Monterey Grand Prix

For the Champ Car race held in Monterrey, Mexico, see Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey.
Grand Prix of Monterey
Champ Car World Series
Venue Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
First race 1960
First CCWS race 1983
Last race 2004
Most wins (driver) Bobby Rahal (5)
Most wins (team) Penske Racing (8)
Most wins (manufacturer) Lola (11)

The Monterey Grand Prix was an auto race held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The race was first held as a USAC Road Racing Championship event, following the success of the SCCA's Pebble Beach Road Races. After USAC's road racing series disbanded in 1962, the race became a non-championship race for three years, before joining the Can-Am schedule. After Can-Am's demise in 1974, the event shifted to Formula 5000 for two years, then to the IMSA GT Championship for two more years, then to the revamped, Formula 5000-based Can-Am. The first Indy Car / CART / Champ Car World Series race was held in 1983, and the final race was held in 2004. The race was to be brought back to Champ Car in 2008, but after the series was absorbed by the Indy Racing League, the Atlantic Championship took over the headline event.

Results

Year Drivers Team Car Duration/Distance Sponsored Name Report
USAC Road Racing Championship
1960 United Kingdom Stirling Moss British Racing Partnership, Ltd. Lotus 19-Climax 201.4 mi (324.1 km) The San Francisco Examiner presents the First Annual Pacific Grand Prix report
1961 United Kingdom Stirling Moss UDT-Laystall Racing Team Lotus 19-Climax 201.4 mi (324.1 km) San Francisco Examiner Pacific Grand Prix report
1962 United States Roger Penske Cooper T53-Climax[1] 200.8 mi (323.2 km) Pacific Grand Prix 200 report
Non-Championship
1963 United States Dave MacDonald Shelby American Shelby Cooper-Ford 200 mi (320 km) Monterey Pacific Grand Prix report
1964 United States Roger Penske Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2A-Chevrolet 200 mi (320 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
1965 United States Walt Hansgen John Mecom Lola T70-Ford 200 mi (320 km) report
Can-Am
1966 United States Phil Hill Chaparral Cars Chaparral 2E-Chevrolet 200 mi (320 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
1967 New Zealand Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M6A-Chevrolet 200 mi (320 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
1968 Canada John Cannon John Cannon McLaren M1B-Chevrolet 150 mi (240 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
1969 New Zealand Bruce McLaren Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M8B-Chevrolet 150 mi (240 km) Monterey Castrol Grand Prix report
1970 New Zealand Denny Hulme Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M8D-Chevrolet 150 mi (240 km) Monterey Castrol Grand Prix report
1971 United States Peter Revson McLaren Cars Ltd. McLaren M8F-Chevrolet 170 mi (270 km) Monterey Castrol Grand Prix report
1972 United States George Follmer Roger Penske Porsche 917/10 170 mi (270 km) Monterey Castrol GTX Grand Prix report
1973 United States Mark Donohue Roger Penske Enterprises Porsche 917/30 125 mi (201 km) Monterey Castrol Grand Prix report
Formula 5000
1974 United Kingdom Brian Redman Lola T332-Chevrolet 95 mi (153 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
1975 United States Mario Andretti Vel’s Parnelli Jones Racing Lola T332-Chevrolet 95 mi (153 km) Monterey Grand Prix report
IMSA GT Championship
1976 United States Jim Busby Busby Racing Porsche Carrera 100 mi (160 km) Shasta Monterey Grand Prix report
1977 United Kingdom David Hobbs McLaren North America BMW 320i Turbo 100 mi (160 km) Shasta Monterey Grand Prix report
Can-Am
1978 United States Al Holbert Hogan Racing Lola T333CS-Chevrolet 91 mi (146 km) Shasta Monterey Grand Prix report
1979 United States Bobby Rahal U.S. Racing Prophet-Chevrolet 91 mi (146 km) Shasta Monterey Grand Prix report
1980 United States Al Unser Brad Frisselle Racing Frissbee-Chevrolet 95 mi (153 km) Shasta Monterey Grand Prix report
1981 Italy Teo Fabi Paul Newman Racing March 817-Chevrolet 95 mi (153 km) Datsun/Budweiser Can Am Challenge report
1982 United States Al Unser, Jr. Galles Racing Frissbee-Galles GR3-Chevrolet 114 mi (183 km) Datsun and Sprite present the Monterey Grand Prix report
CART IndyCar/Champ Car
1983 Italy Teo Fabi Forsythe Racing March/Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Cribari Wines 300k report
1984 United States Bobby Rahal Truesports March/Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Quinn's Cooler 300k report
1985 United States Bobby Rahal Truesports March/Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Stroh's 300k report
1986 United States Bobby Rahal Truesports March/Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Champion Spark Plug 300 report
1987 United States Bobby Rahal Truesports Lola/Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Champion Spark Plug 300 report
1988 United States Danny Sullivan Team Penske Penske/Chevrolet 300 km (190 mi) Champion Spark Plug 300 report
1989 United States Rick Mears Team Penske Penske/Chevrolet 300 km (190 mi) Champion Spark Plug 300 report
1990 United States Danny Sullivan Marlboro Team Penske Penske/Chevrolet 300 km (190 mi) Champion Spark Plug 300 report
1991 United States Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola/Chevrolet-Ilmor 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Monterey Grand Prix report
1992 United States Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola/Ford-Cosworth 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Monterey Grand Prix report
1993 Canada Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske/Chevrolet-Ilmor 300 km (190 mi) Makita 300 report
1994 Canada Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske/Ilmor 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey report
1995 Brazil Gil de Ferran Jim Hall Racing Reynard/Ilmor-Mercedes-Benz 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey report
1996 Italy Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard/Honda 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey report
1997 United States Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard/Honda 300 km (190 mi) Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey report
1998 United States Bryan Herta Team Rahal Reynard/Ford 300 km (190 mi) Honda Grand Prix of Monterey report
1999 United States Bryan Herta Team Rahal Reynard/Ford 300 km (190 mi) Honda Grand Prix of Monterey report
2000 Brazil Hélio Castroneves Marlboro Team Penske Reynard/Honda 300 km (190 mi) Honda Grand Prix of Monterey report
2001 Italy Max Papis Team Rahal Lola/Ford 300 km (190 mi) Honda Grand Prix of Monterey report
2002 Brazil Cristiano da Matta Newman-Haas Racing Lola/Toyota 195 mi (314 km) Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey report
2003 Canada Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing Lola/Ford-Cosworth 1 hour, 45 minutes Grand Prix of Monterey report
2004 Canada Patrick Carpentier Forsythe Racing Lola/Ford-Cosworth 1 hour, 45 minutes Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey report

Atlantic Championship/Indy Lights winners

Atlantic Championship   ARS/Indy Lights
Season Winning Driver Season Winning Driver
1976 Canada Gilles Villeneuve  
United States Price Cobb
19771983: Not held
1984 United States John David Briggs
1985 United States John David Briggs
1986 United States Ted Prappas 1986 Italy Fabrizio Barbazza
United States Tom Phillips
1987 United States Johnny O'Connell 1987 United States Dave Simpson
United States Jimmy Vasser
1988 United States Mitch Thieman 1988 Republic of Ireland Tommy Byrne
1989: Not held 1989 United States Johnny O'Connell
1990 United States Mark Dismore 1990 United States Ted Prappas
United States Mark Dismore
United States Mark Dismore
1991 United States John Tanner 1991 United States Mark Smith
United States Jimmy Vasser
1992 United States Mark Dismore 1992 United States Robbie Groff
United States Mark Dismore
1993 Canada Jacques Villeneuve 1993 United States Bryan Herta
Canada Jacques Villeneuve
1994 United States Richie Hearn 1994 Brazil André Ribeiro
1995 United States Case Montgomery 1995 Canada Greg Moore
1996 Canada Patrick Carpentier 1996 Brazil Tony Kanaan
1997 United States Alex Barron 1997 Brazil Cristiano da Matta
1998 United States Anthony Lazzaro 1998 France Didier André
1999 United States Anthony Lazzaro 1999 France Didier André
2000 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon 2000 New Zealand Scott Dixon
2001 United States Rocky Moran, Jr. 2001 United States Townsend Bell
2002 United States Ryan Hunter-Reay 20022014 : Not held
2003 United States A. J. Allmendinger
2004 United States Jon Fogarty
20052007: Not held
2008 Canada James Hinchcliffe
2009 United States John Edwards
2010–2015 : Not held 2015 United States Spencer Pigot
United States Spencer Pigot

"The Pass"

One of the most legendary moments in the history of the CART Grand Prix of Monterey, and the CART series itself, occurred in 1996. The event was the final race of the 1996 CART season. Bryan Herta led most of the race during the second half, and in the closing laps, was leading Alex Zanardi. Zanardi was in close pursuit, but Herta had been successful thus far holding him off, and appeared to be en route to his first-career Indy car victory. With Zanardi's Ganassi teammate Jimmy Vasser essentially wrapping up the series title already, the attention in the closing laps focused in on the battle for the race lead.

On the final lap, the cars approached the famous "Corkscrew" turns, with Herta leading. Zanardi made a daring, diving pass to the inside as Herta was under braking, and slid into the lead. Zanardi, however, slid forward off the track, attempting to go straight through the turns. As the hill dipped, and the corkscrew turns reversed, the inside lane became the outside line. His car bounced wildly over the curbing, throwing up dirt, became airborne, and narrowly missed a barrier. He swung across the track in front of Herta, with Herta narrowly missing a collision. Zanardi was able to gather control, and shockingly made the pass stick. Zanardi held Herta off over the final two turns, and scored a shocking victory.

A surprised and dejected Herta was in total shock afterwards, naturally never expecting a pass of that nature in that location. Zanardi himself admitted it was an extremely high risk pass with little chance of success. In post-race evaluation, CART officials allowed the pass, but banned such moves in future races. The spectacular overtaking maneuver by Zanardi later became known in racing circles simply as "The Pass."

Broadcasting

Year Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s) Pit reporters
1983 ESPN Bob Jenkins Gordon Johncock Gary Lee and Ted Otto
1984 ESPN Bob Jenkins Larry Nuber Gary Lee
1985 ESPN Bob Jenkins Derek Daly Jack Arute
1986 ESPN Bob Jenkins Derek Daly Gary Lee
1987 ESPN Bob Jenkins David Hobbs Gary Lee and Larry Nuber
1988 ESPN Bob Jenkins Johnny Rutherford Gary Lee and John Bisignano
1989 ESPN Paul Page Johnny Rutherford Gary Gerould and Jack Arute
1990 ESPN Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Lyn St. James
1991 ESPN Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1992 ESPN Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1993 ESPN2 Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1994 ESPN Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1995 ESPN2 Paul Page Derek Daly Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1996 ESPN Paul Page Danny Sullivan Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1997 ESPN Bob Varsha Danny Sullivan Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
1998 ESPN Bob Varsha Danny Sullivan Gary Gerould, Jon Beekhuis and Marlo Klain
1999 ESPN Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
2000 ESPN Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
2001 ESPN Paul Page Parker Johnstone Gary Gerould and Jon Beekhuis
2002 SPEED Bob Varsha Tommy Kendall Derek Daly, Calvin Fish and Scott Pruett
2003 CBS Bob Varsha Tommy Kendall Derek Daly and Calvin Fish
2004 SpikeTV Rick Benjamin Tommy Kendall Derek Daly and Jon Beekhuis

See also

References

External links

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