Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200

The Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 was a PPG IndyCar World Series was an IndyCar Series race held at the ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Open wheel racing in the Phoenix area dates back to 1915 (see Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200) on a dirt oval at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. The race was revived in 1950 by the AAA, and then passed to the United States Auto Club in 1956. USAC moved the race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979. 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. This race was the site of one of the greatest championship battles in IndyCar history in 1985 where Al Unser Jr led his father Al Unser Sr by 3 points heading into the event. After the event however Father and son finished 1st and 2nd, and the standings were flipped. Al Sr. led Al Jr. by 3 points going into the finale at Miami. It also saw a horrifying crash involving Johnny Rutherford (1980). During its time on the USAC Championship Car circuit, Phoenix International Raceway 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

This article is about the second Phoenix IndyCar race which was held in the fall at or near the end of the season. For the first Phoenix IndyCar race in the spring, see Desert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix.
Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200
CART PPG Indy Car World Series
VenueISM Raceway (1964–1986)
First race1964
Last race1986
Distance200 mi (320 km)
Laps200
Previous namesPhoenix 100/150: 1950-1953 (100), 1974-1975 (150)
Bobby Ball Memorial: 1964-1968
Bobby Ball 200: 1969
Bobby Ball 150: 1970-1971, 1976-1977
Best Western 150: 1972
Arizona 150: 1973
Miller High Life Bobby Ball Memorial 150: 1978
Miller High Life 150: 1979-1983
Stroh's 150: 1984
Dana 150: 1985
Most wins (driver)A. J. Foyt (4)
Al Unser (4)
Most wins (team)Dean Racing Enterprises (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: March (6)
Engine: Cosworth (10)

Race History

Arizona State Fairgrounds
Season Date Race Name Driver Team Chassis Engine Tire Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
AAA Championship Car history
1915 November 20 Earl Cooper Stutz Motor Company Stutz Stutz F 109 109 (175.418) 1:42:30 64.39
1916
–
1949		 Not held
1950 November 12 Phoenix 100 Jimmy Davies Pat Clancy Racing Ewing Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:16:54 78.020
1951 November 4 Phoenix 100 Johnnie Parsons Kurtis Kraft Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:54 84.626
1952 November 11 Phoenix 100 Johnnie Parsons Ricketts Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:09:52 85.87
1953 November 11 Phoenix 100 Tony Bettenhausen Belanger Motors Kurtis Kraft Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:11:30 83.916
1954 November 7−8* Bobby Ball Memorial Jimmy Bryan Dean Racing Enterprises Kuzma Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:59 84.524
1955 November 6 Bobby Ball Memorial Jimmy Bryan Dean Racing Enterprises Kuzma Offenhauser F 97* 97 (156.106) 1:09:24 83.862
USAC Championship Car history
1956 November 12 Bobby Ball Memorial George Amick Lindsey Hopkins Racing Lesovsky Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:05:20 91.826
1957 November 11 Bobby Ball Memorial Jimmy Bryan Dean Racing Enterprises Kuzma Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:09:46 86.001
1958 November 11 Bobby Ball Memorial Jud Larson Bignotti-Bowes Racing Associates Lesovsky Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:04:42 92.738
1959 October 18 Bobby Ball Memorial Tony Bettenhausen Lindsey Hopkins Racing Kuzma Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:07:50 88.458
1960 November 20 Bobby Ball Memorial A. J. Foyt Bignotti-Bowes Racing Associates Meskowski Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:07:21 89.079
1961 November 19 Bobby Ball Memorial Parnelli Jones Agajanian Racing Lesovsky Offenhauser F 89* 89 (143.231)
1962 November 18 Bobby Ball Memorial Bobby Marshman Lindsey Hopkins Racing Kuzma Offenhauser F 51* 51 (82.076) 0:33:13 92.124
1963 November 17 Bobby Ball Memorial Rodger Ward Leader Card Racing Watson Offenhauser F 100 100 (160.934) 1:10:35 85.01
  • 1954: Final 65 laps completed on November 8 due to heavy dust and the rough condition of the track.
  • 1955: Race shortened due to rough track conditions.
  • 1961: Race shortened due to darkness.
  • 1962: Race shortened due to crash.
  • Bolded driver indicates this was their first USAC Championship Car win

Phoenix International Raceway
Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine/Aero Kit Tires Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
USAC Championship Car history
1964 November 22 Lloyd Ruby Bill Forbes Racing Halibrand RE Offenhauser F 200 200 (321.868) 1:51:23 107.736
1965 November 21 A. J. Foyt Anstead-Thompson Racing Lotus RE Ford G 200 200 (321.868) 2:00:01 99.99
1966 November 20 Mario Andretti Dean Racing Enterprises Brawner Hawk Ford F 200 200 (321.868) 1:54:38 104.697
1967 November 19 Mario Andretti Dean Racing Enterprises Brawner Hawk Ford F 200 200 (321.868) 1:49:13 109.872
1968 November 17 Gary Bettenhausen Gerhardt Racing Gerhardt Offenhauser F 200 200 (321.868) 1:54:19 104.972
1969 November 15 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Lola Ford F 200 200 (321.868) 1:48:59 110.109
1970 November 21 Swede Savage All American Racers Eagle Ford G 150 150 (241.401) 1:17:30 116.807
1971 October 23 A. J. Foyt Anstead-Thompson Racing Coyote 71 Ford G 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:18 110.333
1972 November 4 Bobby Unser All American Racers Eagle Offenhauser G 150 150 (241.401) 1:10:31 127.618
1973 November 3 Gordon Johncock STP-Patrick Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 150 150 (241.401) 1:18:15 115.015
1974 November 2 Gordon Johncock STP-Patrick Racing Eagle Offenhauser G 150 150 (241.401) 1:12:28 124.202
1975 November 9 A. J. Foyt Gilmore-Foyt Racing Coyote Foyt TC G 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:02 111.055
1976 November 7 Al Unser Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing Parnelli Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:23:34 107.695
1977 October 29 Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat Drake Goosen Sparks G 150 150 (241.401) 1:22:53 108.597
1978 October 28 Johnny Rutherford Team McLaren McLaren Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:14:24 120.974
CART PPG Indy Car World Series history
1979 October 20 Al Unser Chaparral Cars Chaparral Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:13:03 123.203
1980 November 8 Tom Sneva Jerry O'Connell Racing Phoenix Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:30:04 99.925
1981 October 31 Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter Racing March Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:20:10 112.266
1982 November 6 Tom Sneva Bignotti-Cotter Racing March 82C Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:21:05 110.997
1983 October 29 Teo Fabi Forsythe Racing March 83C Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:11:03 126.671
1984 October 13 Bobby Rahal Truesports March 84C Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:31:47 98.048
1985 October 13 Al Unser Team Penske March 85C Cosworth DFX G 150 150 (241.401) 1:14:35 120.644
1986 October 19 Michael Andretti Kraco Racing March 86C Cosworth DFX G 200 200 (321.868) 1:29:06 134.676

Support races

Selected race summaries
  • 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 1st-2nd, and ended the day within 3 points of each other going into the season finale. The father and son battle for the 1985 championship is famous in Indy car lore.

References
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