International Race of Champions
The International Race of Champions , known as the IROC , was a US motorsport association that organized all-star races. An IROC season consisted of four races, which in recent years have been held almost exclusively on ovals. A normal field of drivers consisted of twelve drivers.
history
The series was founded in 1973 by the President of the Riverside International Raceway , Les Richter , and Roger Penske . Mark Donohue won the first title in 1974. The cars used at the time were Porsche Carrera . Donohue won the fourth and final race of the 1974 season and it would be his last victory, because he died a year later in a Formula 1 practice session .
Because of its similarity to NASCAR , the series' driver field consists largely of NASCAR drivers. The last non-NASCAR champion of the IROC was Al Unser Jr. in 1988. However, there were also many successful open-wheel pilots, such as Sebastien Bourdais , who competed in 2005, and in Fort Worth on the Texas Motor Speedway won.
In 2007 the IROC could not find a main sponsor and initially postponed the first two races of the season in Daytona Beach and Fort Worth. However, since no sponsor could still be found, the series ceased operations.
cars
Used models
| year | brand | model |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Porsche | Carrera RSR |
| 1975-1981 | Chevrolet | Camaro |
| 1990-1993 | Dodge | Daytona |
| 1994-1996 | Dodge | Avenger |
| 1996-2006 | Pontiac | Trans Am |
Auto identification
Until 2003, all cars had a different color, which should make identification easy. There were also start numbers on the cars, but they weren't absolutely necessary to identify a vehicle. The drivers' surnames were written in large letters on the side doors. The only exception was Mario and Michael Andretti when they competed together in races, then their first names were written on the side door. After each race the numbers were redistributed, the first one in one race was given # 1 for the next and so on. However, the colors were also firmly linked to the numbers. It could be that a driver drove the blue # 1 in one race and then the orange # 5 in the next, which ultimately does not speak for an easy identification.
In 2004, Crown Royal became the new main sponsor, replacing True Value , with a change in the car identification. Initially all vehicles were white, then they should be painted in the colors that the drivers have in their regular racing series. In addition, all drivers should receive the number they use in the regular series. This made it easier to identify drivers.
There was one exception, however. Helio Castroneves , who according to the regulations should have driven starting number 3, drove with starting number 03, since starting number 3 was the number of the deceased, legendary Dale Earnhardt .
IROC routes
Street course race in the IROC
From 1991 to 2005 there were no street course races in the IROC. In the 2006 season, however, there was a return when you drove the infield track and not the pure oval on the Daytona International Speedway.
The racetracks
IROC races were held on a total of 17 tracks, twelve of which are ovals and five are street courses. Daytona International Speedway is the track on which the most races have been held, and Nazareth Speedway is the track on which the fewest races have been held. It is the only circuit that the IROC has only visited once. The last race on a street-only circuit was in 1991 at Watkins Glen. The winner at the time was Rusty Wallace .
- Atlanta Motor Speedway (1979–1980, 2004–2006)
- Burke Lakefront Airport (Cleveland) (1984, 1990)
- California Speedway (1997-1998, 2002)
- Chicagoland Speedway (2002-2003)
- Darlington Raceway (1993-1995)
- Daytona International Speedway (Oval) (1974–1978, 1985–1989, 1991–2005)
- Daytona International Speedway (street course) (2006)
- Lowe's Motor Speedway (1996–1997)
- Michigan International Speedway (1975–1980, 1984–1985, 1987–2001)
- Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (1985–1987)
- Nazareth Speedway (1989)
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1998-2003)
- Richmond International Raceway (2004-2006)
- Riverside International Raceway (1974-1980, 1988)
- Talladega Superspeedway (1984, 1986, 1990-1996, 1999-2001, 2003)
- Texas Motor Speedway (2004-2006)
- Watkins Glen International (1986-1989, 1991)