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 Oval (1999–2003) | |
| Location | Cicero,Illinois |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 67,000 |
| Owner | Charles W. Bidwill III,Chip Ganassi and Dwayne Mcarthur |
| Broke ground | 1997 |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Closed | 2003 |
| Construction cost | $70 million USD |
| Former names | Sportsman's Park |
| Major events | CART (1999–2002) Atlantic Championship (1999, 2001–2002) NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesSears Craftsman 175 (2000–2001) ASA National Tour (2000–2001) Barber Pro Series (2001) ARCA Truck Series (2001) Indy Lights (1999–2000) NASCAR Midwest Series (2000) |
| Oval (1999–2003) | |
| Length | 1.029 mi (1.656 km) |
| Race lap record | 0:23.687 (156.390 mph (251.685 km/h)) ( Roberto Moreno,Swift 010.c,1999,CART) |
TheChicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park was a motorsports race track, located inCicero, Illinois, just outsideChicago. It was built in 1999 by a group includingChip Ganassi, owner ofChip Ganassi Racing. In 2002 the 1.029-mile (1.656 km) oval shaped track suspended operations due to financial conditions in the motorsports industry. The track was also the site of horse races, for which the track was called "Sportsman's Park". The track was one of three racetracks that hosted both NASCAR auto races and horse races (the others areDover International Speedway and theSyracuse Mile).
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Before 1999, Sportsman's Park was one of the premier locations for horse racing in the area.Hawthorne Race Course, located right across the street to the south from the track, is the current host of theIllinois Derby. The two tracks operated together for decades.
In 1999, after the final season of the old Sportsman's Park, the main grandstand and infield were completely demolished to make way for the massive grandstand that was to follow.
The track heldCART races from 1999 to 2002, the Toyota Atlantic Series, andNASCARCraftsman Truck Seriesraces in 2000 and 2001. Chicago Motor Speedway also heldAmerican Speed Association (ASA) races as well as theMid-Am Racing Series.[1] Traditional horse races remained; this time as dirt was brought in over the racing surface. Problems with the hard surface led to several scratches by trainers and races being canceled.
In 2001,Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet was built in the hopes of attracting more racing fans and upper-level races; all Cicero races were subsequently moved to Joliet and the track closed the following year after the CART event. The few remaining horse races were transferred to Hawthorne.
Portions of the motion pictureDriven were shot at Chicago Motor Speedway.
In 2003 the town of Cicero purchased the track for $18 million. During 2005 the main grandstands were torn down but the track itself remained.
On October 31, 2008, it was reported that contracts for the demolition of the remaining structures and track had been awarded.
Demolition of the remaining Sportsman's Park structures and the track itself began on January 5, 2009.
The western portion of the site is now aWirtz Beverage Group distribution center, while the eastern portion is home to aWalmart supercenter, effectively removing any last remains of the track. Part of the parking lot to the west across Laramie Avenue has been converted into a public park.
| Season | Date | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | Report | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||||
| 1999 | August 22 |  Juan Pablo Montoya | Chip Ganassi Racing | Reynard | Honda | 225 | 231.525 (372.603) | 1:53:38 | 122.236 | Report | [2] |
| 2000 | July 30 | Cristiano da Matta | PPI Motorsports | Reynard | Toyota | 225 | 231.525 (372.603) | 2:01:23 | 114.432 | Report | [3] |
| 2001 | July 29 |  Kenny Bräck | Team Rahal | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | 225 | 231.525 (372.603) | 1:45:12 | 132.031 | Report | [4] |
| 2002 | June 30 | Cristiano da Matta | Newman/Haas Racing | Lola | Toyota | 250 | 257.25 (414.003) | 2:07:00 | 121.524 | Report | [5] |
The fastest official race lap records at Chicago Motor Speedway are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval: 1.656 km (1999–2003)[6] | ||||
| CART | 0:23.687[7] | Roberto Moreno | Swift 010.c | 1999 Target Grand Prix of Chicago |
| Indy Lights | 0:25.723[8] | Scott Dixon | Lola T97/20 | 2000 Chicago Indy Lights round |
| Formula Atlantic | 0:26.607[9] | Sam Hornish, Jr. | Swift 008.a | 1999 Cicero Atlantic round |
| Barber Pro | 0:30.968[10] | Sepp Koster | Reynard 98E | 2001 Cicero Barber Pro round |
41°49′50″N87°44′55″W / 41.83056°N 87.74861°W /41.83056; -87.74861