Firestone Indy 225

The Firestone Indy 225 was an IndyCar racing event held at Nazareth Speedway from 1987–2004. From 1987–2001, the event was sanctioned by CART. In 2002, the race switched to the Indy Racing League. From 1987–1996, the race was scheduled for 200 laps. In 1997, the race was lengthened to 225 laps. Rising speeds had led to the races being completed very quickly, and CART officials worried that the fans were not getting their money's worth. The race was discontinued after the track closed permanently in 2004.

Firestone Indy 225
IndyCar Series
VenueNazareth Speedway
Corporate sponsorFirestone
First race1987
First ICS race2002
Last race2004
Distance225 miles (362 km)
Laps225
Previous namesNazareth 100 (1968–1969, 1982)
Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (1987–1996)
Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota (1997–2000)
Lehigh Valley Grand Prix (2001)
Firestone Indy 225 (2002–2004)
Most wins (driver)Emerson Fittipaldi (3)
Most wins (team)Penske Racing (7)

Nazareth also hosted the Marlboro Challenge all-star event in 1990 and 1992. IndyCar points racing would not return in Pennsylvania until their return to Pocono Raceway in 2013 for the first time since 1989.

Past winners
Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)		 Report
Laps Miles (km)
USAC Champ Car history
1968 July 13 Al Unser Dunlop Offy 100 100 (160.934) 1:00:21 100.068 Report
1969 July 12 Mario Andretti Kuzma Offy 100 100 (160.934) 0:56:45 105.719 Report
1982 Dec 4 Keith Kauffman Gambler Chevrolet 54* 54 (86.904) Report
CART Champ Car history
1987 Sept 20 Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing March Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:33:02 129.026 Report
1988 Sept 25 Danny Sullivan Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:20:47 148.526 Report
1989 Sept 24 Emerson Fittipaldi Patrick Racing Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:29:02 134.767 Report
1990 Oct 7 Emerson Fittipaldi Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:46:28 112.17 Report
1991 Oct 6 Arie Luyendyk Granatelli Racing Team Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:31:23 131.31 Report
1992 Oct 4 Bobby Rahal Rahal/Hogan Racing Lola Chevrolet-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:33:07 128.848 Report
1993 Sept 19 Nigel Mansell Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:15:37 158.686 Report
1994 Sept 18 Paul Tracy Penske Racing Penske Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:31:30 131.141 Report
1995 April 23 Emerson Fittipaldi Penske Racing Penske Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor 200 200 (321.868) 1:31:23 131.305 Report
1996 April 28 Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford-Cosworth 200 200 (321.868) 1:25:08 140.953 Report
1997 April 27 Paul Tracy Penske Racing Penske Mercedes-Benz-Ilmor 225 225 (362.102) 1:53:31 118.919 Report
1998 April 26 Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda 225 225 (362.102) 1:57:20 108.839 Report
1999 May 2 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda 225 225 (362.102) 1:46:13 120.225 Report
2000 May 27* Gil de Ferran Penske Racing Reynard Honda 225 225 (362.102) 2:06:10 101.219 Report
2001 May 6 Scott Dixon PacWest Racing Reynard Toyota 225 225 (362.102) 1:51:12 114.84 Report
IRL IndyCar Series history
2002 April 21 Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Dallara Chevrolet 225 225 (362.102) 2:14:35 93.789 Report
2003 Aug 24 Hélio Castroneves Team Penske Dallara Toyota 225 225 (362.102) 1:42:07 123.606 Report
2004 Aug 29 Dan Wheldon Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda 225 225 (362.102) 1:46:11 118.874 Report
  • 1982: Race shortened due to rain.
  • 2000: Originally scheduled for April 9; postponed due to snow.

Lights and Atlantics winners
Race action during the 1997 event.
Season Date Winning Driver Season Date Winning Driver
CART Indy Lights SCCA and CART Atlantic Championship
1987 September 20 Mike Groff
1988 September 25 Calvin Fish
1989 September 24 Mike Groff
1990 October 7 Robbie Groff
1991 October 6 Robbie Buhl 1991 October 6 Jovy Marcelo
1992 October 4 Robbie Buhl 1992 October 3 Harald Huysman
1993 September 19 Bryan Herta 1993 September 18 Claude Bourbonnais
1994 September 18 Greg Moore 1994 September 17 Mark Dismore
1995 April 23 Greg Moore 1995 April 22 Patrick Carpentier
1996 April 28 David DeSilva 1996 April 27 Patrick Carpentier
1997 April 27 Cristiano da Matta 1997 April 26 Alex Barron
1998 April 27 Cristiano da Matta 1998 April 25 Buddy Rice
1999 May 2 Airton Daré 1999 May 1 Anthony Lazzaro
2000* No race 2000* No race
2001 May 5 Tony Ave
  • 2000: Originally scheduled for April 9, postponed due to snow. Indy Lights and Atlantic races were not made up.[1]

References
  1. San Marino, Goody's 500, Nazareth, Driving Today, April 10, 2000, retrieved 2009-11-08
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