Phoenix Street Circuit

Route

The Phoenix Street Circuit was a motorsport racetrack in Phoenix , Arizona . The USA Grand Prix of Formula 1 was held on the street circuit from 1989 to 1991 .

history

The course was located in downtown Phoenix near the Phoenix Civic Plaza and America West Arena before the Bank One Ballpark was built there. The US Grand Prix took place there three times, but was then canceled due to a lack of audience interest. It was not until 2000 that a Formula 1 race took place again in the USA at Indianapolis Motor Speedway .

The US Grand Prix took place for the first time in Phoenix on June 4, 1989. Ayrton Senna started from pole position , but retired shortly after halfway through the race due to electronic problems. The scorching heat of the desert made this race very difficult for the teams and drivers. Of the 26 riders who started, only 6 finished. Senna's teammate Alain Prost won the race ahead of Riccardo Patrese and Eddie Cheever from Phoenix . The fourth-placed Christian Danner achieved the best result of his Formula 1 career. But for him and his Rial team , it should be the last points they brought in.

In order to avoid the very high temperatures, the race was moved to the beginning of the season the following year. Thus, on March 11, 1990, the first race of the season took place in Phoenix. Senna secured the race win this time. Jean Alesi finished second and drew attention to himself for the first time in Formula 1 as he was able to put Senna under pressure during the race in his Tyrrell , which was clearly inferior to the Brazilian’s McLaren . Alesi's team-mate Satoru Nakajima also scored a point with sixth place. In this race a Minardi started from the front row for the first and last time . Pierluigi Martini secured second place on the grid behind Gerhard Berger .

The last time a Grand Prix took place in Phoenix was on March 10, 1991. Again Senna won the race. Again, the stability of the vehicles was crucial, as only nine drivers saw the target. As in the previous year, both Tyrrell placed in the points. Stefano Modena , who replaced Alesi at Tyrrell who had switched to Ferrari , finished fourth ahead of his team-mate Nakajima. The death knell for the Grand Prix came when it became known that a local ostrich festival was attracting more spectators than the Formula 1 race.

statistics

All winners of Formula 1 races in Phoenix

year	driver	constructor	engine	tires	time	Route length	Round	Ø pace	date	GP the
1989	Alain Prost	McLaren	Honda	G	2: 01: 23.133 h	3,800 km	75	140.873 km / h	June 4th	United States
1990	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	Honda	G	1: 52: 32.829 h	3,800 km	72	145.858 km / h	March 11
1991	Ayrton Senna	McLaren	Honda	G	2: 00: 47.828 h	3.721 km	81	149.706 km / h	March 10th

See also

• List of motorsport racetracks

Web links

Commons : Phoenix Street Circuit  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files