IndyCar Series at Phoenix Raceway

Good Ranchers 250
IndyCar Series
VenuePhoenix Raceway (1964–2005, 2016–2018, 2026)
First race1964
Distance255.5 mi (411.2 km)
Laps250
Previous namesPhoenix 100/150/200: 1964, 1973–1974, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1997
Jimmy Bryan Memorial: 1965-1968
Jimmy Bryan 150: 1969–1972, 1976–1978
Bricklin 150: 1975
Arizona Republic/Jimmy Bryan 150: 1979
Kraco Car Stereo 150: 1981–1982
Dana–Jimmy Bryan 150: 1984
Dana 200: 1986
Checker 200: 1987–1988
Checker Autoworks 200: 1989
Autoworks 200: 1990
Valvoline 200: 1991–1993
Slick-50 200: 1994–1995
Dura-Lube 200: 1996, 1998
MCI WorldCom 200: 1999–2000
Pennzoil/Copper World Indy 200: 2001
Bombardier ATV Indy 200: 2002
Purex/Dial Indy 200: 2003
Copper World Indy 200: 2004
XM Satellite Radio 200 presented by Argent Mortgage: 2005
Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix: 2016–2018
Former second race:
  • Bobby Ball Memorial: 1964–1968
  • Bobby Ball 200: 1969
  • Bobby Ball 150: 1970–1971
  • Best Western 150: 1972
  • Arizona 150: 1973
  • Phoenix 150: 1974–1975
  • Bobby Ball 150: 1976–1977
  • Miller High Life Bobby Ball Memorial 150: 1978
  • Miller High Life 150: 1979–1983
  • Stroh's 150: 1984
  • Dana 150: 1985
  • Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200: 1986
Most wins (driver)Johnny Rutherford (3)
Bobby Unser (3)
Rick Mears (3)
Former fall race:
A. J. Foyt (4)
Al Unser (4)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: Dallara (10)
Engine: Chevrolet (10)

The Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, United States has hosted American open-wheel car racing since 1964. The United States Auto Club (USAC) moved the fall race from the Arizona State Fairgrounds and added a spring race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The races became part of the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series in 1979. The fall race was cancelled after 1986, but the spring race continued and joined the Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1996. It was held continuously through 2005.

After a hiatus of eleven years, the race was revived by the IndyCar Series in 2016. It was held on Saturday night under the lights. Long considered[by whom?] a popular Indy car track, Phoenix saw the final career victory for Mario Andretti (1993).

The race was last held in 2018 as part of the IndyCar Series. It was often known as the Jimmy Bryan Memorial in its early years. The race is slated to return in 2026 under the Good Ranchers 250.[1]

The previous fall race occurred from 1964 to 1986. The Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 was the final name of a CART race held annually at the Raceway from 1979 though 1986; it was known as the Miller High Life 150 for five editions and by multiple other names during that period. Prior to that, it was operated under USAC.

History

In 1915, and again from 1950 through 1963, AAA and then USAC sanctioned championship car races were held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds speedway, the Phoenix 100. The race date transferred to Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) upon its opening in 1964.

During its time on the USAC championship car circuit, PIR 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.

Over the entire history of the fall race, A. J. Foyt and Al Unser each won four times, the most of any driver. Foyt's wins came in 1960 at the Fairgrounds and then in 1965, 1971, and 1975 at the Raceway. Unser's wins all came at the Raceway, in 1969, 1976, 1979, and 1985. The most consecutive wins was three, by Tom Sneva in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sneva's three wins were the most by any driver under CART's sanction of the race (1979–1986).

Citing low attendance, the spring race was put on hiatus after the 2005 season. In 2007, the Grand Prix Arizona for the Champ Car World Series was planned on a street circuit in downtown Phoenix, near the original course used for the United States Grand Prix. The event was cancelled four months before the event due to insufficient sponsorship funding.[2]

After a long hiatus, the track 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.[3] Following the 2018 race the raceway announced the series would not return for 2019, citing poor attendance.[4]

In 2025, Racer reported that Phoenix would make a return for the 2026 season.[1][5] On September 16, it was confirmed that Phoenix will return to the calendar, in conjunction with NASCAR.[6]

Past winners

SeasonDateDriverTeamChassisEngineRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)		Report
LapsMiles (km)
USAC Championship Car history
1964March 22United States A. J. FoytAnstead-Thompson RacingWatsonOffenhauser100100 (160.934)0:55:48107.536
November 22United States Lloyd RubyBill Forbes RacingHalibrand REOffenhauser200200 (321.868)1:51:23107.736
1965March 28United States Don BransonLeader Card RacingWatsonOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:24:33106.456
November 21United States A. J. FoytAnstead-Thompson RacingLotus REFord200200 (321.868)2:00:0199.99
1966March 20United States Jim McElreathJohn Zink CompanyBrabhamFord150150 (241.401)1:31:0598.828
November 20United States Mario AndrettiDean Racing EnterprisesBrawner HawkFord200200 (321.868)1:54:38104.697
1967April 9United States Lloyd RubyGene White FirestoneMongooseFord150150 (241.401)1:44:1886.296
November 19United States Mario AndrettiDean Racing EnterprisesBrawner HawkFord200200 (321.868)1:49:13109.872
1968April 7United States Bobby UnserLeader Card RacingEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:29:10100.938
November 17United States Gary BettenhausenGerhardt RacingGerhardtOffenhauser200200 (321.868)1:54:19104.972
1969March 30United States George FollmerGeorge Follmer RacingCheetahChevrolet150150 (241.401)1:21:55109.8
November 15United States Al UnserVel's Parnelli Jones RacingLolaFord200200 (321.868)1:48:59110.109
1970March 28United States Al UnserVel's Parnelli Jones RacingP.J. ColtFord150150 (241.401)
November 21United States Swede SavageAll American RacersEagleFord150150 (241.401)1:17:30116.807
1971March 27United States Al UnserVel's Parnelli Jones RacingP.J. ColtFord150150 (241.401)1:20:40111.565
October 23United States A. J. FoytAnstead-Thompson RacingCoyote 71Ford150150 (241.401)1:21:18110.333
1972March 18United States Bobby UnserAll American RacersEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:27:32102.805
November 4United States Bobby UnserAll American RacersEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:10:31127.618
1973March 17Race postponed by rain and eventually cancelled due to infrastructure damage and scheduling conflicts.
November 3United States Gordon JohncockSTP-Patrick RacingEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:18:15115.015
1974March 17United States Mike MosleyAgajanian-Leader Card RacingEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:17:08116.663
November 2United States Gordon JohncockSTP-Patrick RacingEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:12:28124.202
1975March 16United States Johnny RutherfordTeam McLarenMcLarenOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:21:06110.971
November 9United States A. J. FoytGilmore-Foyt RacingCoyoteFoyt TC150150 (241.401)1:21:02111.055
1976March 14United States Bobby UnserBob Fletcher RacingEagleOffenhauser150150 (241.401)
November 7United States Al UnserVel's Parnelli Jones RacingParnelliCosworth150150 (241.401)1:23:34107.695
1977March 27United States Johnny RutherfordTeam McLarenMcLarenCosworth150150 (241.401)1:20:48111.395
October 29United States Gordon JohncockPatrick RacingWildcatOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:22:53108.597
1978March 18United States Gordon JohncockPatrick RacingWildcatOffenhauser150150 (241.401)1:17:05116.757
October 28United States Johnny RutherfordTeam McLarenMcLarenCosworth150150 (241.401)1:14:24120.974
CART Championship Car history
1979March 11United States Gordon JohncockPatrick RacingPenskeCosworth150150 (241.401)1:15:23119.389Report
October 20United States Al UnserChaparral CarsChaparralCosworth150150 (241.401)1:13:03123.203
1980March 2Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
November 8United States Tom SnevaJerry O'Connell RacingPhoenixCosworth150150 (241.401)1:30:0499.925
1981March 22United States Johnny RutherfordChaparral CarsChaparralCosworth150150 (241.401)1:17:08116.681
October 31United States Tom SnevaBignotti-Cotter RacingMarchCosworth150150 (241.401)1:20:10112.266
1982March 28United States Rick MearsTeam PenskePenske PC-10Cosworth150150 (241.401)1:15:48118.727
November 6United States Tom SnevaBignotti-Cotter RacingMarch 82CCosworth150150 (241.401)1:21:05110.997
1983March 20Race cancelled due to Salt River floods
October 29Italy Teo FabiForsythe RacingMarch 83CCosworth150150 (241.401)1:11:03126.671
1984April 14United States Tom SnevaMayer RacingMarch 84CCosworth150150 (241.401)1:14:39120.555
October 13United States Bobby RahalTruesportsMarch 84CCosworth150150 (241.401)1:31:4798.048
1985March 31Race postponed due to general deterioration of the track; it was held on the originally discontinued fall date
October 13United States Al UnserTeam PenskeMarch 85CCosworth150150 (241.401)1:14:35120.644
1986April 6United States Kevin CoganPatrick RacingMarch 86CCosworth200200 (321.868)1:39:42120.345
October 19United States Michael AndrettiKraco RacingMarch 86CCosworth200200 (321.868)1:29:06134.676
1987April 12Colombia Roberto GuerreroGranatelli Racing TeamMarch 87CCosworth200200 (321.868)1:26:56138.02
1988April 10United States Mario AndrettiNewman/Haas RacingLola T8800Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:38:22121.992
1989April 9United States Rick MearsTeam PenskePenske PC-18Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:35:09126.112
1990April 8United States Rick MearsTeam PenskePenske PC-19Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:35:01126.291
1991April 21Netherlands Arie LuyendykGranatelli Racing TeamLola T9100Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:32:18129.988
1992April 5United States Bobby RahalRahal/Hogan RacingLola T9200Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:31:56130.529
1993April 4United States Mario AndrettiNewman/Haas RacingLola T9300Ford-Cosworth200200 (321.868)1:36:53123.847
1994April 10Brazil Emerson FittipaldiTeam PenskePenske PC-23Chevrolet200200 (321.868)1:51:41107.437
1995April 2United States Robby GordonWalker RacingReynard 95iFord-Cosworth200200 (321.868)1:29:33133.98
Indy Racing League history
1996March 24Netherlands Arie LuyendykTreadway RacingReynard 95iFord-Cosworth200200 (321.868)1:42:14117.368Report
1997March 23United States Jim GuthrieBlueprint RacingDallaraOldsmobile200200 (321.868)2:14:3389.19Report
1998March 22United States Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraOldsmobile200200 (321.868)2:02:1998.11Report
1999March 28Canada Scott GoodyearPanther RacingG-ForceOldsmobile200200 (321.868)1:56:40102.856
2000March 19United States Buddy LazierHemelgarn RacingRiley & ScottOldsmobile200200 (321.868)1:47:11111.957
2001March 18United States Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraOldsmobile200200 (321.868)1:35:57125.072
2002March 17Brazil Hélio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraFord-Cosworth200200 (321.868)1:43:00116.504
2003March 23Brazil Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda200200 (321.868)1:59:55100.073
2004March 21Brazil Tony KanaanAndretti Green RacingDallaraHonda200200 (321.868)1:33:46127.981
2005March 19United States Sam Hornish Jr.Team PenskeDallaraToyota200200 (321.868)1:30:24137.753
2006
–
2015		Not held
IndyCar Series history
2016April 2New Zealand Scott DixonChip Ganassi RacingDallaraChevrolet250255.5 (411.186)*1:49:39139.822Report
2017April 29France Simon PagenaudTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet250255.5 (411.186)1:46:25144.058Report
2018April 7United States Josef NewgardenTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet250255.5 (411.186)1:44:00147.395Report
2019
–
2025		Not held
2026March 7DallaraReport
  • 2016 race at PIR, after 2011 reconfiguration, is measured at 1.022 miles.

Support races

Selected race summaries

Former Fall race

  • 1980: Johnny Rutherford led the first 37 laps, then on lap 71 was chasing leader Tom Sneva. Dicing through slower traffic, Rutherford slipped by Sneva in turn three to take the lead. He then suffered a spectacular crash. Coming out of turn four, he touched wheels with Dennis Firestone and spun into the outside wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and landed upside-down on its roll bar. Rutherford escaped with a concussion and only minor cuts and lacerations.
  • 1985: In the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser Jr. finished first-second, and ended the day within three points of each other going into the season finale. The father and son battle for the 1985 championship is famous in Indy car lore.

CART Championship Car

  • 1986: Michael Andretti led 78 laps, but his engine started smoking on lap 163. Kevin Cogan took the lead on lap 164, and won his first (and only) career Indy car race. Cogan finished a lap ahead of second place Tom Sneva.[7]
  • 1987: Roberto Guerrero qualified third, but failed post-qualifying inspection for being 2.5 pounds underweight. He was forced to start last on the grid. Guerrero quickly charged through the field, and was in the top five by lap 46. He dueled with Bobby Rahal for the lead on lap 62, and dominated the second half. Even a stop-and-go penalty for hitting a tire in the pits did not slow Guerrero's run. Guerrero won by 8 seconds over Rahal, becoming only the fourth driver in modern Indy car history to win a race from the last starting position and the first Colombian to win a racing career in history.
  • 1988: Polesitter Rick Mears led the first 22 laps, and stretched out to a large, dominating lead. Coming out of turn four on lap 22, however, Mears tangled with Randy Lewis, spun down the main stretch, and came to rest with a broken suspension. Mario Andretti led the final 135 laps to win.
  • 1989: Danny Sullivan held the lead late, but his Penske teammate Rick Mears blew by him on lap 183. Sullivan pitted for tires, but his pitside tank had no more fuel to take on. Mears had a lap on the entire field as he stretched his fuel to the victory. At the line, Al Unser Jr. barely held off Sullivan for second place.
  • 1990: Rick Mears made it back-to-back victories at Phoenix, this time in dominating fashion. Mears led the final 132 laps, nearly lapping the field at one point. The attention focused on the battle for second between Galles-Kraco Racing teammates Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr. On lap 189, Rahal was able to weave through lapped traffic and pass Unser for second, as Mears cruised to victory.
  • 1991: Arie Luyendyk, driving for the fledgling Bob Tezak UNO/Granatelli Racing, took the lead on lap 143. Luyendyk pulled out to a large lead while Bobby Rahal, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Michael Andretti battled wheel-to-wheel for second. Fittipaldi and Rahal were side-by-side when Danny Sullivan's Alfa Romeo engine blew, bringing out the yellow and white flag. Fittipaldi passed Rahal, but it was after the yellow light came on. Luyendyk won his second Indy car race, and Rahal was restored to second.
  • 1992: Bobby Rahal led wire-to-wire, leading all 200 laps en route to victory. Rahal became the first driver to accomplish that feat at Phoenix since A. J. Foyt in 1964. Michael Andretti qualified for the pole position, the first pole for the Ford-Cosworth XB engine, but his car didn't even pull away from the starting grid. He was pushed to the pits due to fouled spark plugs, and started the race four laps behind the field.
  • 1993: Rookie Nigel Mansell arrived at Phoenix anticipating his first open wheel oval race, but crashed during practice and sat out with a back injury. Mansell's teammate Mario Andretti won the race, and became the oldest winner of an Indy car race (53 years, 34 days). It was Mario Andretti's final Indy car victory.
  • 1994: Hiro Matsushita touched wheels with Teo Fabi in turn three on lap 63. The two cars crashed and collected leader Paul Tracy. Seconds later, rookie Jacques Villeneuve came upon the scene in the high groove, and t-boned Matsushita's car, splitting it in two, and sending it spinning wildly to the infield. Matsushita escaped with no injuries besides a sore shoulder. Later in the race, Mario Andretti crashed on the backstretch, and Michael Andretti clipped another car, which sheared off his left front wheel, which bounced into a spectator area. No injuries were reported. Emerson Fittipaldi won, with his Penske teammate Al Unser Jr. second. After sitting out the race a year before, Nigel Mansell placed third.
  • 1995: In the closing laps, Paul Tracy and Emerson Fittipaldi battled for the lead. Both had to pit though for a "splash-and-go" to make it to the finish. With 7 laps to go Fittipaldi's pit stop handed the lead to Michael Andretti, but Andretti did not realize he had inherited the lead. Andretti allowed Robby Gordon to pass him for the lead with five laps to go, and Gordon won his first career CART series race. It would be the final CART series race at Phoenix.

IndyCar Series

  • 1996: The race switched to the new Indy Racing League. On lap 128, Foyt Racing drivers Scott Sharp and Mike Groff (running 1st-2nd) ducked into the pits for their final stop. However, they did not see that the yellow flag had come out, and were penalized one lap for pitting while the pits were closed. Arie Luyendyk cruised over the final 66 laps to victory. During a practice run, Buddy Lazier suffered a fractured back after a crash. Lazier would come back to win the Indy 500 two months later.
  • 1997: Independent owner/driver Jim Guthrie authored one of the biggest underdog wins in Indy Racing League/IndyCar history. On lap 180, a crash involving Sam Schmidt brought out a lengthy yellow flag. Guthrie stayed out, looking to stretch his fuel over the final 82 laps. Guthrie held off a hard-charging Tony Stewart over the final ten laps to secure his lone Indy car victory. Going into the race, Guthrie was forced to take out a second mortgage on his home to purchase his chassis.
  • 1998: On lap 59, Eliseo Salazar spun and collected Dave Steele and Robbie Buhl. Trying to avoid the crash, Arie Luyendyk touched wheels with Salazar, and slid through turn 2 upside down. On lap 169, the leaders pitted under caution, but Scott Sharp stayed out, gambling on track position. On lap 186, Kenny Brack and Mike Groff touched wheels, crashing hard. The long yellow allowed Sharp to conserve fuel. With two laps to go, the green came out with Sharp leading. Tony Stewart and Billy Boat were caught up behind the slow car of Mark Dismore, allowing Sharp to hold on for the win. After the race, Dismore was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Sharp was fined $15,000 when he failed post-race inspection with an oversized fuel tank.[8]
  • 2001: In preparations for their return to the Indianapolis 500, Penske Racing enters their CART regulars Hélio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran for the IRL season opener at Phoenix.[9] Both Penske cars, however, would drop out. Sam Hornish Jr., driving in his first start for Panther Racing, won his first career Indy car race. Hornish beat the leaders out of the pits with 73 laps to go, and dominated the rest of the way.
  • 2005: Tomas Scheckter brushed the outside wall in turn four on lap 193, bringing out the caution, and setting up a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Sam Hornish Jr. led Dario Franchitti and Hélio Castroneves. Hornish got a good jump on the restart, while Franchitti slipped high in turn two, whitewalling the tires. Hornish won the race, while Franchitti fell back to 4th. Tony Kanaan, who finished third, started 21st and passed half the field on the first lap.[10]
  • 2016: After an eleven-year hiatus, the IndyCar Series returned to Phoenix for a race under the lights. The track had been slightly reconfigured since the last race in 2005, and now was measured at 1.022 miles in length. In addition, the race length was lengthened to 250 laps. Hélio Castroneves broke the track record during qualifying, setting a new one-lap record of 192.631 mph. Passing was difficult during the race, and tire wear was a major factor. Penske teammates Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya both suffered tire failures while leading in the first half. Scott Dixon took the lead and led the final 155 laps to victory.

References

  1. ^ a b "Phoenix, Mexico and a relocated Toronto all poised to feature on IndyCar's 2026 schedule | RACER". racer.com. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Berry, Jahna (29 August 2007). "Grand Prix Arizona canceled". The Arizona Republic.
  3. ^ "PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY NAMES DESERT DIAMOND WEST VALLEY TITLE SPONSOR OF APRIL 2 PHOENIX GRAND PRIX". Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. ^ Ayello, Jim (22 June 2018) IndyCar will not return to Phoenix in 2019 Indystar. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  5. ^ Brown, Nathan. "IndyCar to pair with NASCAR, Barber date set, sources say. What we know on next year's schedule". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
  6. ^ "INDYCAR Announces 17-Race 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule". IndyCar.com. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "Auto Racing Roundup : Cogan Gets a Break and Beats Sneva for First Indy-Car Win". Los Angeles Times. Avondale, Arizona. Times Wire Services. April 7, 1986. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  8. ^ "Sharp/Dismore Fined for Phoenix Infractions". The Auto Channel. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  9. ^ Glick, Shav (March 16, 2001). "Penske CART Team Using Phoenix Race as Indy 500 Tuneup". Los Angeles Times. Avondale, Arizona. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  10. ^ "IRL: Hornish secures lucky 13th win at PIR". Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com, Inc. March 22, 2005. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  • Champ Car Stats: Fairgrounds archive, PIR archive, Indy Lights archive
  • Ultimate Racing History: Fairgrounds archive, Phoenix archive
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