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Grand Prix of Houston

Coordinates: 29°40′56″N 95°24′31″W / 29.68222°N 95.40861°W / 29.68222; -95.40861
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Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston
IndyCar Series
VenueNRG Park
LocationHouston, Texas, USA
29°40′56″N 95°24′31″W / 29.68222°N 95.40861°W / 29.68222; -95.40861
Corporate sponsorShell, Pennzoil
First race1998
First IndyCar race2013
Last race2014
Distance151.47 miles (243.77 km)
Laps90
Previous namesTexaco Grand Prix of Houston (1998–2000)
Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston (2001)
Grand Prix of Houston (2006–2007)
Most wins (driver)Sébastien Bourdais (2)
Most wins (team)Team KOOL Green & Newman/Haas Racing (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Reynard (3)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt/Concrete
Length1.683 mi (2.709 km)
Turns10
Lap record58.018 (France Sébastien Bourdais, Panoz DP01, 2007, Champ Car)

The Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston Presented by the Greater Houston Honda Dealers was an annual auto race on the IndyCar Series circuit. It was held in a street circuit located in downtown Houston for four years, then returned after a four-year hiatus for two years on a course laid out in the parking lot of the Reliant/NRG Park complex. Before resuming in 2013, the last race was held on April 22, 2007, (with the IRL merger canceling the 2008 event just two months prior to the event).

Race history

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The original track layout from 1998–2001.

From 1998 to 2001, Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) held a race on Houston's downtown streets, adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center. This event was sponsored by the oil company Texaco, and named the Texaco Grand Prix of Houston. However, construction in downtown Houston resulted in the race not being renewed for the 2002 CART season.

In 2005, the Champ Car World Series announced that it would be making a return to Houston in 2006; for some time, series directors had wanted to make a return to the city. The 2006 event was held on May 13 as the second round of the 2006 Champ Car schedule. However, this time the race was held on a 1.7-mile temporary street circuit on the Reliant Park complex instead of the downtown streets and was the first race held on a street course to run at night in the history of Champ Car or its precursor series (in 2003, Champ Car ran under the lights at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio). Also, the American Le Mans Series held an event, the Lone Star Grand Prix, on the previous night, marking only the second time Champ Car and American Le Mans promoted their own events in the same city on the same weekend (they joined in 2003 for the Grand Prix Americas in Miami, Florida). For 2007, JAG Flocomponents picked up the naming rights to the previously unnamed street course, naming it JAGFlo Speedway at Reliant Park.

Mi-Jack Promotions had a handshake deal with IndyCar to revive the event in October 2011, however the required sponsorship was not found by June 2010.[1] IndyCar officials announced the event will return in 2013 sponsored by Royal Dutch Shell and using a tweaked version of the 2006–2007 course.[2] The event had a 5-year race contract through 2017 with IndyCar and Shell, using its Pennzoil brand of motor oil, was signed for 4 years as the event's title sponsor.[3]

Cars approaching turn 1 during the 2007 race

On the final race lap of the 2013 event the car of Dario Franchitti was launched airborne in turn five when it made contact with the car of Takuma Sato. Franchitti's car flew into the catch-fencing, displacing a portion of the fence and sending debris into the stands, injuring 14.[4] Franchitti suffered a broken ankle, broken back, and concussion, injuries which led him to retire from racing later that year.[5]

IndyCar & Mi-Jack Promotions announced on August 29, 2014, that the Houston doubleheader at NRG Park had been canceled for 2015 due to scheduling issues.

Features

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The Champ Car paddock was located inside Reliant Arena. In 2006, the Newman/Haas, RuSPORT, Dale Coyne, and Team Australia haulers were on the northern side, while the Forsythe, Rocketsports, PKV, and CTE-HVM teams were on the southern side. The 2006 race was also the first and only Champ Car or IndyCar race to ever be held on a road or street course at night under the lights. 2007 and subsequent runnings were day races.

Race winners

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Champ Car/IndyCar

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Season Date Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph) 		Report Ref
Laps Miles (km)
Champ Car history
1998 October 4 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Team KOOL Green Reynard Honda 70* 106.89 (171.99) 1:36:30 66.051 Report [6]
1999 September 26 Canada Paul Tracy Team KOOL Green Reynard Honda 100 152.7 (245.746) 1:55:31 78.96 Report [7]
2000 October 1 United States Jimmy Vasser Target Chip Ganassi Racing Lola Toyota 100 152.7 (245.746) 1:59:02 76.626 Report [8]
2001 October 7 Brazil Gil de Ferran Penske Racing Reynard Honda 100 152.7 (245.746) 1:54:42 79.521 Report [9]
2002
–
2005 		Not held
2006 May 13 France Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas Racing Lola Ford Cosworth 96* 162.24 (261.099) 1:59:57 81.154 Report [10]
2007 April 22 France Sébastien Bourdais Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing Panoz Cosworth 93 156.519 (251.893) 1:45:32 88.986 Report [11]
2008
–
2012 		Not held
IndyCar Series history
2013 October 5 New Zealand Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara Honda 90 151.47 (243.767) 1:54:48 76.856 Report [12]
October 6 Australia Will Power Penske Racing Dallara Chevrolet 90 151.47 (243.767) 1:52:29 78.444 [13]
2014 June 28 Colombia Carlos Huertas Dale Coyne Racing Dallara Honda 80* 134.64 (216.682) 1:51:26 70.389 Report [14]
June 29 France Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Dallara Honda 90 151.47 (243.767) 1:51:44 78.981 [15]
  • 1998: Race shortened due to heavy rainshower that caused poor visibility.
  • 2006: Race shortened due to time limit.
  • 2014: First race shortened due to time limit.

Atlantics/Indy Lights

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Season Date Winning Driver
Atlantic Championship
1998 October 4 United States Anthony Lazzaro
1999 September 26 Canada Andrew Bordin
2000 October 1 Canada Andrew Bordin
2001 October 7 United States Joey Hand
2006 May 13 Germany Andreas Wirth
2007 April 22 Brazil Raphael Matos
Indy Lights
2000 October 1 United States Casey Mears
2013 October 6 United States Sage Karam

Lap records

[edit]

The fastest official race lap records at the Grand Prix of Houston circuits are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.630 km (2013–2014)[16]
IndyCar 0:59.1215[17] Luca Filippi Dallara DW12 2013 Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston
Indy Lights 1:05.5724[18] Gabby Chaves Dallara IPS 2013 Indy Lights Grand Prix of Houston
Pro Mazda 1:08.6893[19] Neil Alberico Star Formula Mazda 'Pro' 2014 Houston Pro Mazda Championship round
US F2000 1:14.908[20] Henrik Furuseth Van Diemen DP08 2013 Houston USF2000 round
Pirelli World Challenge GT 1:17.583[21] Johnny O'Connell Cadillac CTS-V.R 2013 Houston Pirelli World Challenge round
Pirelli World Challenge GTS 1:21.338[21] Mark Wilkins Kia Optima 2013 Houston Pirelli World Challenge round
Pirelli World Challenge TC 1:22.555[22] Michael Cooper Mini Cooper 2013 Houston Pirelli World Challenge round
Mazda MX-5 Cup 1:22.633[23] Kenton Koch Mazda MX-5 (NC) 2014 Houston Mazda MX-5 Cup round
Pirelli World Challenge TCB 1:32.485[22] Tyler Palmer Mazda 2 2013 Houston Pirelli World Challenge round
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.708 km (2007)[16]
Champ Car 0:58.018[16] Sebastien Bourdais Panoz DP01 2007 Grand Prix of Houston
LMP2 1:02.893[24] Timo Bernhard Porsche RS Spyder 2007 Lone Star Grand Prix
LMP1 1:03.047[24] Rinaldo Capello Audi R10 TDI 2007 Lone Star Grand Prix
Formula Atlantic 1:05.072[25] Carl Skerlong Swift 016.a 2007 Houston Formula Atlantic round
GT1 (GTS) 1:07.423[24] Johnny O'Connell Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 2007 Lone Star Grand Prix
Star Mazda 1:08.375[26] Ron White Star Mazda 2007 Houston Star Mazda Championship round
GT2 1:09.948[24] Dirk Müller Ferrari F430 GTC 2007 Lone Star Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 2.720 km (2006)[16]
Champ Car 1:00.176 Sébastien Bourdais Lola B02/00 2006 Grand Prix of Houston
LMP1 1:05.148[27] Rinaldo Capello Audi R8 2006 Lone Star Grand Prix
LMP2 1:05.284[27] Romain Dumas Porsche RS Spyder 2006 Lone Star Grand Prix
Formula Atlantic 1:05.562[28] Jonathan Bomarito Swift 016.a 2006 Houston Formula Atlantic round
GT1 (GTS) 1:08.565[27] Oliver Gavin Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 2006 Lone Star Grand Prix
Star Mazda 1:09.941[29] Ron White Star Mazda 2006 Houston Star Mazda Championship round
GT2 1:11.383[27] Jaime Melo Ferrari F430 GTC 2006 Lone Star Grand Prix
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 2.457 km (1998–2001)[30]
CART 1:00.219[31] Michael Andretti Lola B2K/00 2000 Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix of Houston
Indy Lights 1:05.525[32] Casey Mears Lola T97/20 2000 Houston Indy Lights round
Formula Atlantic 1:07.293[33] Andrew Bordin Swift 008.a 2000 Houston Formula Atlantic round

References

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  1. ^ "City's sputtering motor sports scene may rev up". Houston Chronicle. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  2. ^ Lewandowski, Dave (March 28, 2012). "Houston, we have liftoff for October 2013 event". IndyCar Series. IndyCar. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Goodall, Russ (March 28, 2012). "IndyCar's coming to town: Houston race slated for 2013". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Olson, Jeff., Nate Ryan, and Curt Cavin. Franchitti breaks back, has surgery after crash that injures fans, USA Today, October 11, 2013, Retrieved 2014-01-12
  5. ^ Dario Franchitti retires from IndyCar after accident, USA Today, November 14, 2013, Retrieved 2014-01-12
  6. ^ "1998 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "1999 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "2000 Texaco Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  9. ^ "2001 Texaco-Havoline Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "2006 Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "2007 Grand Prix of Houston". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "2013 Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (1)". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. ^ "2013 Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (2)". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "2014 Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (1)". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "2014 Shell-Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston (2)". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d "Houston-NRG - Motor Sport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  17. ^ "2013 Houston Indycars - Round 18". Motor Sport Magazine. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  18. ^ "2013 Houston Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  19. ^ "2014 Allied Building Products GP of Houston - Official Final Results - Race 2" (PDF). 29 June 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. ^ "2013 Marlin CNG Services Grand Prix of Houston - Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda - Official Race Report - Round 13" (PDF). 5 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Houston Grand Prix at Houston Street Course on October 4–6 2013 - Final Race Results - Pirelli World Challenge GT/GTS Round 14" (PDF). 6 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Houston Grand Prix at Houston Street Course on October 4–6 2013 - Final Race Results - Pirelli World Challenge TC/TCB Round 14" (PDF). 5 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Koch completes Mazda MX-5 Cup sweep at Houston". 29 June 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  24. ^ a b c d "American Le Mans Series Houston 2007". 21 April 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  25. ^ "2007 Formula Atlantic Houston". 22 April 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  26. ^ "2007 USF Pro 2000 Championship Houston Race Statistics". 21 April 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d "American Le Mans Series Houston 2006". 13 May 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  28. ^ "2006 Formula Atlantic Houston". 14 May 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  29. ^ "2006 USF Pro 2000 Championship Houston Race Statistics". 13 May 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Houston - Motor Sport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  31. ^ "2000 Houston Champ Cars". Motor Sport Magazine. 1 October 2000. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  32. ^ "2000 Indy Lights Houston 69". 1 October 2000. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  33. ^ "2000 Formula Atlantic Houston". 14 May 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
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