 | |
| IndyCar/CART/Champ Car | |
|---|---|
| Location | Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio, United States 41°31′2″N 81°40′59″W / 41.51722°N 81.68306°W |
| First race | 1982 |
| Last race | 2007 |
| Previous names | Budweiser Cleveland 500 (1982–1983) Budweiser Cleveland Grand Prix (1984–1991) Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland (1992) Budweiser Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Dairy Mart (1993–1994) Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Dairy Mart (1995) Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland (1996–1997) Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Star Bank (1998) Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar (1999) Firstar Presents the Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland (2000) Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by Firstar (2001) Marconi Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank (2002) U.S. Bank Presents the Grand Prix of Cleveland (2003) U.S. Bank Presents the Champ Car Grand Prix of Cleveland (2004) Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by U.S. Bank (2005–2006) Grand Prix of Cleveland Presented by LaSalle Bank (2007) |
| Most wins (driver) | Danny Sullivan (3) Emerson Fittipaldi (3) Paul Tracy (3) |
| Most wins (team) | Penske Racing (6) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Lola (8) Reynard (8) |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Length | 2.106 mi (3.389 km) |
| Turns | 10 |
The Grand Prix of Cleveland was an Indy car event in the CART series, held annually at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The race was most recently held in 2007. After the 2008 open wheel unification, the 2008 race was cancelled. Attempts to revive the race have not yet come to fruition.[1][2][3]
Normally a fully functioning airport year-round, Burke Lakefront Airport was shut down for the week leading up to the event each year, requiring careful maintenance of the runways in order to keep them safe for cars at high speeds. The race was very popular amongst fans, as the long, wide, runways (much wider and longer than typical courses) allowed for side-by-side racing, fast speeds, and superb passing zones around the entire track. The layout and overall flatness of the circuit also allowed a view of nearly the entire course from the grandstands. The track was less popular with drivers, as the runways were much bumpier than normal asphalt courses. The first turn, in which the runway narrowed and the cars turned at an almost 45-degree angle at the end of the front straight, was seen as one of the toughest in the circuit.
- ^ "IndyCar Series - Indianapolis Star - indystar.com". Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19.
- ^ "2008 Grand Prix of Cleveland". grandprixofcleveland.com.
- ^ Is time running out on reviving Cleveland's tradition of open-wheel racing? - Cleveland.com, July 11, 2010