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Gold Coast Indy 300: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 27°59′17.9″S 153°25′42.1″E / 27.988306°S 153.428361°E / -27.988306; 153.428361
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Adding short description: "Motorsport race in Queensland, Australia, 1991–2008"
 
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{{Short description|Motorsport race in Queensland, Australia, 1991–2008}}
{{F1 race |
{{distinguish|text=the [[Gold Coast 600]], a [[Supercars Championship|Supercars]] event on the Gold Coast}}
Name = '''Gold Coast Indy 300''' |
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
Flag = Flag of Australia.svg|
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
Circuit = [[Surfer's Paradise]] |
{{F1 race
Circuit_image = Lexmark indy champ car2 2006.jpg|
Laps = 59 |
| Name = Gold Coast Indy 300
| Flag = Flag of Australia.svg
Circuit_length_km = 4.47 |
| Circuit = [[Surfers Paradise Street Circuit]]
Circuit_length_mi = 2.79 |
| Circuit_image = Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.svg
Race_length_km = 263.73 |
Race_length_mi = 164.61 |
| Laps = 60
| Circuit_length_km = 4.47
Most_wins_driver = 2 by {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]]|
| Circuit_length_mi = 2.79
Most_wins_constructor = [[Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing]] (4) |
Current_year = 2007 |
| Race_length_km = 269.88
Winning_time = 1:45:49.318 |
| Race_length_mi = 167.70
Winner = [[Sébastien Bourdais]] |
| Most_wins_driver = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] (2)
Winning_team = [[Newman-Haas Racing]] |
| Most_wins_constructor = [[Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing]] (6)
Pole_time = 1:30.054 |
| Current_year = 2008
Pole_driver = [[Will Power]] |
| Winning_time = 1:45:50.3868
Pole_team = [[Team Australia]] |
| Winner = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Ryan Briscoe|R. Briscoe]]
Fastest_lap = 1:31.093 |
| Winning_team = [[Penske Racing|Team Penske]]
| Second = {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Scott Dixon|S. Dixon]]
Fastest_lap_driver = [[Graham Rahal]] |
| Second_team = [[Chip Ganassi Racing|Target Chip Ganassi Racing]]
Fastest_lap_team = [[Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing]]
| Second_time = +0.5019s
| Third = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ryan Hunter-Reay|R. Hunter-Reay]]
| Third_team = [[Rahal Letterman Racing]]
| Third_time = +9.1179s
| Pole_time = 1:34.9451
| Pole_driver = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Will Power]]
| Pole_team = [[KV Racing|KV Racing Technology]]
| Fastest_lap = 1:35.1552
| Fastest_lap_driver = {{flagicon|UK}} [[Dario Franchitti|D. Franchitti]]
| Fastest_lap_team = [[Chip Ganassi Racing|Target Chip Ganassi Racing]]
}}
}}
The '''Gold Coast Indy 300''' is an American open wheel motor race event that takes place each year on a street circuit at [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]], an eastern, beach-side, suburb of [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] city in south east [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]. It was known as the '''Lexmark Indy 300''' until after the 2007 race. The challenging 4.47 kilometre track has several fast sections and four [[chicane]]s.
The '''Gold Coast Indy 300''' was an annual open-wheel motor race event that took place at the [[Surfers Paradise Street Circuit]] on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] from 1991 to 2008. The challenging {{convert|4.47|km|mi|adj=on}} track, alongside a strip of beaches, had several fast sections and four [[chicane]]s. The event had various names during its history for sponsorship reasons; in its final year, it was known as the '''Nikon Indy 300'''.<ref name="Nikon">{{cite news |url=http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=59574 |title=Nikon announced as naming rights sponsor for Indy |publisher=Queensland Government |date=5 August 2008 |access-date=6 August 2008 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213161531/http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=59574 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


This has been an annual event since [[1991]] originally as part of the American [[Champ Car World Series|Championship Auto Racing Teams]] (CART) series then, following the split between CART and the newly formed [[Indy Racing League]] in 1996 and the subsequent dissolution of CART in 2003, as part of the Champ Car World Series. Following the merger of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series in February 2008 the future of race has been secured until 2013 as an IRL event.
The race debuted in [[1991 CART PPG Indy Car World Series|1991]] on the [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] Indy Car World Series calendar, the first race in series history held outside North America. Following the split between CART and the newly formed [[IndyCar Series|Indy Racing League]] (IRL) in [[1996 PPG Indy Car World Series|1996]], CART continued to sanction the event until it folded after the [[2003 CART season|2003 season]]. From 2004 to 2007, the race was part of the [[Champ Car World Series]], the successor to CART. Following the merger of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series in February [[2008 IndyCar Series season|2008]] it was announced that the race would continue as a non-championship [[IndyCar Series]] event; however the race was omitted from the [[2009 IndyCar Series season]] calendar,<ref name="2009 calendar">{{cite news
|url=http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=12175 |title='09 expansion |publisher=Official Website of the Indycar Series |access-date=6 August 2008}}</ref> and subsequently dropped by the IndyCar Series completely.


In 2009 as part of the [[Q150]] celebrations, the Gold Coast Indy 300 was announced as one of the [[Q150 Icons]] of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|title=PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS|last=Bligh|first=Anna|author-link=Anna Bligh|date=10 June 2009|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524033717/http://statements.qld.gov.au/statement/id/64301|archive-date=24 May 2017|access-date=24 May 2017}}</ref>
In the first sixteen years of the event, there were sixteen different winners. In 2007 [[Sébastien Bourdais]] became the first driver to win the race twice, adding to his 2005 victory.

The weekend events include a number of Australian racing categories in support of the international Champ Car race. This has often included [[V8 Supercar]]s and the Carrera Cup. Since [[2002]], the Gold Coast race has counted for points in the V8 Supercar championship. The inaugural IRL race will not count towards its series title and will stand as a demonstration event.


==History==
==History==
===Early years===
[[Image:Indy 2006 018.jpg|thumb|2006 Lexmark Indy 300]]
[[Image:Indy 2006 009.jpg|thumb|2006 Lexmark Indy 300. Miss Indy and Runners-up being interviewed in the pits.]]
[[Image:Lexmark indy champ car 2006.jpg|thumb|2006 Lexmark Indy 300]]
The event arrived in Australia on the back of lobbying from a consortium of businessmen from the state of [[Queensland]].<ref name="silver">{{cite web|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/10/23/gc600-marks-silver-anniversary-street-race/|title=GC600 marks silver anniversary of street race|last=Lomas|first=Gordon|date=23 October 2016|publisher=[[Speedcafe]]|access-date=23 October 2016}}</ref> The event's early years were dogged by controversy as Australia's motor sport governing body, the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] (CAMS), initially refused to sanction the event. The [[Government of Queensland|Queensland State Government]] had been largely supportive of the event, whereas support at local level from the [[City of Gold Coast|Gold Coast City Council]] varied, and was occasionally openly hostile to the event.

From 1991 to 1997, the Gold Coast Grand Prix was typically held in March, and several times served as the CART season opener. In 1996, the [[Australian Grand Prix]] ([[Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit|Melbourne]]) moved from the fall to the spring. It created an undesirable scheduling conflict which eventually saw the Gold Coast Indy move permanently to October, starting in 1998. By the late 1990s, as political tensions subsided, the race become a well-attended and popular event on the Gold Coast calendar with tens of thousands of spectators attending each of the four days of the event.<ref name="silver"/>

The [[1993 Australian FAI IndyCar Grand Prix|1993 race]] was particularly notable as [[1992 Formula One season|1992]] [[Formula One]] champion [[Nigel Mansell]]'s first race in American championship car racing, which he won in front of a large number of travelling British fans and media.<ref name="silver"/> It was also the first of a record seven race wins at the event for [[Newman/Haas Racing]]. In the [[2002 Honda Indy 300|2002 event]] there was a frightening incident when a nine-car pile-up occurred at the start in very wet conditions, however no significant injuries were sustained. In [[2003 Lexmark Indy 300|2003]] a massive thunderstorm struck the area during the race, leading to a [[racing flags#The red flag|red flag]] and shortened race distance.

===Decline===

The event lost some of its lustre from [[2004 Lexmark Indy 300|2004]], as the split between American open wheel racing series started to draw teams from the Champ Car World Series across to the IRL IndyCar Series, whose calendar was considerably more domestic than the well-travelled Champ Car World Series. The falling popularity of open wheel racing in America further devalued the event, with [[NASCAR]] dominating the U.S. racing scene. The waning interest led to the [[V8 Supercars]] (the leading [[touring cars]] category in Australia and a support category since 1994) move from a non-championship to [[V8 Supercar Challenge|championship event]] in 2002 and take equal top billing with Champ Car, an unprecedented move across the Champ Car calendar.<ref name="silver"/> Traditionally the CART/Champ Car race was the final event of the programme, but in later years the final V8 Supercars race held this place.


In the first sixteen years of the event, there were sixteen different winners. In [[2007 Lexmark Indy 300|2007]] [[Sébastien Bourdais]] became the first driver to win the race twice, adding to his [[2005 Lexmark Indy 300|2005 victory]].
The races early years were dogged by controversy as Australia's motor sport governing body the [[Confederation of Australian Motor Sport]] (CAMS) initially refused to sanction the event. The Queensland State Government has been largely supportive of the event while the Gold Coast City Council support at local level has varied in its level of support, even occasionally openly hostile to the event. However by the late 1990's the race had become a well attended and popular event on the Gold Coast calendar with tens of thousands of spectators attending each of the four days of the IndyCarnival.


===Merger===
In the [[2002]] event there was a frightening incident when a 9 car [[pile-up]] occurred at the start in very wet conditions - however no significant injuries were sustained. In [[2003]] a massive hailstorm struck the area during the race leading to a [[red flag]]. Again no injuries were sustained.


On 5 March 2008, it was announced that the IndyCar Series would travel to Australia for the first time, but due to contractual issues the race would not count towards the [[2008 IndyCar Series season|2008 championship]] and would be a stand-alone demonstration event, in light of the recent merger between Champ Car and the IRL.<ref name="Indy 300">{{cite news
The event lost much of its lustre from 2004 as the split between American open wheel racing series started to draw teams from CART across to the [[Indy Racing League]] whose calendar was considerably more domestic than the well travelled CART series. The falling popularity of open wheel racing in America has further devalued the event in recent times with [[NASCAR]] dominating the U.S. racing scene to the point where the growing influence of support category V8 Supercar removed [[Champ Car]] from top billing of the event into an equal top billing not seen at any other Champ Car event. Traditionally the CART/Champ Car race was the final event of the programme but in recent years the final V8 race has held this place.
|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23322964-10389,00.html |title=Indy car race secured by Gold Coast until 2013 |publisher=couriermail.com.au |date=5 March 2008|access-date=6 March 2008}}</ref> Australian driver [[Ryan Briscoe]] nonetheless became the first local winner of the event, in what remains the final running of the event to date.


==Demise and A1GP==
On [[March 5]] [[2008]] it was announced that the [[Indy Racing League]] will travel to Australia for the first time, but due to contractural issues the race will not count towards the series pointscore in 2008 and will be a stand-alone demonstration event, in light of the recent merger between Champ Car and the IRL.<ref name="Indy 300">{{cite news
|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23322964-10389,00.html |title=Indy car race secured by Gold Coast until 2013 |publisher=couriermail.com.au |date=[[2008-03-05]]|accessdate=2008-03-06}}</ref>. A contract extension has been between the IRL and the promoters to continue the race until 2013 [[http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23322964-10389,00.html]].


On 11 November 2008, after extensive negotiations with the IndyCar Series broke down, the Queensland Government reached a new five-year deal with [[A1 Grand Prix]] to stage a race at Surfers Paradise, severing its eighteen-year history with American open wheel racing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=42473|title=A1GP to race in Surfers Paradise|publisher=a1gp.com|date=11 November 2008|access-date=11 November 2008}}</ref><ref name="A1">{{cite news
==Circuit Construction==
|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24634154-952,00.html |title=Race over for Gold Coast Indy |publisher=couriermail.com.au |date=11 November 2008|access-date=11 November 2008 | first=Greg | last=Stolz}}</ref> On 25 February 2009 it was announced that [[2009–10 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Australia|the event]], which would combine one of the first few rounds of the [[2009–10 A1 Grand Prix season]] and the 11th round of the [[2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series]], would be produced through a partnership between [[IMG (business)|IMG]] and the Queensland Government. The event was also renamed as the SuperGP for 2009, with the iconic Indy name becoming obsolete.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=43245|title=Gold Coast race gets new name|publisher=a1gp.com|date=25 February 2009|access-date=1 March 2010}}</ref>
[[Image:Lexmark Indy track 2006.jpg|thumb|The Lexmark Indy 300 track during 2006 construction]]
The construction of the Gold Coast circuit has been acclaimed internationally and is used as a benchmark for new temporary street circuits world-wide. Over a full 12-month period plans are laid and then implemented to transform a bustling residential, commercial and holiday destination into a temporary street circuit capable of facilitating high-speed motor races and hundreds of thousands of people.


However, on 17 October 2009, A1GP Chairman [[Tony Teixeira]] announced that the United Kingdom operating arm of the series went into [[liquidation]] in June, with access to the A1GP cars and their ability to pay its suppliers having been impeded. That prevented the cars from leaving Europe in time to be on track in Surfers Paradise on 22 October. Therefore, A1GP withdrew from participation in the [[2009 Nikon SuperGP]], with V8 Supercars instead running additional races. A1GP refunded Gold Coast Motor Events Co. the sanction fee paid, and donated [[Australian dollar|A$]]50,000 to a charity designated by the board.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=44498 |title=A1GP statement |publisher=a1gp.com |date=17 October 2009 |access-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019062807/http://www.a1gp.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?newsId=44498 |archive-date=19 October 2009}}</ref>
In a two-month period leading up to the event, seven bridges are erected, 2515 concrete barriers installed, 11,500 grandstand seats fastened, more than 140 corporate suites furnished, 10km of debris fencing and 16km of security fencing placed, many more temporary structures fitted, and large-scale power and telecommunications systems activated.


Following A1GP's withdrawal, V8 Supercars became the permanent and sole lead category of the event, which became known as the [[Gold Coast 600]] as of 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mival |first=Al |title= V8 Supercars to replace scrapped event as A1GP cars fail to show |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26222254-10389,00.html |publisher=couriermail.com.au |date=17 October 2009 |access-date=17 October 2009}}</ref> This event continues to the current day, albeit on a shorter 2.96&nbsp;km version of the original Surfers Paradise circuit. The original longer circuit has also now been rendered unusable by the [[G:link]] light rail network, which now extends along [[Surfers Paradise Boulevard]] beyond the existing second chicane.
The Indy 300 street circuit is also an international leader in motor racing safety standards applauded by CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motorsport) and the FIA (the international governing body of motorsport). One of the major advancements over the past few years has been an increase in double height debris fencing including an additional 610 panels in high impact areas in [[2005]].


==Future==
[[Image:Indy 2006 018.jpg|thumb|Lexmark Indy 300 2006]]
In June 2016 the [[Gold Coast Bulletin]] reported that "secret government talks" were underway to bring back the IndyCar race for 2017 or 2018, and that an area consortium had been given rights to negotiate with IndyCar for an Australian race with a preference for the Gold Coast.<ref>Weston, Paul (29 June 2016) [http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/gold-coast-600/indycars-tipped-to-return-as-v8-supercars-lock-in-deal-to-secure-gold-coast-race-until-2019/news-story/7b8e45a1b26847c8c1f8d3ecf6cded6a IndyCars tipped to return as V8 Supercars lock in deal to secure Gold Coast race until 2019] ''Gold Coast Bulletin''.</ref> IndyCar management would not comment other than to say they were investigating potential overseas venues.<ref>[http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/131421-indycar-gold-coast-group-trying-for-series-return INDYCAR: Gold Coast group tries for return] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630210452/http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/131421-indycar-gold-coast-group-trying-for-series-return |date=30 June 2016 }} Racer Staff, ''Racer.com''. 29 June 2016.</ref> With Supercars later signing an extension of their exclusive deal for the event from 2017 to 2019, combined with the prohibitive shorter track layout, and costs of bringing the series to Australia, there are several barriers preventing the revival of the event.<ref name="silver"/>
[[Image:Indy 2006 009.jpg|thumb|Lexmark Indy 300 2006. Miss Indy and Runners-up being interviewed in the pits.]]
[[Image:Lexmark indy champ car 2006.jpg|thumb|Lexmark Indy 300 2006]]


==Previous winners==
==Past winners==
''Events which were not championship rounds are indicated by a pink background.''
===Champ Car race===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! rowspan="2"|Season
! rowspan="2"|Date
! rowspan="2"|Driver
! rowspan="2"|Team
! rowspan="2"|Chassis
! rowspan="2"|Engine
! colspan="2"|Race Distance
! rowspan="2"|Race Time
! rowspan="2"|Average Speed<br>(mph)
! rowspan="2"|Report
! rowspan="2"|Ref
|-
|-
! Season
! Laps
! Miles (km)
! Date
! Winning Driver
! Chassis
! Engine
! Team
! Report
|-
|-
!colspan=12|CART history
| [[1991 CART World Series season|1991]]
|-
| [[March 17]]
! [[1991 CART PPG Indy Car World Series|1991]]
| 17 March
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Andretti]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Andretti]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Chevrolet]]-[[Ilmor]]
| [[Jim Hall (race car driver)|Hall/VDS Racing]]
| [[Jim Hall (race car driver)|Hall/VDS Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Chevrolet]]
|align="center"|65
|align="center"|181.545 (292.168)
|align="center"|2:12:54
|align="center"|81.953
| [[1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
| [[1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1991_Gold_Coast_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1992 CART World Series season|1992]]
! [[1992 PPG Indy Car World Series|1992]]
| [[March 22]]
| 22 March
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Emerson Fittipaldi]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Emerson Fittipaldi]]
| [[Penske Racing|Penske]]
| [[Chevrolet]]-[[Ilmor]]
| [[Penske Racing]]
| [[Penske Racing]]
| [[Penske Racing|Penske]]
| [[Chevrolet]]
|align="center"|65
|align="center"|181.675 (292.377)
|align="center"|2:20:33
|align="center"|77.561
| [[1992 Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
| [[1992 Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1992 Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1992_Daikyo_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1993 CART World Series season|1993]]
! [[1993 PPG Indy Car World Series|1993]]
| [[March 21]]
| 21 March
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Nigel Mansell]]
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Nigel Mansell]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|65
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
|align="center"|181.675 (292.377)
|align="center"|1:52:02
|align="center"|97.284
| [[1993 Australian FAI IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
| [[1993 Australian FAI IndyCar Grand Prix|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1993 Australian FAI Indy Car Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1993_Australian_FAI_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1994 CART World Series season|1994]]
! [[1994 PPG Indy Car World Series|1994]]
| [[March 20]]
| 20 March
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Andretti]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Andretti]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|55{{ref|1|1}}
|align="center"|153.725 (247.396)
|align="center"|1:44:58
|align="center"|80.994
| [[1994 Australian FAI Indycar Grand Prix|Report]]
| [[1994 Australian FAI Indycar Grand Prix|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1994 Australian FAI Indy Car Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1994_Australian_FAI_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1995 CART World Series season|1995]]
! [[1995 PPG Indy Car World Series|1995]]
| [[March 19]]
| 19 March
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Paul Tracy]]
| {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Paul Tracy]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|65
|align="center"|182.26 (293.319)
|align="center"|1:58:26
|align="center"|92.335
| [[1995 Indycar Australia|Report]]
| [[1995 Indycar Australia|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1995 Australian Indy Car Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1995_Australian_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1996 CART World Series season|1996]]
! [[1996 PPG Indy Car World Series|1996]]
| [[March 31]]
| 31 March
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jimmy Vasser]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Jimmy Vasser]]
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Honda]]
| [[Honda]]
|align="center"|65
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
|align="center"|181.61 (292.272)
|align="center"|2:00:46
|align="center"|90.218
| [[1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia|Report]]
| [[1996 Bartercard Indycar Australia|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 Australian Indy Car Grand Prix|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1996_Australian_Indy_Car_Grand_Prix/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1997 CART World Series season|1997]]
! [[1997 CART PPG World Series|1997]]
| 6 April
| [[April 6]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Pruett]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Scott Pruett]]
| [[Patrick Racing]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|57{{ref|2|2}}
| [[Patrick Racing]]
|align="center"|159.315 (256.392)
|align="center"|2:01:04
|align="center"|78.948
| [[1997 Sunbelt IndyCarnival|Report]]
| [[1997 Sunbelt IndyCarnival|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1997 Sunbelt Indy Carnival Australia|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1997_Sunbelt_Indy_Carnival_Australia/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1998 CART World Series season|1998]]
! [[1998 CART FedEx Championship Series|1998]]
| 18 October
| [[October 18]]
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alex Zanardi]]
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alex Zanardi]]
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Honda]]
| [[Honda]]
|align="center"|62{{ref|2|2}}
| [[Chip Ganassi Racing]]
|align="center"|173.29 (278.883)
|align="center"|2:01:51
|align="center"|85.328
| [[1998 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
| [[1998 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1998 Honda Indy Carnival Australia|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1998_Honda_Indy_Carnival_Australia/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[1999 CART World Series season|1999]]
! [[1999 CART season|1999]]
| 17 October
| [[October 17]]
| {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Dario Franchitti]]
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Dario Franchitti]]
| [[Andretti Autosport|Team Green]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Honda]]
| [[Honda]]
|align="center"|65
| [[Team Green]]
|align="center"|181.675 (292.377)
|align="center"|1:58:40
|align="center"|91.849
| [[1999 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
| [[1999 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 Honda Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1999_Honda_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2000 CART World Series season|2000]]
! [[2000 CART season|2000]]
| 15 October
| [[October 15]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Adrian Fernandez]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Adrian Fernandez]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Patrick Racing]]
| [[Patrick Racing]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|59{{ref|2|2}}
|align="center"|164.905 (265.388)
|align="center"|2:01:14
|align="center"|81.607
| [[2000 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2000 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2000 Honda Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2000_Honda_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2001 CART World Series season|2001]]
! [[2001 CART season|2001]]
| 28 October
| [[October 28]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Cristiano da Matta]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Cristiano da Matta]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Toyota]]
| [[Toyota]]
|align="center"|65
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
|align="center"|181.675 (292.377)
|align="center"|1:51:47
|align="center"|97.511
| [[2001 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2001 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Honda Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2001_Honda_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2002 CART World Series season|2002]]
! [[2002 CART season|2002]]
| 27 October
| [[October 27]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Mario Dominguez]]
| {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Mario Dominguez]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Herdez Competition]]
| [[Herdez Competition]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|40{{ref|3|3}}
|align="center"|111.8 (179.924)
|align="center"|2:00:06
|align="center"|55.849
| [[2002 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2002 Honda Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Honda Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2002_Honda_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2003 CART World Series season|2003]]
! [[2003 CART season|2003]]
| 26 October
| [[October 26]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ryan Hunter-Reay]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ryan Hunter-Reay]]
| [[Stefan Johansson|American Spirit Team Johansson]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Reynard Motorsport|Reynard]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|47{{ref|4|4}}
| [[American Spirit Team Johansson]]
|align="center"|131.365 (211.411)
|align="center"|1:49:02
|align="center"|72.28
| [[2003 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2003 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Lexmark Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2003_Lexmark_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2004 Champ Car World Series season|2004]]
! [[2004 Champ Car season|2004]]
| 24 October
| [[October 24]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Bruno Junqueira]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Bruno Junqueira]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|57
|align="center"|159.315 (256.392)
|align="center"|1:46:45
|align="center"|89.532
| [[2004 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2004 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Lexmark Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2004_Lexmark_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2005 Champ Car World Series season|2005]]
! [[2005 Champ Car season|2005]]
| 23 October
| [[October 23]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]]
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|57
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
|align="center"|159.315 (256.392)
|align="center"|1:39:26
|align="center"|96.123
| [[2005 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2005 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2005 Lexmark Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2005_Lexmark_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2006 Champ Car World Series season|2006]]
! [[2006 Champ Car season|2006]]
| 22 October
| [[October 22]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nelson Philippe]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nelson Philippe]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford-Cosworth]]
| [[CTE-HVM Racing]]
| [[CTE-HVM Racing]]
| [[Lola Racing Cars|Lola]]
| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|align="center"|59
|align="center"|164.905 (265.388)
|align="center"|1:50:50
|align="center"|89.259
| [[2006 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2006 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2006 Lexmark Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2006_Lexmark_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[2007 Champ Car World Series season|2007]]
! [[2007 Champ Car season|2007]]
| 21 October
| [[October 21]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]]
| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]]
| [[Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing]]
| [[Élan Motorsport Technologies|Panoz]]
| [[Panoz DP01]]
| [[Cosworth]]
| [[Cosworth]]
|align="center"|61
| [[Newman/Haas Racing]]
|align="center"|170.495 (274.385)
|align="center"|1:45:49
|align="center"|96.669
| [[2007 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
| [[2007 Lexmark Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Lexmark Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2007_Lexmark_Indy_300/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
|}

===V8 Supercars race===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
|-
!colspan=12|IndyCar Series history
! Season
|- style="background:#fcc;"
! Winning Driver
! [[2008 IndyCar Series|2008]]
! Car
| 26 October
! Team
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ryan Briscoe]]
|-
| [[Penske Racing]]
| 1994
| [[Dallara]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Bowe (racing driver)|John Bowe]]
| [[Ford Falcon EB]]
| [[Honda]]
|align="center"|60
| [[Dick Johnson Racing]]
|align="center"|167.7 (269.886)
|-
|align="center"|1:45:50
| 1996
|align="center"|95.068
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[John Bowe (racing driver)|John Bowe]]
| [[Ford Falcon EF]]
| [[2008 Nikon Indy 300|Report]]
|align="center"|<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Nikon Indy 300|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2008_Nikon_Indy_300/X|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>
| [[Dick Johnson Racing]]
|-
| 1997
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Russell Ingall]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VS Commodore|Commodore VS]]
| [[Perkins Engineering|Castrol Perkins Racing]]
|-
| 1998
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Larkham]]
| [[Ford Falcon EL]]
| [[Stone Brothers Racing]]
|-
| [[1999 V8 Supercar season|1999]]
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Paul Radisich]]
| [[Ford Falcon EL]]
| [[Dick Johnson Racing]]
|-
| [[2000 V8 Supercar season|2000]]
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Paul Radisich]]
| [[Ford Falcon AU]]
| [[Dick Johnson Racing]]
|-
| [[2001 V8 Supercar season|2001]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VX Commodore|Commodore VX]]
| [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]]
|-
| [[2002 V8 Supercar season|2002]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Bargwanna]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VX Commodore|Commodore VX]]
| [[Garry Rogers Motorsport]]
|-
| [[2003 V8 Supercar season|2003]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Russell Ingall]]
| [[Ford Falcon BA]]
| [[Stone Brothers Racing]]
|-
| [[2004 V8 Supercar season|2004]]
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Greg Murphy]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VY Commodore|Commodore VY]]
| [[HSV Dealer Team|K-mart Racing]]
|-
| [[2005 V8 Supercar season|2005]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Craig Lowndes]]
| [[Ford Falcon BA]]
| [[Triple Eight Race Engineering (V8 Supercars)|Team Betta Electrical]]
|-
| [[2006 V8 Supercar season|2006]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Todd Kelly]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VZ Commodore|Commodore VZ]]
| [[Holden Racing Team]]
|-
| [[2007 V8 Supercar season|2007]]
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Garth Tander]]
| [[Holden]] [[Holden VE Commodore|Commodore VE]]
| [[HSV Dealer Team]]
|}
|}

'''Notes:'''<br />
{{note|1|1}} – '''1994:''' Race shortened due to darkness.<br />
{{note|2|2}} – '''1997, 1998 and 2000:''' Race shortened due to time limit.<br />
{{note|3|3}} – '''2002:''' Race shortened due to rain.<br />
{{note|4|4}} – '''2003:''' Race shortened from 65 laps.

==Support races==
===Indy 300 F3 Challenge===
The '''Nikon Indy 300 F3 Challenge''' was a [[Formula Three]] race held in 2008 on the [[street circuit|streets]] of [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland]] as a non-championship support race of the [[2008 IndyCar Series]] [[Nikon Indy 300|Gold Coast Indy 300]] event.
====Class structure====
Drivers competed in three classes:
* Championship Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2007
* National Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004
* Trophy Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2001<ref name=Regulations>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080721002052/http://www.camsmanual.com.au/sportregs/2008_Australian_F3_SportRegs_3.pdf 2008 Australian Formula 3 Championship Sporting Regs] Retrieved from webarchive.org on 9 May 2011</ref>

==Event names==
* 1991: [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]] IndyCar GP
* 1992: [[Daikyo]] IndyCar GP
* 1993–94: Australian [[HIH Insurance|FAI]] IndyCar GP
* 1995: IndyCar Australia
* 1996: [[Bartercard]] IndyCar Australia
* 1997: [[Sunbelt Developments|Sunbelt]] IndyCarnival
* 1998–2002: [[Honda]] Indy 300
* 2003–07: [[Lexmark]] Indy 300
* 2008: [[Nikon]] Indy 300

==See also==
* [[1954 Australian Grand Prix]]
* [[V8 Supercar Challenge]]
* [[Gold Coast 600]]


==References==
==References==
Line 280: Line 365:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.indy.com.au/ Official Event Site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090913025239/http://www.supergp.com/ Official Event Site]


{{IndyCar Series}}
{{Champ Car Races}}
{{Indy Racing League}}
{{IndyCar Series races}}

{{V8 Supercar tracks}}
{{Coord|27|59|17.9|S|153|25|42.1|E|type:landmark|display=title}}


[[Category:Champ Car race tracks]]
[[Category:Indy Racing League tracks]]
[[Category:Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Champ Car races]]
[[Category:Motorsport in Australia]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in Australia]]
[[Category:Sport in Queensland]]
[[Category:V8 Supercar tracks]]
[[Category:Gold Coast Indy 300| ]]
[[Category:Gold Coast Indy 300| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1991]]

[[Category:Sport on the Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[pt:Grande Prêmio de Surfers Paradise]]
[[Category:Culture of Gold Coast, Queensland]]
[[Category:Formula Three races]]
[[Category:Q150 Icons]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Australia]]

Latest revision as of 06:28, 14 November 2024

Gold Coast Indy 300
Surfers Paradise Street Circuit
Race information
Most wins (drivers)France Sébastien Bourdais (2)
Most wins (constructors)Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing (6)
Circuit length4.47 km (2.79 miles)
Race length269.88 km (167.70 miles)
Laps60
Last race (2008)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Gold Coast Indy 300 was an annual open-wheel motor race event that took place at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from 1991 to 2008. The challenging 4.47-kilometre (2.78 mi) track, alongside a strip of beaches, had several fast sections and four chicanes. The event had various names during its history for sponsorship reasons; in its final year, it was known as the Nikon Indy 300.[1]

The race debuted in 1991 on the CART Indy Car World Series calendar, the first race in series history held outside North America. Following the split between CART and the newly formed Indy Racing League (IRL) in 1996, CART continued to sanction the event until it folded after the 2003 season. From 2004 to 2007, the race was part of the Champ Car World Series, the successor to CART. Following the merger of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car World Series in February 2008 it was announced that the race would continue as a non-championship IndyCar Series event; however the race was omitted from the 2009 IndyCar Series season calendar,[2] and subsequently dropped by the IndyCar Series completely.

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Gold Coast Indy 300 was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival".[3]

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]
2006 Lexmark Indy 300
2006 Lexmark Indy 300. Miss Indy and Runners-up being interviewed in the pits.
2006 Lexmark Indy 300

The event arrived in Australia on the back of lobbying from a consortium of businessmen from the state of Queensland.[4] The event's early years were dogged by controversy as Australia's motor sport governing body, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), initially refused to sanction the event. The Queensland State Government had been largely supportive of the event, whereas support at local level from the Gold Coast City Council varied, and was occasionally openly hostile to the event.

From 1991 to 1997, the Gold Coast Grand Prix was typically held in March, and several times served as the CART season opener. In 1996, the Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) moved from the fall to the spring. It created an undesirable scheduling conflict which eventually saw the Gold Coast Indy move permanently to October, starting in 1998. By the late 1990s, as political tensions subsided, the race become a well-attended and popular event on the Gold Coast calendar with tens of thousands of spectators attending each of the four days of the event.[4]

The 1993 race was particularly notable as 1992 Formula One champion Nigel Mansell's first race in American championship car racing, which he won in front of a large number of travelling British fans and media.[4] It was also the first of a record seven race wins at the event for Newman/Haas Racing. In the 2002 event there was a frightening incident when a nine-car pile-up occurred at the start in very wet conditions, however no significant injuries were sustained. In 2003 a massive thunderstorm struck the area during the race, leading to a red flag and shortened race distance.

Decline

[edit]

The event lost some of its lustre from 2004, as the split between American open wheel racing series started to draw teams from the Champ Car World Series across to the IRL IndyCar Series, whose calendar was considerably more domestic than the well-travelled Champ Car World Series. The falling popularity of open wheel racing in America further devalued the event, with NASCAR dominating the U.S. racing scene. The waning interest led to the V8 Supercars (the leading touring cars category in Australia and a support category since 1994) move from a non-championship to championship event in 2002 and take equal top billing with Champ Car, an unprecedented move across the Champ Car calendar.[4] Traditionally the CART/Champ Car race was the final event of the programme, but in later years the final V8 Supercars race held this place.

In the first sixteen years of the event, there were sixteen different winners. In 2007 Sébastien Bourdais became the first driver to win the race twice, adding to his 2005 victory.

Merger

[edit]

On 5 March 2008, it was announced that the IndyCar Series would travel to Australia for the first time, but due to contractual issues the race would not count towards the 2008 championship and would be a stand-alone demonstration event, in light of the recent merger between Champ Car and the IRL.[5] Australian driver Ryan Briscoe nonetheless became the first local winner of the event, in what remains the final running of the event to date.

Demise and A1GP

[edit]

On 11 November 2008, after extensive negotiations with the IndyCar Series broke down, the Queensland Government reached a new five-year deal with A1 Grand Prix to stage a race at Surfers Paradise, severing its eighteen-year history with American open wheel racing.[6][7] On 25 February 2009 it was announced that the event, which would combine one of the first few rounds of the 2009–10 A1 Grand Prix season and the 11th round of the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, would be produced through a partnership between IMG and the Queensland Government. The event was also renamed as the SuperGP for 2009, with the iconic Indy name becoming obsolete.[8]

However, on 17 October 2009, A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira announced that the United Kingdom operating arm of the series went into liquidation in June, with access to the A1GP cars and their ability to pay its suppliers having been impeded. That prevented the cars from leaving Europe in time to be on track in Surfers Paradise on 22 October. Therefore, A1GP withdrew from participation in the 2009 Nikon SuperGP, with V8 Supercars instead running additional races. A1GP refunded Gold Coast Motor Events Co. the sanction fee paid, and donated A$50,000 to a charity designated by the board.[9]

Following A1GP's withdrawal, V8 Supercars became the permanent and sole lead category of the event, which became known as the Gold Coast 600 as of 2010.[10] This event continues to the current day, albeit on a shorter 2.96 km version of the original Surfers Paradise circuit. The original longer circuit has also now been rendered unusable by the G:link light rail network, which now extends along Surfers Paradise Boulevard beyond the existing second chicane.

Future

[edit]

In June 2016 the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that "secret government talks" were underway to bring back the IndyCar race for 2017 or 2018, and that an area consortium had been given rights to negotiate with IndyCar for an Australian race with a preference for the Gold Coast.[11] IndyCar management would not comment other than to say they were investigating potential overseas venues.[12] With Supercars later signing an extension of their exclusive deal for the event from 2017 to 2019, combined with the prohibitive shorter track layout, and costs of bringing the series to Australia, there are several barriers preventing the revival of the event.[4]

Past winners

[edit]

Events which were not championship rounds are indicated by a pink background.

Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
CART history
1991 17 March United States John Andretti Hall/VDS Racing Lola Chevrolet 65 181.545 (292.168) 2:12:54 81.953 Report [13]
1992 22 March Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Penske Racing Penske Chevrolet 65 181.675 (292.377) 2:20:33 77.561 Report [14]
1993 21 March United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford 65 181.675 (292.377) 1:52:02 97.284 Report [15]
1994 20 March United States Michael Andretti Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Ford 551 153.725 (247.396) 1:44:58 80.994 Report [16]
1995 19 March Canada Paul Tracy Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford 65 182.26 (293.319) 1:58:26 92.335 Report [17]
1996 31 March United States Jimmy Vasser Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda 65 181.61 (292.272) 2:00:46 90.218 Report [18]
1997 6 April United States Scott Pruett Patrick Racing Reynard Ford 572 159.315 (256.392) 2:01:04 78.948 Report [19]
1998 18 October Italy Alex Zanardi Chip Ganassi Racing Reynard Honda 622 173.29 (278.883) 2:01:51 85.328 Report [20]
1999 17 October United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Team Green Reynard Honda 65 181.675 (292.377) 1:58:40 91.849 Report [21]
2000 15 October Mexico Adrian Fernandez Patrick Racing Reynard Ford 592 164.905 (265.388) 2:01:14 81.607 Report [22]
2001 28 October Brazil Cristiano da Matta Newman/Haas Racing Lola Toyota 65 181.675 (292.377) 1:51:47 97.511 Report [23]
2002 27 October Mexico Mario Dominguez Herdez Competition Lola Ford 403 111.8 (179.924) 2:00:06 55.849 Report [24]
2003 26 October United States Ryan Hunter-Reay American Spirit Team Johansson Reynard Ford 474 131.365 (211.411) 1:49:02 72.28 Report [25]
2004 24 October Brazil Bruno Junqueira Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford 57 159.315 (256.392) 1:46:45 89.532 Report [26]
2005 23 October France Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford 57 159.315 (256.392) 1:39:26 96.123 Report [27]
2006 22 October France Nelson Philippe CTE-HVM Racing Lola Ford 59 164.905 (265.388) 1:50:50 89.259 Report [28]
2007 21 October France Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Panoz DP01 Cosworth 61 170.495 (274.385) 1:45:49 96.669 Report [29]
IndyCar Series history
2008 26 October Australia Ryan Briscoe Penske Racing Dallara Honda 60 167.7 (269.886) 1:45:50 95.068 Report [30]

Notes:
^11994: Race shortened due to darkness.
^21997, 1998 and 2000: Race shortened due to time limit.
^32002: Race shortened due to rain.
^42003: Race shortened from 65 laps.

Support races

[edit]

Indy 300 F3 Challenge

[edit]

The Nikon Indy 300 F3 Challenge was a Formula Three race held in 2008 on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Queensland as a non-championship support race of the 2008 IndyCar Series Gold Coast Indy 300 event.

Class structure

[edit]

Drivers competed in three classes:

  • Championship Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2007
  • National Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004
  • Trophy Class – restricted to cars constructed in accordance with the FIA Formula 3 regulations that applied between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2001[31]

Event names

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nikon announced as naming rights sponsor for Indy". Queensland Government. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  2. ^ "'09 expansion". Official Website of the Indycar Series. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  3. ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lomas, Gordon (23 October 2016). "GC600 marks silver anniversary of street race". Speedcafe. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Indy car race secured by Gold Coast until 2013". couriermail.com.au. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  6. ^ "A1GP to race in Surfers Paradise". a1gp.com. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  7. ^ Stolz, Greg (11 November 2008). "Race over for Gold Coast Indy". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Gold Coast race gets new name". a1gp.com. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  9. ^ "A1GP statement". a1gp.com. 17 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  10. ^ Mival, Al (17 October 2009). "V8 Supercars to replace scrapped event as A1GP cars fail to show". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  11. ^ Weston, Paul (29 June 2016) IndyCars tipped to return as V8 Supercars lock in deal to secure Gold Coast race until 2019 Gold Coast Bulletin.
  12. ^ INDYCAR: Gold Coast group tries for return Archived 30 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine Racer Staff, Racer.com. 29 June 2016.
  13. ^ "1991 Gold Coast IndyCar Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  14. ^ "1992 Daikyo IndyCar Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  15. ^ "1993 Australian FAI Indy Car Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  16. ^ "1994 Australian FAI Indy Car Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  17. ^ "1995 Australian Indy Car Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  18. ^ "1996 Australian Indy Car Grand Prix". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  19. ^ "1997 Sunbelt Indy Carnival Australia". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  20. ^ "1998 Honda Indy Carnival Australia". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  21. ^ "1999 Honda Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  22. ^ "2000 Honda Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  23. ^ "2001 Honda Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  24. ^ "2002 Honda Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  25. ^ "2003 Lexmark Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  26. ^ "2004 Lexmark Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  27. ^ "2005 Lexmark Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  28. ^ "2006 Lexmark Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  29. ^ "2007 Lexmark Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  30. ^ "2008 Nikon Indy 300". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  31. ^ 2008 Australian Formula 3 Championship Sporting Regs Retrieved from webarchive.org on 9 May 2011
[edit]

27°59′17.9″S 153°25′42.1″E / 27.988306°S 153.428361°E / -27.988306; 153.428361