLE SPONSOR OF APRIL 2 PHOENIX GRAND PRIX". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. "Auto Racing Roundup : Cogan Gets a Break and Beats Sneva for First Indy-Car Win". Los Angeles Times. Avondale, Arizona: Tribune Publishing. Times Wire Services. April 7, 1986. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  4. "Sharp/Dismore Fined for Phoenix Infractions". The Auto Channel. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  5. Glick, Shav (March 16, 2001). "Penske CART Team Using Phoenix Race as Indy 500 Tuneup". Los Angeles Times. Avondale, Arizona: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  6. "IRL: Hornish secures lucky 13th win at PIR". Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com, Inc. March 22, 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
Preceded by
Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
IndyCar Series
Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix
Succeeded by
Grand Prix of Indianapolis
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