Honda Indy 200
 | |
| IndyCar Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course |
| Corporate sponsor |
Honda Westfield Insurance |
| First race | 1970 |
| First IRL race | 2007 |
| Distance | 203.22 mi (327.05 km) |
| Laps | 90 |
| Previous names |
Red Roof Inns 150 (1980) Escort Radar Warning 200 (1983–1988) Red Roof Inns 200 (1989–1990) Pioneer Electronics 200 (1991–1994) Miller Genuine Draft 200 (1995) Miller 200 (1996–1997) Miller Lite 200 (1998–2001) Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (2002) Champ Car Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (2003) Honda 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by Westfield Insurance (2007) Honda Indy Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio (2008) Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (2009, 2012-Present) Honda Indy 200 (2010-2011) |
The Honda Indy 200 is an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
The U.S. Formula 5000 series ran open wheel races at Mid-Ohio beginning in 1970. The race transferred to the revived Can-Am series in 1977.
The CART series debuted at the track in 1980, and continued to race there from 1983–2003. In 2007, American open wheel racing returned to the venue, when the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series held an event. The race used to be part of a doubleheader with the American Le Mans Series, however in ALMS chose not to return to the track during its final year, 2013. On November 21, 2006, it was announced that weekend of racing secured the sponsorship of Honda.[1]
The history of open-wheel races has a unique footnote. The race has been won consecutively on six occasions, including four times in a row from 1991–1997. It is also one of only a few Indy car races to be won by two sets of fathers & sons. (Mario & Michael Andretti and Bobby & Graham Rahal).[2]
The initial contract will have the race held for three years from 2007–2009. On June 5, 2007, Truesports, the promoters of the race, announced a three-year partnership with Westfield Insurance to serve as presenting sponsor of the IndyCar Series event.[3]
Race scheduling
In early years of the event under CART, the race was scheduled for Labor Day weekend. [4] In 1990, it was pushed back two weeks into mid-September. Rain and cooler temperatures, however, prompted officials to move the race to the summer. For 1994, it was situated in early to mid-August, the weekend after the Brickyard 400.
When the race was revived by the Indy Racing League in 2007, it was placed in July. Carried by ABC, it immediately followed final round coverage of the British Open. Such a lead-in usually created a strong television audience, but it was at the risk of the golf tournament running long due to a playoff, as it did in 2007. Starting in 2009, the race was moved back to its early August slot.
Course layout
Through 1989, the race utilized the original full 2.4-mile track layout, which included the chicane (turns 2 and 3) just before the keyhole (turn 4). During a track repaving project in early 1990, a straightaway segment was paved to create an alternate layout which bypasses the chicane. The alternate layout measured 2.25 miles. Since the 1990 race, the Indy cars have utilized the alternate course, bypassing the chicane and creating a passing zone going into the keyhole.
In all years, the Indy cars have utilized the starting line located on the backstretch. The finish line and all other scoring is done at the line on the pit straight.
Past winners
| Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
Report | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||
| Formula A/Formula 5000 history | ||||||||||
| 1970 | September 27 |  George Follmer |
O'Neil Racing | Lotus | Ford | 42 | 100.8 (162.221) | 1:03:21 | 95.464 | Report |
| 1971 | July 5 | Sam Posey |
Champ Carr Inc. | Surtees | Chevrolet | 60 | 144 (231.745) | 1:31:11 | 94.75 | Report |
| 1972 | | |||||||||
| 1973 | June 3 | .svg.png){kind=small} Jody Scheckter |
Taylor-Entin | Trojan | Chevrolet | 42 | 100.8 (162.221) | 1:02:32 | 96.708 | Report |
| 1974 | June 2 |  Brian Redman |
Haas Racing | Lola | Chevrolet | 42 | 100.8 (162.221) | 1:01:04 | 99.023 | Report |
| 1975 | August 10 | Brian Redman |
Carl Haas/Jim Hall | Lola | Chevrolet | 42 | 100.8 (162.221) | 1:04:51 | 93.24 | Report |
| 1976 | August 8 | Brian Redman |
Carl Haas/Jim Hall | Lola | Chevrolet | 42 | 100.8 (162.221) | 0:59:07 | 102.29 | Report |
| 1977 – 1979 |
Not held | |||||||||
| CART Champ Car history | ||||||||||
| 1980 | July 13 | Johnny Rutherford |
Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth | 65 | 156 (251.057) | 1:48:04 | 86.601 | Report |
| 1981 – 1982 |
Not held | |||||||||
| 1983 | September 11 |  Teo Fabi |
Forsythe Racing | March | Cosworth | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 2:01:49 | 98.755 | Report |
| 1984 | September 3 | Mario Andretti |
Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Cosworth | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 1:59:50 | 100.388 | Report |
| 1985 | September 1 | Bobby Rahal |
TrueSports | March | Cosworth | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 1:52:23 | 107.041 | Report |
| 1986 | August 31 | Bobby Rahal |
TrueSports | March | Cosworth | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 1:56:18 | 103.43 | Report |
| 1987 | September 6 |  Roberto Guerrero |
Andy Granatelli | March | Cosworth | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 1:51:58 | 107.431 | Report |
| 1988 | September 4 |  Emerson Fittipaldi |
Patrick Racing | Lola | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 2:14:18 | 89.57 | Report |
| 1989 | September 3 | Teo Fabi |
Porsche | March | Porsche | 84 | 201.6 (324.443) | 1:54:46 | 105.395 | Report |
| 1990 | September 16 | Michael Andretti |
Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 89 | 200.25 (322.271) | 2:19:27 | 85.751 | Report |
| 1991 | September 15 | Michael Andretti |
Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 89 | 200.25 (322.271) | 1:59:49 | 99.789 | Report |
| 1992 | September 13 | Emerson Fittipaldi |
Penske Racing | Penske | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 89 | 200.25 (322.271) | 1:51:23 | 107.352 | Report |
| 1993 | September 12 | Emerson Fittipaldi |
Penske Racing | Penske | Chevrolet-Ilmor | 89 | 200.25 (322.271) | 1:56:59 | 102.704 | Report |
| 1994 | August 14 | Al Unser, Jr. |
Penske Racing | Penske | Ilmor | 83* | 185.754 (298.942) | 1:40:59 | 110.387 | Report |
| 1995 | August 13 | Al Unser, Jr. |
Penske Racing | Penske | Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor | 83 | 186.75 (300.544) | 1:44:04 | 107.11 | Report |
| 1996 | August 11 | Alex Zanardi |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 83 | 186.75 (300.544) | 1:46:49 | 104.358 | Report |
| 1997 | August 10 | Alex Zanardi |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 83 | 187.414 (301.613) | 1:41:16 | 110.456 | Report |
| 1998 | August 9 |  Adrián Fernández |
Patrick Racing | Reynard | Ford-Cosworth | 83 | 187.414 (301.613) | 1:53:39 | 98.428 | Report |
| 1999 | August 15 | Juan Montoya |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 83 | 187.414 (301.613) | 1:42:08 | 109.606 | Report |
| 2000 | August 13 | Hélio Castroneves |
Penske Racing | Reynard | Honda | 83 | 187.414 (301.613) | 1:44:59 | 106.558 | Report |
| 2001 | August 12 | Hélio Castroneves |
Penske Racing | Reynard | Honda | 83 | 187.414 (301.613) | 1:44:54 | 106.627 | Report |
| 2002 | August 11 |  Patrick Carpentier |
Forsythe Racing | Reynard | Ford-Cosworth | 92 | 207.736 (334.318) | 1:56:17 | 106.68 | Report |
| 2003 | August 10 | Paul Tracy |
Forsythe Racing | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | 92 | 207.736 (334.318) | 1:56:45 | 106.251 | Report |
| 2004 – 2006 |
Not held | |||||||||
| IRL/IndyCar Series history | ||||||||||
| 2007 | July 22 |  Scott Dixon |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 1:47:24 | 107.222 | Report |
| 2008 | July 20 |  Ryan Briscoe |
Penske Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 2:01:23 | 94.873 | Report |
| 2009 | August 9 | Scott Dixon |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 1:46:06 | 108.541 | Report |
| 2010 | August 8 | Dario Franchitti |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 1:54:32 | 100.542 | Report |
| 2011 | August 7 | Scott Dixon |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 1:48:47 | 105.861 | Report |
| 2012 | August 5 | Scott Dixon |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 85 | 191.93 (308.881) | 1:39:49 | 115.379 | Report |
| 2013 | August 4 | Charlie Kimball |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Honda | 90 | 203.22 (327.05) | 1:43:29 | 117.825 | Report |
| 2014 | August 3 | Scott Dixon |
Chip Ganassi Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 90 | 203.22 (327.05) | 1:52:45 | 108.14 | Report |
| 2015 | August 2 | Graham Rahal |
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing | Dallara | Honda | 90 | 203.22 (327.05) | 1:55:20 | 105.72 | Report |
- 1994: Race shortened due to time limit.
Past races
- 1987: With less than 20 laps to go, Bobby Rahal held an impressive lead, going for his third consecutive win in the event. He tangled with backmarker Rick Miaskiewicz, however, and fell to second place. Roberto Guerrero went on to win the race. A few days later, however, Guerrero would suffer an almost career-ending practice crash at Indianapolis.
- 1989: Teo Fabi won the only race of the Porsche Indy car program.
- 1990: Despite heavy rain, Michael Andretti dominates, with his father Mario Andretti finishing second.
- 1993: Nigel Mansell starts on the pole, but tangles with Paul Tracy in the esses on the first lap, damaging his front wing. Tracy dominates for the first 20 laps, but spins off course trying to pass the lap car of Scott Pruett. Emerson Fittipaldi leads the rest of the way to victory.
- 1998: Michael Andretti suffers a serious crash at the end of the backstretch, touching wheels with P. J. Jones. His car flipped several times and landed in the sandtrap in the runoff area.
- 2009: Scott Dixon earns his 20th Indy Racing League IndyCar Series victory, making him the most successful driver in series history.
- 2013: Charlie Kimball led a race-high 46 laps, and earned his first victory in Indy car competition. In a race that went caution-free, Kimball set an all-time Mid-Ohio record with an average speed of 117.825 mph.
- 2014: Scott Dixon won his record fifth Mid-Ohio Indy car race.
- 2015: Hometown favorite Graham Rahal won the race, thirty years after his father Bobby Rahal won at Mid-Ohio. On lap 66, Rahal made his final pit stop, just as the yellow came out for a controversial spin by Sage Karam at the end of the backstretch. Rahal led the rest of the way, holding off Justin Wilson on a restart with 6 laps to go.
Broadcasting
- NOTE: The 2012 broadcast aired on ABC, but featured NBCSN’s announcing team. This was due to scheduling conflicts with the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Atlantic Championship/Indy Lights winners
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See also
References
- ↑ http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=239166&FS=IRL
- ↑ Note: The Grand Prix of Cleveland was won by two sets of fathers and sons (Al Unser Sr./Al Unser Jr. and Mario Andretti/Michael Andretti). The Milwaukee 200 was won by two sets of fathers and sons (Al Unser Sr./Al Unser Jr. and Mario Andretti/Michael Andretti).
- ↑ http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/06/05/050560.html
- ↑ "1984 Escort Radar Warning 200". racing-reference.info.
| Preceded by Honda Indy Toronto |
Current IndyCar Series races |
Succeeded by ABC Supply 500 |
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