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==============================================
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INTRODUCTION
The 'ancient' predecessor to this section was a guide created
due to a personal inquiry for a guide for F1 2002, as I was
wishing to learn more about the history of the race venues
then used in F1 competition; this section takes that
information (from my Circuit Histories Guide) and expands it
to cover other racing venues (F1 and otherwise) worldwide.
This is not intended to be a detailed history of all the race
venues, but more of a general overview of the many circuits
included in Pro Race Driver.
The majority of information for this guide comes from
circuits' official Web sites, Formula1.com
(http://www.formula1.com/), NASCAR.com
(http://www.NASCAR.com/), and Driver Network
(http://www.drivernetwork.net/). In some cases, historical
information is taken directly from the circuits' own official
Web sites.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: A1 RING
The A1-Ring has been the host of F1's Grand Prix of Austria
since 1997, but also hosts Truck Grand Prix, Classic Grand
Prix, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and motorbikes, among
other racing series.
The 2002 Grand Prix of Austria was surrounded by controversy
following an extreme Ferrari public relations faux pas.
Reubens Barrichello had truly dominated the entire race
weekend, and was definitely on his way to his second-ever F1
win. In the closing laps of the race, teammate Michael
Schumacher (P2) began closing in on Barrichello, but the
assumption was that this move was to allow Ferrari's cars to
be close enough for a photo opportunity for its sponsors.
However, since Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya
(Schumacher's closest expected competition) were at that
point very close in points in the Drivers' Championship,
Barrichello - who that week had signed a contract extension
as the NUMBER TWO TEAM DRIVER behind Michael Schumacher - was
ordered to pull aside in the final meters of the race to
allow his teammate to gain an extra four points in his lead
over Montoya (P1 awards 10 points; P2 awards 6 points).
While FIA could not do anything against the team or the
drivers for the team orders, the fans in the stands (and
myself watching live on television at 7AM in Arizona) were
FURIOUS. Michael Schumacher having officially 'won' the race
was to take the top rung on the podium, but instead took the
second rung and pushed the 'true' winner Reubens Barrichello
to the top rung; the FIA took objection to this and
sanctioned the team and the drivers at a special hearing
later in the year.
F1 winners at A1-Ring: Jacques Villeneuve (1997), Mika
Hakkinen (1998 and 2000), Eddie Irvine (1999), David
Coulthard (2001), and Michael Schumacher (the official winner
in 2002 - see the note on the controversy above, as many
consider that Reubens Barrichello won the race).
See the official Web site (http://www.a1ring.at/) for more
information. Unfortunately, it does not appear to have any
historical information on the circuit itself, nor can I find
any such information online. Also, the official Web site is
entirely in German, a language I cannot read.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: ADELAIDE
This 3.22-kilometer (2.01-mile) temporary street circuit was
used for eleven years by Formula1 for the Grand Prix of
Australia (which is now held at Albert Park in Melbourne).
It is currently used by Australia's V8 Supercars series in
the same configuration as the F1 series.
Official history relating to the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars
race:
Since the inaugural 1999 Sensational Adelaide 500
attracted 162,000 patrons - a record for a national
motorsport meeting in Australia, the event has not stopped
growing in popularity and audience.
The 2000 event attracted another record crowd for a
national motorsport event, 164,000. The 2001 event raised
the bar even higher, attracting a crowd of 166,800
spectators and the 2002 event surpassed all expectations
with a new record attendance of 171,200.
The event has been awarded the AVESCO 'Motorsport Event of
the Year' for each year - 1999, 2000, 2001, as well as the
Yellow Pages Tourism Award as South Australia's best major
festival or special event.
Over its three-year history the Clipsal 500 Adelaide has
provided economic benefit to SA totaling $44.9m, with
visitor bed nights having increased forty two per cent to
43,400, and the length of stay of visitors increasing from
five to seven nights.
This year [2002] 21,000 grandstand seats were built,
providing more than three thousand extra as compared with
last year (2001).
Corporate clients this year numbered over 8,000 per day.
Increasing from the 2001 daily figure of 7,200.
Employment as a result of the event has increased to 290
full time job equivalents, while the media benefit (that
is the value of international and national television,
radio and press coverage) had grown by 32% over the past
three years with the total value being $87.67m.
A New Family Area was introduced to the event this year.
The area, located in the Rymill Park Lake section of the
circuit off Bartels Road (Adelaide Straight) was a
designated 'dry zone' and provided a number of free
attractions for children from 10am to 4pm each day,
including face painting, a jumping castle, a horse & car
carousel, and ladybird carousel. The area was complete
with a Clipsal Vision Super screen for ease of viewing.
This year two concerts were held at the event. The
Saturday Night After Race Concert delivered the ultimate
country show with a city appeal - featuring Lee Kernaghan
and Beccy Cole, with the Sunday Night Concert featuring
Australia's premiere male vocal group Human Nature, joined
by special guest Deni Hines, and new South Australian
talent, Candyce.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide track was modified for this
year's event. The turn 8 / 9 chicane was removed making it
a fast sweeper from Adelaide Straight on to Brabham
Straight.
The nominated charity to benefit from fundraising
opportunities during the 2002 event was The Leukaemia
Foundation of SA.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide television audience had grown,
not only on Network 10 throughout Australia, but live in
New Zealand and with a growing global audience which
included South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Russia,
forty four countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, the
Middle East, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, the United
States and South America.
See the official Web site (http://www.clipsal500.com.au/) for
more information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: BATHURST
From the official Web site of Bathurst 24 Hours (since there
is no official Web site for the circuit itself;
unfortunately, there is very little historical information
available here):
This unique circuit is located literally at the end of the
main street of Bathurst, a city of 40,000 people with
another 160,000 located within an 80-kilometer radius. It
holds legendary status within Australian motorsport
history, having hosted long distance races every year
since 1963.
...
The circuit runs 6.213 kms in an anti-clockwise direction.
A lap time for FIA N-GT cars is expected to be in the 2
min 10 sec to 2 min 15 sec region. Although it is usually
a public road, the track is constructed to an extremely
high standard for racing with excellent surfaces, width
and safety. The main pit areas feature permanent lock-up
garages (55) with overhead corporate hospitality suites.
Additional temporary pit structures will be provided for
the Bathurst 24hr situated along Mountain Straight. All
pit garages will use the same pit exit lane to the
circuit.
...
Mount Panorama is the only active motor racing track in
Australia, which is open to the public. It is 6.213 kms in
length, 870 metres above sea level at its height, 670
metres above sea level at its lowest point and has grades
of up to 1 in 6.13 - downhill on the actual racing
circuit.
See the official Web site of Bathurst 24 Hours
(http://www.bathurst24hr.com/) for more information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: BRANDS HATCH
Events at Brands Hatch include: MRO Powerbike, BRSCC
Championship, Aston Martin Race Weekend, Champion of Brands,
Historic Superprix, British F3, WSB Championship, Ferrari and
Maserati Festival, British Touring Cars, MG Racing
Spectacular, and Formula Ford Festival.
Official circuit history (from the Octagon Motorsports Web
site):
Since its birth in 1926 as a local bicycle-racing venue,
Brands Hatch has become synonymous with the best of
British motor racing. Situated in a natural bowl, the
circuit provided panoramic views of all the action, so its
popularity as a racing venue grew rapidly. In 1950 Brands
Hatch consisted of a mile-long oval tarmac circuit, but
extensions and improvements meant that by 1960, Brands
Hatch was ready to host Grand Prix events, and to write
itself into the history books.
In 1964, Jim Clarks won the European Grand Prix - not long
after, he posted the first 100 mph lap of the circuit. A
regular Grand Prix venue in the 70's and 80's, Brands
Hatch also provided Nigel Mansell with his first World
Championship win in 1985.
Unofficial circuit history (from grandprix.com):
It was back in 1926 that a group of cyclists on the main
road from London to Folkestone noticed a natural
amphitheater on land belonging to Brands Hatch farm, near
the village of West Kingsdown. After discussions with the
local farmer it was agreed that the field could be used
for bicycle racing and time trials. Within a couple of
years motorcycles had begun to use the dirt track and a
three-quarter mile circuit was laid out in the little
valley. It remained in operation throughout the 1930s but
it was not until after World War II that a proper
organization was established. That came with the formation
of Brands Hatch Stadium Ltd. in 1947 and later that year
the organizers convinced the BBC to film motorcycle races
to be transmitted on the new television network.
In April 1950, with a new tarmac surface and extended to a
mile, the track opened for car racing with 500cc Formula 3
becoming the mainstay of the racing calendar. In 1953 the
Universal Motor Racing Cub was established and a racing
school was set up at the circuit. The following year the
track was lengthened to 1.24-miles - with the addition of
the hairpin at Druids Bend - and widened and the racing
changed direction, the track having previously been anti
clockwise. A grandstand, acquired from the Northolt
trotting track, was added in 1955. The Le Mans disaster
that year was to provide a boost to Brands Hatch as many
of the rival postwar tracks were closed down because they
were not safe enough.
Brands Hatch managed to keep up with requirements and in
1956 hosted its first Formula 2 race with victory going to
Roy Salvadori, who was in considerable pain having broken
several ribs in a crash in an earlier sportscar event.
There was a second F2 race a month later which was won by
Colin Chapman driving one of his own Lotus 11s. A third F2
race at the end of the season established Brands Hatch as
a serious racing circuit although it was obviously too
short to attract any major international events. As a
result the track authorities applied for planning
permission to build an extension through the woods behind
the track. The Kent County Council agreed and the new
track hosted its first major race in August 1960 with
victory in the non-championship Silver City Trophy F1 race
going to Jack Brabham in a Cooper-Climax.
The following year the circuit's press officer John Webb
negotiated the sale of Brands Hatch to Grovewood
Securities. He was put in charge of Motor Circuit
Developments, the company which took over the management
of the track. Major upgrading followed with new facilities
added and new circuits acquired by MCD, including Mallory
Park (1962), Snetterton (1963) and Oulton Park (1964). In
July of that year Brands Hatch hosted its first World
Championship F1 race, the RAC having agreed to alternate
the British GP between Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
From the earliest days Brands had a number of fatal
accidents, but in the winter of 1965-66 Paddock Hill Ben
in particular had acquired a dreadful eputation, for
within a matter of months George Crossman, Tony Flory and
Stuart Duncan were killed there and two others were
seriously hurt. The death of Jo Siffert in October 1971
would lead to major safety work in 1972.
In the 1970s Brands Hatch played an important role in the
development of Formula Ford and in 1976 took over the
running of the Formula Ford Festival. Two years later
Brands Hatch hosted a race featuring Indycars, imported
for the occasion from the United States of America. Webb's
abilities as an organizer even enabled the track to host
the 1983 European Grand Prix at 10 weeks notice after the
unexpected cancellation of the New York GP.
The last British GP at Brands Hatch was held in 1986 with
victory going to Nigel Mansell in a Williams-Honda. That
year John Foulston bought Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and
Snetterton from Grovewood Securities and established a new
company called Brands Hatch Leisure. The following year
the company bought Cadwell Park but tragedy struck when
Foulston was killed while testing a McLaren Indycar at
Silverstone. BHL was taken over by his widow Mary
Foulston, although John Webb remained in charge until his
retirement in 1990. The running of the group was then
taken over by Nicola Foulston.
Without a Grand Prix Brands Hatch concentrated on Formula
3000 but a huge multiple accident in 1988 raised questions
of safety again and by 1991 the F3000 circus turned its
back on the track. Nicola Foulston was unperturbed and
continued to develop BHL as a business. In 1996 she
floated the company on the London Stock Exchange.
This was a big success and Foulston began to make
preparations for a bid for the British Grand Prix. In 1999
she announced that she had acquired the rights to hold the
race in 2002. Planning permission was sought for
rebuilding work but while this was still being discussed
Foulston sold the company to the giant American
advertising firm Interpublic for $195m, a premium of 36%
on the price of the shares.
See the official Web site of Octagon Motorsports
(http://circuits.octagonmotorsports.com/) for more
information on this and other Octagon Motorsports race venues
in the United Kingdom.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: BRISTOL
First used for NASCAR in 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway is the
shortest track on the current NASCAR calendar at 0.533 miles
(0.853 kilometers) - thus it is known as 'The World's Fastest
Half-mile.' Formerly asphalt, the Bristol, Tennessee, USA,
circuit was converted to concrete in 1992, and boasts
attendance easily topping 150,000 for NASCAR events. The
banking is thirty-six degrees in the corners and sixteen
degrees on the straightaways.
World of Outlaws and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series have also
held races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Racing schools at
Bristol Motor Speedway include Buck Baker Racing School, Fast
Track High Performance Driving School, Jarrett Favre Driving
Adventure, Richard Petty Driving Experience, SpeedTech Auto
Racing School, and Roy Hill's Drag Racing School.
Here is the history of Bristol Motor Speedway as given on the
official Web site of the circuit:
Bristol Motor Speedway could very easily have opened in
1961 under a different name. The first proposed site for
the speedway was in Piney Flats but, according to Carl
Moore, who built the track along with Larry Carrier and
R.G. Pope, the idea met local opposition. So the track
that could have been called Piney Flats International
Speedway was built five miles down the road on 11-E in
Bristol.
The land that Bristol Motor Speedway is built on used to
be a dairy farm.
Larry Carrier and Carl Moore traveled to Charlotte Motor
Speedway in 1960 to watch a race and it was then that they
decided to build a speedway in Northeast Tennessee.
However, they wanted a smaller model of CMS, something
with a more intimate setting and opted to erect a half
mile facility instead of mirroring the 1.5-mile track in
Charlotte.
Work began on what was then called Bristol International
Speedway in 1960 and it took approximately one year to
finish. Many ideas for the track were scratched on
envelopes and brown paper bags by Carrier, Moore and Pope.
Purchase of the land on which BMS now sits, as well as
construction of the track, cost approximately $600,000.
The entire layout for BMS covered 100 acres and provided
parking for more than 12,000 cars. The track itself was a
perfect half-mile, measuring 60 feet wide on the
straightaways, 75 feet wide in the turns and the turns
were banked at 22 degrees.
Seating capacity for the very first NASCAR race at BMS -
held on July 30, 1961 - was 18,000. Prior to this race
the speedway hosted weekly races.
The first driver on the track for practice on July 27,
1961 was Tiny Lund in his Pontiac. The second driver out
was David Pearson.
Fred Lorenzen won the pole for the first race at BMS with
a speed of 79.225 mph.
Atlanta's Jack Smith won the inaugural event - the
Volunteer 500 - at BMS on July 30, 1961. However, Smith
wasn't in the driver's seat of the Pontiac when the race
ended. Smith drove the first 290 laps then had to have
Johnny Allen, also of Atlanta, take over as his relief
driver. The two shared the $3,225 purse. The total purse
for the race was $16,625.
Nashville star Brenda Lee, who was 17 at the time, sang
the national anthem for the first race at BMS.
A total of 42 cars started the first race at BMS but only
19 finished.
In the fall of 1969 BMS was reshaped and remeasured. The
turns were banked at 36 degrees and it became a .533-mile
oval.
The speedway was sold after the 1976 season to Lanny
Hester and Gary Baker.
In the spring of 1978 the track name was changed to
Bristol International Raceway.
In August of 1978 the first night race was held on the
oval.
On April 1, 1982 Lanny Hester sold his half of the
speedway to Warner Hodgdon.
On July 6, 1983, Warner Hodgdon completed 100 percent
purchase of Bristol Motor Speedway, as well as Nashville
Speedway, in a buy-sell agreement with Baker. Hodgdon
named Larry Carrier as the track's general manager.
On January 11, 1985, Warner Hodgdon filed for bankruptcy.
After Warner Hodgdon filed for bankruptcy, Larry Carrier
formally took possession of the speedway and covered all
outstanding debts.
In August of 1992 BMS became the first speedway to host a
Winston Cup event that boasted a track surface that was
all concrete.
On Jan. 22, 1996, Larry Carrier sold the speedway to
Bruton Smith at a purchase price of $26 million. At the
time of the sale, the facility seated 71,000.
On May 28, 1996 the track's name was officially changed to
Bristol Motor Speedway.
By August of 1996, 15,000 seats had been added bringing
the seating capacity to 86,000.
BMS continued to grow and by April of 1997 was the largest
sports arena in Tennessee and one of the largest in the
country, seating 118,000. The speedway also boasted 22 new
skyboxes.
For the August 1998 Goody's 500 the speedway featured more
than 131,000 grandstand seats and 100 skyboxes.
Improvements to the speedway since Smith took possession
are in excess of $50 million.
The seating capacity for the Food City 500 in March of
2000 was 147,000 as the Kulwicki Terrace and Kulwicki
Tower were completed.
Some notable track facts (taken from the official Web site):
- Kurt Busch won his first career Winston Cup race in the
2002 running of the Food City 500.
- Tony Stewart's initial Bristol win came in the 2001 Sharpie
500.
- Elliott Sadler's victory in 2001 Food City 500 was the
first for Bristol victory for Stuart, Va.'s, famed Wood
Brothers team.
- In 21 of 40 years since Bristol opened, a driver who won a
Winston Cup race at Bristol went on to win the series title
later the same year.
- Rusty Wallace snapped Jeff Gordon's four-year Food City 500
winning streak in 1999 and got his 50th win in 2000.
- WCS track qualifying record: Jeff Gordon, 127.216 mph,
15.083 sec. 126.37 mph, 3/22/02.
- WCS race record: Charlie Glotzbach, 101.074 mph (2:38:12),
7/11/71.
- Most Bristol wins (driver): Darrell Waltrip, 12 (seven
consecutive).
- Most Bristol wins (car owner): Junior Johnson, 21 (eight
consecutive).
- Most Bristol wins (manufacturer): Chevrolet, 36 (Ford is
second with 23).
- Most Bristol poles (driver): Cale Yarborough, nine.
- Johnny Allen crossed the finish line first in the inaugural
BMS race, but he was driving in relief of Jack Smith, who
gets credit for Bristol's first victory.
For NASCAR, race speed records are:
- Winston Cup: C. Glotzbach at 101.074MPH (161.718KPH, set
July 11, 1971)
- Busch Series: H. Gant at 92.929MPH (148.686KPH, set April
4, 1992)
- Craftsman Trucks: R. Carelli at 83.992MPH (134.387KPH, set
June 22, 1996)
See the official Web site
(http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/) for more information
as well as photo galleries.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: CANBERRA
No information or official Web site found.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: CATALUNYA
The Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona has hosted the Grand
Prix of Spain since 1997. The circuit hosts numerous forms
of racing, including FIA Sportscar Championship, Spanish
Formula-1 Grand Prix, 24 HOURS MOTORBIKE ENDURANCE, 24 HOURS
CAR ENDURANCE, Catalunya Motorbike Championship, Spanish GT's
Championship, Truck GP, and certainly F1 Racing; Catalunya
even holds courses for the preparation of racing officials.
Many teams also use the circuit for practice and testing.
The circuit has three configurations: Grand Prix (7.563
kilometers, or 4.727 miles), National (4.907 kilometers, or
3.067 miles), and School (2.725 kilometers, or 1.703 miles).
F1 winners at Catalunya: Jacques Villeneuve (1997), Mika
Hakkinen (1998-2000), and Mika Hakkinen (2001 and 2002).
See the official Web site (http://www.circuitcat.com) for
more information. Unfortunately, it does not have any
historical information on the circuit, nor can I find any
such information online.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: CHARLOTTE
Named 'Charlotte' in Pro Race Driver, this is really now
known as Lowe's Motor Speedway. The complex sports both a
superspeedway (which is highly famous amongst NASCAR fans)
and a dirt track (which is highly famous amongst World of
Outlaws fans).
Here is the circuit history from the official Web site:
Lowe's Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 b
current chairman O. Bruton Smith. The late Curtis Turner,
one of stock car racing's earliest driving stars, was
Smith's business partner.
At the time Smith, a native of Oakboro, N.C., was an
automobile dealer and short-track stock car racing
promoter at Concord Motor Speedway and the Charlotte
Fairgrounds. Turner, a Virginian who amassed his money in
the lumber industry, became one of the first drivers on
the NASCAR circuit after the sanctioning body debuted in
1949.
Together, they built their dream of a 1.5-mile
superspeedway on the outskirts of The Queen City and, on
June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was run at the new
facility.
In 1961, like many superspeedways of the era, the track
fell into Chapter 11 reorganization from which it
eventually emerged despite lagging ticket sales.
After his departure from the speedway in 1962, Smith
pursued other business interests in Texas and Illinois.
Working within Ford Motor Company's dealership program,
Smith became quite successful and began purchasing shares
of stock in Lowe's Motor Speedway. By 1975 Smith had again
become the majority stockholder in the speedway, regaining
control of its day-to-day operations.
He hired current President H.A. 'Humpy' Wheeler as general
manager and the two began to implement plans for needed
improvements and expansion.
During the ensuing 25 years, Smith and Wheeler
demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction,
building a facility that continuously established new
industry standards.
Thousands of grandstand seats and luxury suites were
built. Food concessions and restroom facilities were added
and modernized to increase the comfort of race fans.
Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility
connected to the speedway's grandstands, was erected and
opened in 1988. The building houses the speedway's
corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop,
leased office space and The Speedway Club, an exclusive
dining and entertainment facility.
Under the watchful eye of Smith and direction of Wheeler,
in 1984 Lowe's Motor Speedway became the only sports
facility in America to offer year-round living
accommodations when it built 40 condominiums high above
turn one. Twelve additional condominium units were added
in 1991.
Another innovation implemented by Smith and Wheeler was a
$1.7 million, 1,200-fixture permanent lighting system
developed by MUSCO Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The
revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate
daylight without glare, shadows or obtrusive light poles.
The lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Lowe's
Motor Speedway to be the first superspeedway to host night
auto racing.
Ever cognizant of the competitors as well as the
spectators, Smith and Wheeler added a new $1 million,
20,000-square-foot Winston Cup garage area in 1994.
Other additions and improvements include the development
of the speedway's 2,000-plus acres. In addition to the
speedway, the property, some of which is leased, includes
an industrial park that serves as home to several
motorsports-related businesses, a modern landfill facility
operated by BFI and a natural wildlife habitat.
In addition to the 1.5-mile quad oval, the Lowe's Motor
Speedway complex includes a 2.25-mile road course and a
six-tenths-mile karting layout in the speedway's infield;
a quarter-mile asphalt oval utilizing part of the
speedway's frontstretch and pit road; and a one-fifth-mile
oval located outside turn three of the superspeedway.
Three NASCAR Winston Cup events, two NASCAR Busch Series
races, a pair of Automobile Racing Club of America events
and a Goody's Dash Series race are among the events held
each year on the 1.5-mile superspeedway. The FasTrack
Driving School and the Richard Petty Driving Experience
also use the track extensively throughout the year.
Other events on the various tracks include a weekly,
nationally televised short track series for Legends Cars;
Sports Car Club of America national and regional
competitions; American Motorcycle Association events; and
World Karting Association regional, national and
international races.
In May 2000, a state-of-the-art four-tenths-mile clay
oval-The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway-was complete
across Highway 29 from the speedway. The stadium-style
facility has nearly 15,000 seats and plays host to the
Pennzoil World of Outlaws sprint cars, dirt late model
stock cars, the AMA Grand National motorcycles, the
Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series and Monster
Trucks.
Lowe's Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the
nation's largest car shows and swap meets-the Food Lion
AutoFairs in April and September-and rents the facility
more than 300 days per year. Corporations such as IBM,
UNOCAL, Miller Brewing, Coca-Cola, Duracell, Wendy's and
Lipton Tea have rented the speedway to film television
commercials or to entertain employees and clients with
food, music and race car rides.
Motion pictures such as 'Days of Thunder,' 'Speedway' and
'Stroker Ace' and even music videos like Tracy Lawrence's
'If the Good Die Young' have been filmed at the speedway.
Adding to rental dates are race team testing and
automobile manufacturer research.
Smith and Wheeler will quickly point out they have yet to
complete their vision, and they continue to improve and
expand the facility.
More than 10,000 stadium-style seats, 20 new executive
suites and 40 special 32-seat boxes were built in turn
four in 1995. In May 1997, the Diamond Tower Terrace
grandstand was opened along the backstretch to accommodate
an additional 26,000 race fans for The Winston and Coca
Cola 600. In May 1998, an 11,000-seat expansion of the new
Diamond Tower Terrace was completed, bringing the total
seating capacity of Lowe's Motor Speedway to approximately
147,000. Then in May 1999, more than 10,000 new seats were
completed in the Fourth Turn Terrace grandstand. A 10,860
seat expansion of the Ford grandstand on the frontstretch
was completed in May 2000, bringing the speedway's total
seating capacity to 167,000.
These additions are all part of a long-term project
calling for additional grandstand seating, infrastructure
improvements, spectator amenities and the development of
adjacent land for possible commercial real estate
ventures.
Building on the basic philosophy of keeping spectator and
competitor comfort a high priority, Lowe's Motor Speedway
continues to be a leading promoter and marketer of
motorsports activities in the United States.
See the official Web site
(http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/) for more
information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: DIJON PRENOIS
This French circuit hosts numerous events: F3, GT, F.Renault
Coupe 206CC, Porsche Carrera Cup, an historic Ferrari
weekend, Historics Grand Prix, Euro 3000, and F3000.
Motorcycle events here include 125cc Open, 250cc Open, 600
Supersport, Super Production, Hornet Cup, Aprilia Cup, Coupe
Ducati Club, and Side Car.
Historical information (translated and abridged):
1968: Beginning of the 'Automobile Stadium Project'
May 26, 1972: Inauguration of Circuit Dijon-Prenois at
3.289km (2.056 miles)
June 4, 1972: First race - European Prototype Championship
1974: Host of the first Grand Prix of France (F1); winner:
Ronnie Peterson
1975: Host of Grand Prix of Switzerland (F1); winner: Clay
Regazzoni
1977: Host of Grand Prix of France; winner: Mario Andretti
1981: Host of Grand Prix of France; winner: Alain Prost
(his first F1 win)
1984: Final F1 Grand Prix race held at Dijon-Prenois;
winner: Niki Lauda
See the official Web site (http://www.circuit-dijon-
prenois.com/) for more information. However, the Web site is
currently only available in French.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: DONINGTON PARK
The Donington Park venue holds two circuits: the National
Circuit and the International Circuit (the latter includes
the parallel straightaways behind the Paddock Area).
Donington Park is billed as a great place for car testing and
launches, and also has days where the average drivers can
take their cars and motorcycles to the tracks. The Honda Ron
Haslam Race School also used Honda Hornets, CBR600 and
CBR900RR Fireblades to train people of all ages and abilities
on motorcycles. There is also the public Donington Grand
Prix Collection museum, which contains more than 150 grand
prix cars from the 1930s to the present.
Race events include: Historic Sports Car Club Championships,
British Formula 3 and British GT Championships, German
Touring Car Masters, Donington Vintage and Historic Car
Weekend, Cinzano British Motorcycle Grand Prix, Ford Racing
Festival, Mini Racing Festival, MCN British Superbike
Championship, BRSCC Car Championship, and British Truck
Racing Championship.
The official Web site (http://www.donington-park.co.uk/)
unfortunately does not include any historical information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: EASTERN CREEK
This 3.93-kilometer (2.456-mile) circuit hosts V8 Supercars,
many Formula series, a number of sports cars and sports
sedans series, touring cars, production cars, and numerous
national and support motorcycle series. The pit straight
even incorporates a drag strip, and the circuit permits the
average driver to enter cars and motorbikes for drag racing
events (so long as the vehicle is road-registered).
See the official Web site (http://www.eastern-creek-
raceway.com/) for more information. This Web site
unfortunately does not include historical information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: FUJI
This Japanese circuit is perhaps most notable to North
American classic video game enthusiasts from its appearance
in Atari's Pole Position series in the stand-up arcades of
the 1980s. There are a few of these classic Pole Position
and Pole Position II arcade boxes still in existence,
although the best bet for finding these games now is on the
various gaming consoles. However, those who prefer the
version of the circuit in the Pole Position series will be
rather disappointed at the chicanes added along the faster
sections of the Fuji circuit.
See the official Web site (http://www.fujispeedway.co.jp/)
for information. There is virtually NO information on the
English-language portion of the site, and NO historical
information. The majority of information on the site is
available only in the Japanese-language section.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: HOCKENHEIM
The Hockenheim circuit was an EXCELLENT and very high-speed
race venue until 2002, when the circuit was redesigned and
severely shortened while accommodations were added to bring
in even more spectators than before. The former Hockenheim
configuration ran almost entirely through the German forest.
The circuit was designed in 1932, and hosts F1 and many other
forms of motorsport.
Notable F1 winners at Hockenheim: Niki Lauda (1977), Mario
Andretti (1978), (1981, 1986, and 1987), Alain Prost (1984,
1993), Ayrton Senna (1988-1990), Nigel Mansell (1991 and
1992), Michael Schumacher (1995, 2002), and Mika Hakkinen
(1998).
The official Web site (http://www.hockenheimring.de/) is
unfortunately only available in German - which is a language
I cannot read :-(
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: KNOCKHILL
The official Web site (http://www.knockhill.co.uk/) is
unfortunately unavailable, loading only a single blank page
at the time of the writing of this guide.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Motor Speedway sports a superspeedway, 'bullring,'
drag strip, and dirt track. Amongst these four venues, more
than four hundred different racing events were held on LVMS
property in 2002.
Circuit history from the official Web site:
# Sept. 15, 1996-Inaugural Indy Racing League Las Vegas
500k, won by Richie Hearn.
# Nov. 3, 1996-NASCAR Craftsman Truck Carquest 420k, won
by Jack Sprague.
# March 16, 1997-NASCAR Busch Grand National 300, won by
Jeff Green. Oct. 11, 1997-Las Vegas 500k Indy Racing
League, won by Eliseo Salazar.
# Nov. 9, 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Carquest 420k, won
by Joe Ruttman.
# Feb. 28, 1998-NASCAR Busch series Sam's Town 300, won by
Jimmy Spencer.
# March 1, 1998-Inaugural Las Vegas 400 NASCAR Winston
Cup, won by Mark Martin.
# Oct. 11, 1998-Pep Boys Indy Racing League Las Vegas
500k, won by Arie Luyendyk.
# Nov. 8, 1998-NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sam's Town 250, won
by Jack Sprague.
# March 6, 1999-NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Town 300, won by
Mark Martin.
# March 7, 1999-NASCAR Winston Cup Las Vegas 400, won by
Jeff Burton.
# September 24, 1999-Nascar Craftsman Truck Series Orleans
250, won by Greg Biffle
# September 25, 1999-Nascar Winston West Gold Coast 150,
won by Kevin Richards
# September 26, 1999-Pep Boys Indy Racing League
Vegas.com., won by Sam Schmidt
# March 5, 2000-NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Town 300, won by
Jeff Burton
# March 6, 2000-NASCAR Winston Cup Series Carsdirect.com
400, won by Jeff Burton
# April 7, 2000-Inaugural NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals,
winners were Kenny Bernstein (TF), Jim Epler (FC), Jeg
Coughlin Jr. (PS), Bob Panella (PST), Angelle Seeling
(PSB)
# April 21, 2000-NASCAR Winston West, Orleans 150, won by
David Starr
# April 21, 2000-IRL Vegas Indy 300, won by Al Unser Jr.
# March 1, 2001-NASCAR Winston West NAPA 300, won by Mark
Reed
# March 3, 2001-NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Town 300, won by
Todd Bodine
# March 4, 2001-NASCAR Winston Cup UAW-DaimlerChrysler
400, won by Jeff Gordon
# April 8, 2001-NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals, won by
Kenny Bernstein (TF), Tommy Johnson Jr. (FC), Jeg Coughlin
Jr. (PS), Bob Panella (PST)
# Oct. 14, 2001, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Orleans 350, won
by Ted Musgrave
# Oct. 28, 2001, Inaugural NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas
Nationals, won by Darrell Russell (TF), Ron Capps (FC),
Mark Pawuk (PS) and Shaun Gann (Bikes)
# March 2, 2002, NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Town 300, won
by Jeff Burton.
# March 3, 2002, NASCAR Winston Cup UAW-DaimlerChrysler
400, won by Sterling Marlin
# April 7,2002, NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals, won by
Larry Dixon (TF), Gary Densham (FC) and Ron Krisher (PS).
See the official Web site (http://www.lvms.com/) for more
information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: MAGNY-COURS
Characterized by its three parallel straightaways (which can
be aurally difficult for drivers while on the middle
straightaway), Nevers Magny-Cours has hosted F1 events since
1991. The 4.226-kilometer (2.641-mile) circuit is also used
for Motorbikes Championship, FIA GT Championship, Formula
Renault 2000 Eurocup, FIA Sportcar Championship, Formula
Nissan, historical races, and various endurance races.
F1 winners at Nevers Magny-Cours: Nigel Mansell (1991 and
1992), Alain Prost (1993), Michael Schumacher (1994, 1995,
1997, 1998, 2001, and 2002), Damon Hill (1996), Heinz-Harald
Frentzen (1999), and David Coulthard (2000).
Visit the official Web site (http://www.magnycours.com/) for
more information. Unfortunately, the site does not include
any circuit history in either the French- or English-language
versions of the site.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: MANTORP PARK
The official Web site (http://www.mantorppark.com/) is
currently available only in Swedish, so a circuit history is
not available in English.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: MEXICO
This 2.75-mile (4.40-kilometer) permanent road circuit began
hosting CART events in 2001. As such, there is no real
history available for this circuit.
Please see the official Web site
(http://www.telmexgigantegranpremiomexico.com/) for
information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: MONZA
Originally opened in 1922 to commemorate the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the Milan Automobile Club, the Monza circuit
(Autodromo Nazionale Monza), near Milan, Italy, has been the
site of more F1 grand prix events than any other. The Monza
circuit has seen numerous configurations, including the
famous banked section from 1955 to 1961.
Monza has always been an incredibly fast race venue... and
with this speed comes even greater danger. Phil Hill's 1961
race victory (his second consecutive win at Monza) was
severely overshadowed by a collision between Jim Clark and
Wolfgang von Trips which took the lives of the latter driver
and over one dozen spectators. A 1970 mechanical failure
during Qualifying killed Jochen Rindt, so one may not be
surprised that chicanes, guard rails, and reinforced fencing
were added beginning in 1972 as an attempt to slow the cars
and make Monza's events safer for all involved; however, the
chicanes specifically were really just makeshift safety
measures due to the increasing performance in virtually all
realms of motorsport. In more recent years, the opening lap
of the 2000 Grand Prix of Italy was seriously marred by the
death of a trackside race marshal due to all the flying
debris at the Roggia Chicane (the second chicane of the
circuit). While there were no dangerous incidents at the
2001 Grand Prix of Italy, that particular event happened to
be scheduled for the first weekend following the world-
shocking terrorist attacks on the United States (September
11, 2001) AND the near-fatal accident at a new race venue in
Germany (the previous afternoon) which forced the amputation
of the legs of CART driver Alex Zanardi; these events cast a
dark shadow over the race itself as well as the entire Grand
Prix weekend.
On a far more positive note, Williams driver Juan Pablo
Montoya - truly making his first great impact upon the F1
world following several years of astounding success in CART -
broke Keke Rosberg's twenty-seven-year record for the fastest
ever F1 qualifying lap. Rosberg's then record-setting lap
was 259.005KPH (161.878MPH) set at Silverstone; Montoya's new
record-setting lap was 259.827KPH (162.392MPH). What makes
Montoya's achievement even more impressive is that Michelin-
shod F1 vehicles (led by Williams and McLaren) have generally
not been able to compete with Bridgestone-shod cars (led by
Ferrari).
The Monza circuit has seen all sorts of motorsport events,
including motorcycles and touring cars, and currently is
5.736 kilometers (3.585 miles) in length. A recent Italian
telefilm on the life of Enzzo Ferrari exclusively used the
Monza circuit for its racing shots using time-appropriate
vehicles.
Notable F1 winners at Monza: Alberto Ascari (1951 and 1952),
Juan Manuel Fangio (1953-1955), Stirling Moss (1956 and
1957), Stirling Moss (1959), Jim Clark (1963), Jackie Stewart
(1965 and 1969), Emerson Fittipaldi (1972), Mario Andretti
(1977), Niki Lauda (1978 and 1984), Alain Prost (1981, 1985,
and 1989), Nelson Piquet (1983, 1986, and 1987), Ayrton Senna
(1990 and 1992), Michael Schumacher (1996, 1998, 2000, and
2002), and Juan Pablo Montoya (2001).
The official Web site of Autodromo Nazionale Monza
(http://www.monzanet.it/) has plenty of great information,
including a large track map of Monza's various configurations
and plenty of images of racing action on Monza's banked
turns.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: NORISRING
The official Web site (http://www.autohausamnorisring.de/) is
only available in German, so a circuit history is not
available.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: NURBURGRING
Originally 22.677 kilometers (14.173 miles) in length, the
Nurburgring first opened in 1927 (following two years of
construction) and is still going strong. The opening events
featured motorcycles (June 18, 1927), with cars featured the
following day. The 1939 German Grand Prix was the final race
at Nurburgring for quite some time due to the beginning of
World War II. The circuit itself was damaged in the closing
months of the war, but racing returned to Nurburgring in
1947. However, there were no races at Nurburgring in 1948,
as the circuit was being brought up to safety standards.
Nurburgring began hosting F1 events in 1951. Estimates show
that 400,000 spectators came to the track for the 1954 F1
race. In 1958, however, the F1 race saw the death of Peter
Collins as his Ferrari went out of control.
The 1968 world motorcycle championship at Nurburgring had a
strange stoppage: a forest fire. The F1 Grand Prix later
that year had nearly impossible visibility due to intense
rain and fog.
In 1970, the Northern Loop of the circuit was called into
question after numerous accidents. Improvements were made
for the following year, when 130,000 spectators witnessed
Jackie Stewart winning the F1 Grand Prix. More improvements
were demanded in 1974 (first by motorcyclists, then by F1
drivers). When Nikki Lauda was seriously injured in 1976,
the Northern Loop was decommissioned as an F1 venue.
A new, shorter circuit was then designed and built, opening
in 1984 at 4.542 kilometers (2.839 miles) in length. Alan
Prost won that year's European Grand Prix. In 1986, however,
the F1 race moved to Hockenheim. 1995 saw the return of F1
to Nurburgring, and the historic race venue has produced
excellent races ever since.
Some of the notable F1 winners at Nurburgring: Alberto Ascari
(1951 and 1952), Juan Manuel Fangio (1954-1956), Stirling
Moss (1961), Jim Clark (1965), Jack Brabham (1966), Jackie
Stewart (1968, 1971, and 1973), Alain Prost (1984), Michael
Schumacher (1995, 2000, and 2001), Jacques Villeneuve (1996
and 1997), Mika Hakkinen (1998), and Rubens Barrichello
(2002).
See the official Web site (http://www.nuerburgring.de/) for
plenty more details about the Nurburgring.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: ORAN PARK
Oran Park contains two separate circuits which are joined for
form the Grand Prix circuit of 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles)
which is used for V8 Supercar.
From the official Web site:
Oran Park is a motorsport facility steeped in history. The
facility was established by the Singer Car Club 40 years
ago. In its early days it would host one race per day.
The circuit initially consisted only of the current south
circuit, with the extended Grand Prix figure-8 layout not
being incorporated into the track until the 1970s.
Oran Park has played to host to a number unique and
exciting events. It has hosted Australian Grand Prix, been
the home of truck racing and was the home of the final
round of the Australian Touring Car Championship for quite
some time. Oran Park was instrumental in running Sports
Sedans racing, that captivated Sydney motor racing fans in
the 1970s (and still proves very popular today).
Oran Park is a multi-faceted faclity, and includes a
number of separate tracks and a driver training facility.
Oran Park boasts the famous Grand Prix circuit, which is a
challenging figure-8 layout, with a combination of fast
sweepers and tight, technical corners.
The Grand Prix Circuit is able to be split up and used
concurrently as South and North Circuits. The South Cicuit
incorporates the long straight, while the North Circuit
incorporates the figure-8 section of the track and is a
short and challenging track.
Additionally, Oran Park has a Skid Pan for driver
training, two dirt circuits for off road events, a
motorcross track, and a popular go-kart circuit.
See the official Web site (http://www.oranpark.com/) for more
information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: OSCHERSLEBEN
The official Web site (http://www.motopark.de/) is only
available in German, so a circuit history is not available.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: OULTON PARK
Located near Cheshire, England, this circuit hosts British
Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship, and
British GT Championship, along with numerous club series.
Official circuit history from Octagon Motorsports:
Oulton Park first established itself as the North West's
premier motorsport venue in the 1950s. A decade later, it
was hosting international meetings, and among the winners
were household names such as Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham,
Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill. The circuit has been
extended over the years, and boasts the unique distinction
of having three circuits in one. This allows Oulton Park
to present a racing programme that includes something for
just about every motorsport enthusiast. Unusually, it is
also able to seat spectators within the perimeter of the
circuit, providing unrivalled views of the action.
See the official Web site of Octagon Motorsports
(http://circuits.octagonmotorsports.com/) for more
information on this and other Octagon Motorsports race venues
in the United Kingdom.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: PHILLIP ISLAND
In 1952, the Phillip Island Auto Racing Club was formed with
the vision of building the first international grand prix
circuit in Australia. In December 1956, the circuit finally
opened.
Major events held at Phillip Island include Australian
Superbike Championship, World Superbike Championship, V8
Supercar Championship Series, Konica V8 Supercars, and
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
See the official Web site
(http://www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au/) for more
information, including a highly-detailed circuit history.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: ROCKINGHAM
Rockingham Motor Speedway hosts an 'oval' circuit plus an
infield road circuit (i.e., a 'stadium circuit'), allowing
for many types of racing at this British facility. Events
here include Ascar Oval Race Meeting, Classic Motorcycle Race
Meeting, British Superbike Race Meeting, F3/GT, ASCAR Oval
Race Meeting, CART Rockingham 500, Uniroyal Challenge with
Formula Palmer Audi & VSR Club Race Meeting, and BRDC Winter
Raceday.
See the official Web site (http://www.rockingham.co.uk/) for
more information. Unfortunately, a circuit history is not
given on the official Web site.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: SANDOWN
The official Web site (http://www.sandownraceway.com.au/) is
extremely slow and virtually unresponsive at the time of the
initial writing of this game guide.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: SEARS POINT
Sears Point Raceway is now officially known as Infineon
Raceway. This is the site of one of NASCAR's two road
circuit events each year, providing a drastic change for the
oval-dedicated stock car drivers.
Circuit history from the official Web site:
Since 1968, Infineon Raceway has provided the best in
motorsports action. From the fender-rubbing action of
NASCAR Winston Cup and ground pounding thunder of NHRA
Drag Racing to the grassroots SCCA road races and AFM
motorcycle events, Infineon Raceway has played host to
many of racing's greatest moments and stars.
Racing legends such as Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Dan
Gurney, Kenny Roberts, Dale Earnhardt, Shirley Muldowney
and Don 'The Snake' Prudhomme, as well as modern day stars
including Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Ron Hornaday Jr.,
Miguel DuHamel and John Force, have all left their
indelible marks at this unique and historic facility.
NASCARInfineon Raceway is arguably the world's busiest
racing facility, with track activity scheduled an average
of 340 days a year. It is one of the nation's only high
performance automotive industrial parks.
Under the ownership and vision of Speedway Motorsports
Incorporated, Infineon Raceway is poised to reach new
heights in facility development and in the quality of
events it offers fans. What follows is a brief history of
how Infineon Raceway came to be one of North America's
most complete and versatile motorsports complex:
In the Beginning
Franklin Sears was born in Indiana in 1817. He spent his
childhood in Missouri, and in 1844 ventured westward to
Oregon. He left home with his friend, Granville Swift, a
rifle, mule and $1.50 in his pocket.
After one winter in Oregon, Sears was fed up with the rain
and headed south. He volunteered for the U.S.-Mexican war
and was named a hero of the Battle of San Pasquale. He
spent much of the time in the thick of the battle and was
a decorated solider during the war. Following the war in
1851, he married Granville Swift's sister, Margaret, and
settled on 600 acres of land south of Sonoma. He built his
home of hand-hewn redwood. He was a blacksmith by trade
but a large source of his income came from ranching.
Sears eventually partnered with Granville Swift and bought
15,000 acres of land that stretched from Infineon Raceway
all the way to what is now Lakeville Highway.
1968
The 2.52-mile road racing course was constructed on 720
acres by Marin County owners Robert Marshall Jr., an
attorney from Point Reyes, and land developer Jim Coleman
of Kentfield. The two conceived of the idea of a race
track while on a hunting trip. Ground was broken in August
and paving of the race surface was completed in November.
The first official event at Infineon Raceway was an SCCA
Enduro, held on December 1, 1968.
1969
The track was sold to Filmways Corp., a Los Angeles-based
entertainment company for $4.5 million. From 1969 through
early 1970, Infineon Raceway hosted a variety of events,
including USAC IndyCar races, NASCAR stock car races, SCCA
races, and drag races.
1970
Dan Gurney won a 150-mile USAC IndyCar road race with a
field that included Mario Andretti, Mark Donahue and Al
Unser. Not long after, the track closed in May and became
a tax shelter for Filmways after losses of $300,000 were
reported.
1973
Hugh Harn of Belvedere and Parker Archer of Napa arranged
to lease the track through Filmways vice president Lee
Moselle for $1 million. Bob Bondurant, owner and operator
of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving,
announced that he would move his school from Ontario
Speedway in Southern California to Infineon Raceway. The
Pacific Region of the Sports Club Car of America announced
it would hold a driver's school and series of non
spectator races at the track.
1974
Bob Bondurant and partner Bill Benck took over management
and control of the leased raceway from Archer and Harn.
American Motorcycle Association national motocross races
in the hills north of Turn 7 become popular with Bay Area
fans, but were phased out by the end of the decade because
of rising insurance costs.
1977
AMAMoselle, a lawyer with no racing experience, comes
aboard and hires Jack Williams, the 1964 NHRA top fuel
drag racing champion, to be his operations chief, and Art
Glattke to handle public relations. Moselle was under
orders from Filmways to clear spectator restrictions with
the county of Sonoma and to build a major-event schedule.
A group calling itself Black Mountain Inc., which included
Bob Bondurant, William J. Kolb of Del Mar and Howard
Meister of Newport Beach, purchased the track from
Filmways for a reported $1.5 million. Two months later, in
May, Kenny Roberts did wheelies on the final two laps
while he waved to a crowd of 20,000 for a runaway victory
in the AMA-Sonoma Motorcycle Classic.
1980
The Black Mountain Group took on an additional partner --
the Long Beach Grand Prix Association -- in hopes of
improving marketing and public relations.
1981
The Long Beach Grand Prix, headed by Chris Pook, decided
to rename the track Golden State International Raceway.
The Black Mountain group obtained an injunction to keep
Filmways from claiming the property after defaulting on
payments. Black Mountain claimed Filmways gave false
financial projections when it sold the property in 1979.
Bondurant resigned as president of Golden State Raceway in
a dispute with Pook over the Long Beach Grand Prix's
management plan. Filmways regained ownership of the track
and Williams, Rick Betts and John Andersen purchased the
track from Filmways at an auction for $800,000. The track
was renamed Infineon Raceway International Raceway.
1983
Ford became a major sponsor at the track. Williams named
Dr. Frank N. Scott Jr. of Aptos and Harvey 'Skip' Berg of
Tiburon as partners.
1985
The track was completely repaved, in part with funds
donated from the 'Pave the Point' fund raising campaign.
It was also in 1985 that the first shop spaces (Buildings
A,B,C, and D -- in the main paddock area) were built.
1986
Berg, president of a real estate acquisition and
management firm headquartered in Seattle, took control of
the track and became major stockholder in Brenda Raceway
Corp., which controlled the track until 1996. Berg named
Darwin Doll, vice president and general manager of
Michigan International Speedway, new track president.
1987
NHRA Top FuelOne of the most significant moves in the
track's history occurred. Infineon Raceway signed a five
year contract with the National Hot Rod Association for
the California Nationals. The first event was held in the
summer of 1988. Additional buildings constructed on the
property brought shop space to more than 700,000 square
feet.
1988
Berg hired Glen Long, an IBM executive, to be the track's
new president. Mike Yurick was named general manager. The
NHRA nationals were a resounding success, with an
estimated 32 ,000 spectators on hand to watch Joe Amato
edge Dick LaHaie in victory by one hundreth of a second
margin.
1989
The NASCAR Winston Cup Series debuted at the raceway, with
Ricky Rudd taking the inaugural victory. Infineon Raceway
arrived.
1991
The Skip Barber Racing School replaced the Bob Bondurant
School of High Performance Driving. The NASCAR Winston Cup
race drew 70,000 spectators in its second year at the
track. The 15-year association with International
Motorsports Association (SportsCar) GTP series, was
suspended. Steve Page, a marketing executive with the
Oakland A's, succeeded Long as track president.
1994
More than $1 million was spent on a beautification project
and construction of a 62-foot-high, four-sided electronic
lap leader board in the center of the road course. A
medical facility and an 18-nozzle Unocal gasoline filling
station were constructed.
1995
A major $3 million renovation plan was kicked off that
included posh tower VIP suites and a two-story driver's
lounge/emergency medical facility. Trans-Am and SportsCar
races returned to Infineon Raceway. The NASCAR Craftsman
Truck Series is added to the major-events schedule.
1996
The Russell Racing School signs a 10-year contract with
Infineon Raceway in February to headquarter its world
renowned driving school in Sonoma. The Skip Barber Driving
School moves to Laguna Seca. In May of 1996, the NASCAR
Winston Cup race drew a record 102,000 spectators -- the
largest single-day crowd for a Northern California sports
event. Infineon Raceway owner Skip Berg sells the track to
O. Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. in
November of 1996. Speedway Motorsports also owns Atlanta,
Bristol, Charlotte, Las Vegas and Texas Motor Speedways in
addition to Infineon Raceway.
1997
Kragen signs a contract through the year 2001 to joint
sponsor the annual NASCAR Winston Cup event. The event
will be renamed the Save Mart/Kragen 350 for the 1998
season.
1998
Major renovations begin at Infineon Raceway with the
creation of 'The Chute,' an 890-foot high-speed stretch
that will be used for all NASCAR-sanctioned events. The
stretch connects existing Turns 4 and 7 and is officially
opened on May 5 by NASCAR star Jeff Gordon. The re-design
of the road course shortens the circuit from 2.52 miles to
1.949 miles but increases the Winston Cup race from 74 to
112 laps, provding fans with more action. The Chute will
be used for Winston Cup, Winston West, Southwest Series
and Craftsman Truck Series events.
In June, NASCAR marks its 10-year anniversary with
Infineon Raceway and Vallejo native Gordon comes away for
the victory in the Save Mart/Kragen 350 Winston Cup race.
1999
Jeff Gordon joins Rusty Wallace and Ernie Irvan as the
only two-time winners at Infineon Raceway when the Vallejo
native wins the Save Mart/Kragen 350 NASCAR Winston Cup
race in June.
The first-ever running of the American Le Mans Series
takes place at Infineon Raceway in July as J.J. Lehto and
Steve Soper guide BMW to the Prototype victory. This marks
the return of exciting sports car racing to Infineon
Raceway as a main event for the first time since 1997. The
race is televised live by NBC.
Progressive Insurance signs on as the title sponsor of the
AMA Superbike event, which is won by Mat Mladin. The
native of Australia would go on to capture his first-ever
AMA Superbike championship. His only win of the year would
come at Infineon Raceway. NHRA drag racing winners include
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Whit Bazemore (Funny Car) and Jim
Yates (Pro Stock).
2000
Infineon Raceway gains unanimous approval from the Sonoma
County Board of Supervisors by a 5-0 vote to begin work on
a $35 million Modernization Plan that will transform the
facility into one of the premier motorsports venues in the
country. The comprehensive project will take two years to
complete and inlcudes 64,000 Hillside Terrace seats,
repaving of both the road course and drag strip and
increased run-off around the entire track.
Jeff Gordon becomes the first three-time NASCAR Winston
Cup winner at Infineon Raceway, taking the Save
Mart/Kragen 350.
In other racing news, Allan McNish sets the fastest lap
ever recorded at Infineon Raceway since the raceway opened
in 1968. McNish, piloting an Audi R8 during the American
Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Sonoma, covers a single lap
at 112.440 mph. Doug Kalitta joins Gordon as a three-peat
winner, claiming his third consecutive Top Fuel title at
the Fram Autolite Nationals NHRA event.
2001
The 2001 season kicked off with the completion of the
first phase of Infineon Raceway's $35 million
Modernization Plan. The first phase of the project, which
began in September, featured the completion of hillside
terrace seats in Turns 2-4, a new entrance at Gate 7, the
construction of two ring roads for shuttle and fan
traffic, 40 permanent garages and increased run-off on the
road course, among others.
The 10-turn road course used for the NASCAR Dodge/Save
Mart 350 featured a modified Chute lengthened by over 300
feet to include a straightaway between Turns 4 and 4a and
the creation of a pure straightaway between Turns 4a and
7. Turn 7 boasts a 90-degree right-hand turn with 120 feet
of runoff room for safety and creates a new passing zone
on the track.
The new Turn 7 proved crucial in the 2001 Dodge/Save Mart
350, with Tony Stewart making the race winning pass in
this turn as Robby Gordon and Kevin Harvick battled for
position. Stewart took the checkered flag after 112 laps,
robbing Jeff Gordon of his fourth consecutive win at
Infineon Raceway. The NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals offered
more than just exciting racing action in 2001. After Kenny
Bernstein, Del Worsham and Tom Martino claimed their
titles, John Force and Gary Scelzi boarded Caterpillar
bulldozers to begin destruction of the drag strip and
signify the beginning the of second phase of the
Modernization Plan. Phase Two of the plan focuses on fan
and driver amenities, including more terraces seats,
repaving of the drag strip and road course surfaces and
the construction of a new permanent grandstand at the
start/finish line of the road course. The Plan is
scheduled to be completed for the 2002 season.
2002
The 2002 racing season was a time of major change at the
Sonoma raceway. In June, track officials announced that
the facility had been renamed Infineon Raceway as part of
a 10-year strategic partnership with Infineon
Technologies, one of the world's top semiconductor
manufacturing companies. The agreement includes two annual
events to be held at Infineon Raceway. The annual American
Le Mans Series event will be renamed the Infineon Grand
Prix of Sonoma, and beginning in 2003, Infineon Raceway
will host the Infineon Mountain Bike Challenge, a world
class competitive biking event. Infineon Raceway became
just the second motor racing facility in the country to
secure a major naming rights deal.
The 2002 racing season also saw the near-completion of the
facility's two-year, $50 million Modernization Plan. This
renovation touched nearly every area of the property and
includes the addition of many fan and racer amenities.
Changes to the facility include: a new permanent
grandstand at start/finish of the road course; hillside
terrace seating at Turns 7-9; a completely refurbished
drag strip complete with 660-foot concrete launch pad;
expanded paddock area; and the new Infineon Raceway
Karting Center.
Infineon Raceway also hosted its full-slate of annual
events, including the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Winston
Cup event and NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals, with the
addition of the inaugural NHRA Summit Sport Compact Drag
Racing Series event. The new drag strip surface proved
fruitful at the NHRA event, with track records reset in
three classes and Pro Stock Motorcycle rider, Angelle
Savoie, posting the second quickest time in history.
See the official Web site (http://infineonraceway.com/) for
more information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: SILVERSTONE
The world-famous Silverstone circuit - often spoken of in the
same terms as Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Monza - has
hosted F1 racing since 1950. This 5.110-kilometer (3.194-
mile) circuit is set at an airport site, and contains several
configurations. The Silverstone International circuit (used
for the British TOCA series) shares much of the same pavement
as the Grand Prix circuit used for the annual F1 Grand Prix
of Great Britain; in fact, the pavement for the two circuits
even cross at approximately two-thirds of the way around the
International circuit.
During World War II, the Royal Air Force chose the site now
known as Silverstone for an airfield and a bomber-training
base. Following the war, other circuits such as Donnington
Park and Brooklands could not be used for racing due to
having been converted for wartime uses. Thus, in 1948, the
Silverstone site was used for its first race... with the
circuit marked by hay bales. The circuit was redone in 1949
and assumed a configuration roughly equivalent to that in
current use.
F1 began in 1950, and held its first race at Silverstone.
Guiseppe Farina won the first-ever F1 race in an Alfa Romeo.
The British Racing Drivers' Club operated Silverstone until
2001, when current owner Octagon Motorsports took control of
the venue; this also ensures that the British Grand Prix will
be held at Silverstone for at least the next fifteen years.
The world's best F1 drivers have all placed themselves into
the Silverstone record books, including Manuel Fangio,
Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Jim
Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, John Watson,
Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Eddie
Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen, Michael
Schumacher, and David Coulthard. The track record is held by
Michael Schumacher, at 1:24.475 with an average speed of
217.784KPH (136.115MPH).
Silverstone hosts far more than just F1: Grand Prix
motorcycles, SuperBikes, Karts, FIA GTs, European Le Mans,
RallySprint, stages of the Rally of Great Britain, British
Touring Car Championship, and British Formula 3 and GT.
The official Web site is actually the site for Octagon
Motorsports (http://www.octagonmotorsports.com/), which owns
and operates Silverstone, as well as Snetterton, Cadwell
Park, Brands Hatch, and Oulton Park.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: T1 CIRCUIT AIDA
The official Web site (http://www.ti-circuit.co.jp/) is only
available in Japanese, so there is no circuit history
available.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: VALLELUNGA
The official Web site (http://www.vallelunga.it/) has an
automatic redirection to a blank page. Therefore, no circuit
history is available.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: VANCOUVER
The Vancouver temporary street circuit primarily features one
of the three Canadian rounds of the CART-FedEx Championship
Series, but also includes CASCAR Super Series, Fran-Am,
Barber Dodge Pro Series, and the SCCBC Sedan Invitational
Race.
Circuit history from the official Web site (written in 2002):
From green flag to checkered flag, the challenging
Vancouver course will take the world's most talented
drivers on a heart-pounding 12-turn ride through the
streets of downtown Vancouver. With the spectacular North
Shore mountains as a backdrop, the twisting waterfront
course is sure to test the limits of every CART driver and
their million-dollar racing machines.
Last year a packed house of more than 65,000 cheering fans
were revved up for another Canadian victory following the
first ever in Vancouver the year before by Team KOOL
Green's 'Thrill from Westhill', Paul Tracy. Things
couldn't have started any better as 26 cars took the green
flag led by the all-Canadian front row of Team Players
drivers Alex Tagliani and Patrick Carpentier.
After 175 miles of racing and seven lead changes, it was
Patrick Racing's 'Super Sub' Roberto Moreno who powered
his Visteon Reynard Lola to his first victory of the
season after passing fellow Brazilian Gil de Ferran with
just nine laps to go. An emotional Moreno treated the
crowd to some victory donuts before dedicating the race to
the memory of hometown favorite Greg Moore.
As always, the Vancouver race played a pivotal role in the
race for the season championship. With his second place
finish, Team Penske driver Gil de Ferran, took over top
spot in the standings and never looked back on his way to
repeating as CART FedEx Championship Series champion.
Last year, more than 160,000 motorsport fans came to
Concord Place to catch thrilling wheel-to-wheel action and
the roar of the 800-horsepower engines.
See the official Web site (http://www.molsonindy.com/) for
more information.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: ZANDVOORT
The official Web site (http://www.circuit-zandvoort.nl/) is
only available in Dutch, so an official circuit history of
not available.
==============================================
CIRCUIT HISTORY: ZOLDER
Circuit Zolder has been used in the past for F1's Grand Prix
of Belgium, but is a 'sore point' amongst many current
drivers due to the lack of modernized safety features. For
example, the 2002 season featured primarily sand and gravel
in the recovery zones, whereas the majority of European
racing venues are instead removing sand and gravel to be
replaced by more pavement; such changes permit cars to slide
off of the actual raceway, recover, and rejoin the race.
Events held at Circuit Zolder include: German Touring Cars,
World Championship Cyclo-Cross, Road World Championships, FIA
Electro Solar Cup, Motorcycle Road Racing Grand Prix, Grand
prix of the Nations, European Historic Grand Prix, Truck
Super Prix, and 24 Hours of Zolder... among others.
Circuit history from the official Web site:
The name 'Terlamen' is derived from 'Terlaemen', the name
of the local domain that is already quoted in 1293 and at
the heart whereof the circuit has been constructed. The
community of Heusden-Zolder is the owner of the circuit
and of the greater part of the surrounding woods. The vzw
Terlamen runs the circuit.
In 1959, Auto-Moto-Club Bolderberg came
with the idea to build a circuit where its
members could practice their hobby. In
1960, this idea was materialised in a small
2,700-meters long circuit. Very soon, it
became clear that this circuit was too small
for national and international competitions.
A permanent and larger circuit was
required. On 14 July 1963, the 4,300-meters
long circuit was officially inaugurated. After
the works in 1994, the length was reduced
up to 4,184 meters.
Although not the largest, Circuit Zolder
surely is one of the safest circuits of the
world. Moreover, the track has been built in
such a way that the drivers can demonstrate
their true capacities. Since the circuit
constitutes a closed complex, timings,
races or other events can be organised
without obstructing the circulation on the
public road.
Besides many Formula 1 races in the past
and other internationally famous races such
as the European Historic Grand Prix and the
Truck Super Prix, Circuit Zolder hosts many
national and regional competitions such as
the New Race Festival, the 24 Hours of
Zolder, the Belgian Masters and the Race
Promotion Night as well. Every year, Circuit
Zolder is the place-to-be for thousands of
visitors.
Please see the official Web site (http://www.circuit-
zolder.be/) for more information.
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