_-_Speedway.svg) | |
| Verizon IndyCar Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Auto Club Speedway (1997–2005, 2012–2015) |
| Corporatesponsor | Marlboro (1997–2001) Toyota (1998–2005) Yamaha (2002) King Taco (2003) Lucas Oil (2012–2015) |
| First race | 1997 |
| First ICS race | 2002 |
| Last race | 2015 |
| Distance | 500 mi (800 km) – 1997–2002 CART, 2012–2015 IRL 400 mi (640 km) – 2002–2005, IRL |
| Laps | 200 (2002–2005) 250 (1997–2003, 2012–2015) |
| Previous names | Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota (1997, 1999–2001) Yamaha Indy 400 (2002 IRL) The 500 presented by Toyota (1998 & 2002 CART) King Taco 500 (2003 CART) Toyota Indy 400 (2003–2005) MAVTV 500 (2012–2015) |
| Most wins (driver) | Sam Hornish Jr. (2) Adrian Fernández (2) |
| Most wins (team) | Chip Ganassi Racing (2) Newman-Haas Racing (2) Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (2) Panther Racing (2) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Chassis:Dallara (7) Engine:Chevrolet (5) |
American open-wheel car races had been hosted atAuto Club Speedway inFontana, California since its inauguration in 1997 until 2015 (except from 2006 to 2011), under bothCART/Champ Car and modern-dayIndyCar Series sanctioning, representing a continuous lineage of American open-wheel oval racing in theSouthern California-area that dates back to 1970.
For many years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the race served as the season finale for the CART series. From 2012 to 2014, when it was sponsored byMAVTV, it served as the finale for the IndyCar Series.[1]
In 2015, the race was moved to June. Despite several journalists calling the 2015 edition one of the best IndyCar races, the race did not return on the schedule for 2016,[2] ending the lineage of Southern California open-wheel oval races.
CART renewed the 500-mile oval race in 1997 at the newly builtCalifornia Speedway inFontana, California. The new track was built just 4 miles (6.4 km) from the previousOntario Motor Speedway where theCalifornia 500 was held between 1970 and 1980. Indy car races were also held at nearbyRiverside, but only from 1967 to 1969 (prior to the opening of Ontario) and again from 1981 to 1983 (after Ontario closed).
The Fontana race was held under the moniker Marlboro 500, and served as the CART season finale. This event was held through 2002. The race became known for closed-course record speeds, and fast and competitive racing, owing much to the track's width.
The 1999 race is considered a tragic day in the history of CART, after the fatal crash ofGreg Moore. The 2003 event was cancelled due to theOld Fire.
Along with the popularLong Beach Grand Prix, the Southern California area featured two major open wheel CART races annually for a time.
In 2002, theIRLIndyCar Series added a 400-mile race to the facility. Fontana became the first facility to host races from both rival open wheel series (CART and IRL), although the race distance was different (500 vs 400 miles). The Toyota Indy 400 was held through 2005. However, crowds dwindled, and the event was removed from the calendar.
The now-unified IndyCar Series returned to Fontana for the2012 season with a 500-mile fall night race under the lights.[1] The race served as the season finale from 2012 to 2014. For 2015, the race was moved to June.
Two world closed course speed records were established in qualifying for the CART event.Maurício Gugelmin, driving aReynard/Mercedes established a one-lap time of 30.316 seconds (average speed of 240.942 miles per hour (387.759 km/h) in1997. At the time, CART officials recognized the track measurement as 2.029 miles (3.265 km). Gugelimin had furthermore turned an unofficial lap of 242.333 miles per hour (389.997 km/h) during the morning practice.[3]
On October 28, 2000,Gil de Ferran ofPenske Racing topped Gugelmin's time driving a Reynard/Honda. The lap time by de Ferran was 30.255 seconds at an average speed of 241.428 miles per hour (388.541 km/h).[4] Using the more common track measurement of 2.0 miles, de Ferran's lap translated into an average speed of 237.977 miles per hour (382.987 km/h).
| Season | Date | Driver | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||||
| Auto Club Speedway | ||||||||||
| 1997 | September 27 |  Clint Mears | Lola | Buick | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:52:16 | 116.467 | [22] | |
| 1998 | October 31 | Mark Hotchkis | Lola | Buick | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:39:41 | 153.395 | [23] | |
| 1999 | October 30 |  Jonny Kane | Lola | Buick | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:46:52 | 129.902 | [24] | |
| 2000 | October 29 |  Scott Dixon | Lola | Buick | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:33:08 | 183.672 | [25] | |
| 2001 | November 4 | Townsend Bell | Lola | Buick | 44* | 88 (141.622) | 0:29:23 | 182.334 | [26] | |
| 2002 | Not held | |||||||||
| 2003 | September 20 | Mark Taylor | Dallara | Infiniti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:41:14 | 145.536 | [27] | |
| 2004 | October 2 | James Chesson | Dallara | Infiniti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:40:51 | 146.894 | [28] | |
| 2005 | October 16 | Wade Cunningham | Dallara | Infiniti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:43:07 | 139.17 | [29] | |
| 2006 – 2011 | Not held | |||||||||
| 2012 | September 15 |  Carlos Muñoz | Dallara | Infiniti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:37:38 | 159.41 | [30] | |
| 2013 | October 19 | Carlos Muñoz | Dallara | Infiniti | 50 | 100 (160.934) | 0:32:10 | 186.552 | [31] | |
