Phoenix street circuit

Interesting facts

The idea for a downtown street race came from Phoenix businessman Howard Pynn in 1985; the concept was shaped with input from Chris Pook, the former organiser of the Long Beach Grand Prix, and promoter Jack Long, and Bernie Ecclestone approved it at the 1988 Detroit Grand Prix. The city council approved a five-year Formula 1 contract in January 1989 and set aside $9 million for infrastructure, and the track was built in barely four months, opening on 2 June 1989 near Phoenix Civic Plaza and America West Arena. On the 1989-1990, 15-turn layout, Gerhard Berger held the race lap record at 1:31.050; the track was shortened for 1991, when Ayrton Senna set the new, faster record of 1:21.434. At the 1989 race, only six of twenty-six cars finished in the desert heat; Alain Prost won while Ayrton Senna's McLaren retired with an electrical failure. After the race was moved to March to escape the worst of the heat, Senna won both the 1990 and 1991 runnings, the latter on the shortened layout. Bernie Ecclestone cancelled the contract by phone on 7 October 1991 with no explanation, paying $1.2 million in compensation; he later cited the venue's limits, saying it couldn't fit more than 20,000 seats with a clear view of the racing. In 2026, 35 years after Formula 1's last race there, the sport returned to the Phoenix streets for a Red Bull Showdown event at the site of the old Turn 1. You'll find it in Phoenix, United States. On the calendar since 1989, this circuit has hosted 3 races, the latest in 1991. Alain Prost took the inaugural win here in 1989. Ayrton Senna won here most recently, in 1991. The most successful driver at this circuit is Ayrton Senna, with 2 wins. McLaren is the dominant constructor at this circuit, with 3 wins.

Circuit history