As will Formula 1 come up All Seven’s this time
round?
The United States Grand Prix has a long running,
meandering history. Having been held at eleven different venues since the
inception of today’s modern era Formula 1 World Championship in 1950.
Beginning at Sebring in 1959. The USGP has been
contested at Riverside, Watkins Glen, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas,
Phoenix, Indianapolis, Austin and Miami.
In 1976, the United States became only the
second nation after Italy in 1957 to host two Grands Prix in a single season.
And then in 1982 became the first nation to ever hold three Grands Prix in a
season. When the United States Grand Prix West, (Long Beach) Detroit Grand Prix
and Caesars Palace Grand Prix were part of that year’s Formula 1 calendar.
“Sin city’s” first major paved racing facility
was the long defunct Stardust International Raceway, in Spring valley With a
13-turn, completely flat three mile road course and Quarter-mile Dragstrip
being built and operated by the Stardust Racing Association. Which was an
offshoot of the Desert Inn and Stardust Hotel’s attempt to lure visitors to it’s
operations.
The track hosted the United States Road Racing
Championship, (USRRC) Can Am, Trans Am, USAC and NHRA between 1965-71.
Inonically the Stardust Racing Association was
Disolved on April 1, 1968, one day after the USAC Championship Car series contested
it’s lone event, the Stardust 150. Won by Bobby Unser driving for Leader Card
Racing, aboard an Eagle-Offenhauser.
The second major Open Wheel Racing event in “Los
Wages” (Las Vegas) was the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. Held on a temporary circuit
laid out in the Caesars Palace Hotel’s parking lot. Which has come to be revered
as one of Formula One’s worst Grands Prix!
Alan Jones driving for Williams, the reigning
F1 World Champion won the inaugural event. With Nelson Piquet clinching the
first of His eventual three World Championships by finishing fifth at Las
Vegas.
The following year saw Michele Alboreto win for
Tyrrell, before Formula 1 abandoned the event. With Championship Auto Racing
Teams (CART) taking over the event between 1983-84.
Yet the two IndyCar races were held on a
modified course that was turned into an “Oblong” Oval, with Mario Andretti and
Tom Sneva winning respectively – before the event was cancelled.
The Indy Racing League (IRL) held the inaugural
event upon the brand new Las Vegas Motor speedway’s (LVMS) 1.5-mile Tri Oval Super
Speedway on September 15, 1996, with Richie Hearn the winner. As Hearn’s lap of
just under 25 seconds at 219.192mph holds the record for fastest lap.
As the IRL would host races thru 2000, before
it’s arch nemesis Champ Car contested to races between 2004-05 on the Super
Speedway’s Oval. Twinned as a Double Header event with NASCAR’s PickemUp’
Trucks, le Hamburgular’, neeSealmeister B’, aka Sebastien Bourdais won both
year’s Saturday night events.
Hopefully Formula 1 won’t take a page out of
RASSCAR’s play book by nauseatingly droning on about being the first Street
race in Las Vegas. Since that honour actually goes to the long defunct Champ
Car World Series (CCWS) instead. As it’s funny how I knew that IndyCar had once
raced on Sin city’s streets, since I was a Champ Car devotee. Even if I took to
calling it Chump Carz’ towards the end – prior to the long overdue Mergification…
As my foggy memory
says this is also the year I bought a plane ticket for Arizona to attend Champ
Cars race around Phoenix’s Downtown Streets, which was subsequently cancelled.
Not to mention that Chinese IndyCar race that never happened…
Yet I can find only sparce details on that race
held over Easter weekend on April 8, 2007. Champ Cars season opener, seeing the
debut of the brand new Panoz DP01 chassis, with 17 cars competing.
The race was held on a 2.448 mile 14-turn temporary
street circuit in the Freemont district, with temperatures reaching 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reportedly Street parties were held along with a
Poker contest, and luminaries Jay Leno and John bon Jovi were on hand. With race
day attendance estimated at 40,000 exceeding temporary Grandstand seating…
Will Power, driving then for Derrick Walker’s
Team Australia alongside rookie teammate Simon Pagenaud, the reigning Champ Car
Atlantic champion, had a breakout weekend. As Power clamed Pole and led the
most lap, 38 of 68 enroute to His first IndyCar victory.
As Power became the first Australian to win an
IndyCar race while dominating the race. Finishing nearly 17 seconds ahead of Minardi
Team USA’s Bad Bobby D’, aka rookie Robert Doornbos. And Sugar Ray Tracy’, PT’
or simply Paul Tracy third for Forsythe Racing some 27-plus seconds behind.
Indy Cars latest foray to Las Vegas was the ill-fated
“Who’s Your Daddy” 2011 World Sweepstakes which saw the death of Dan Wehldon
and doesn’t need any further discussion than that…
Then between 2013-15, the Global Rallycross
Championship (GRC) raced on the Streets of Las Vegas’s Prominade, twice being
the series season finale. Since I know I “watched”, err listen to at least one
of those races when Andretti Autosport teammates Tanner foust and Scott Speed
were vying for the title.
Yet you’d have to argue that this year’s inaugural
Las Vegas Grand Prix is the most serious effort to date for racing on the Strip,
around it’s neon marquee landmarks. And Liberty Media, owners of F1 have sunk
at least a cool $250m as in Millions to acquire property for said event!
But I’m sure it’s going to be a disgusting “Dog
‘n Pony” show with the Rich And Famous coming out of the woodwork!
Whilst I sincerely Hope that Liberty Media won’t repeat an encore, and even glitzier rendition of that thoroughly disgusting “rope-Ah-dope” LL Cool J’ Miami “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” Pre-race introduction!
