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Molson Indy Vancouver

Coordinates: 49°16′34″N 123°6′24″W / 49.27611°N 123.10667°W / 49.27611; -123.10667
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Molson Indy Vancouver
IndyCar / CART / Champ Car
LocationConcord Pacific Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
49°16′34″N 123°6′24″W / 49.27611°N 123.10667°W / 49.27611; -123.10667
Corporate sponsorMolson
First race1990
Last race2004
Most wins (driver)Al Unser Jr. (4)
Most wins (team)Newman/Haas Racing (3)
Team Green (3)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chassis: Lola (7)
Engine: Ford-Cosworth (4)
Honda (4)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt/Concrete
Length2.865 km (1.780 mi)
Turns15
Vancouver Street Circuit
Vancouver Street Circuit (1999–2004)
LocationConcord Pacific Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Time zoneUTC-07:00
Coordinates49°16′34″N 123°6′24″W / 49.27611°N 123.10667°W / 49.27611; -123.10667
Opened30 August 1990; 34 years ago (1990-08-30)
Closed25 July 2004; 20 years ago (2004-07-25)
Major eventsFormer:
CART
Molson Indy Vancouver (1990–2004)
Atlantic Championship (1990–1999, 2001, 2004)
CASCAR Super Series (2001–2004)
Barber Pro Series (2000–2003)
Indy Lights (1990, 1992–1998, 2000)
Trans-Am Series (1999)
SpeedVision World Challenge (1999)
North American Touring Car Championship (1996–1997)
Street Circuit (1999–2004)
Length2.865 km (1.780 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:01.538 (Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya, Lola B2K/00, 2000, CART)
Street Circuit (1998)
Length2.866 km (1.781 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:06.939 (Brazil Hélio Castroneves, Reynard 98I, 1998, CART)
Street Circuit (1994–1997)
Length2.660 km (1.653 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record0:55.136 (Italy Alex Zanardi, Reynard 97I, 1997, CART)
Street Circuit (1991–1993)
Length2.699 km (1.677 miles)
Turns16
Race lap record0:59.513 (United States Bryan Herta, Lola T94/00, 1993, Indy Lights)
Street Circuit (1990)
Length2.740 km (1.704 miles)
Turns17
Race lap record1:10.599 (United States Mark Dismore, Swift DB4, 1990, Formula Atlantic)

Molson Indy Vancouver was an annual Champ Car race held in a street circuit near BC Place and running past Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada held in July, August or September from 1990 to 2004.

On September 2, 1990, the first race took place on the original circuit, which was won by Al Unser Jr. From 1998, a new circuit was created to the east of the old Pacific Place, where only a small part of the original circuit was used. The circuit was popular with drivers and often produced an entertaining race. For most of its fifteen years, the Vancouver Indy attracted in excess of 100,000 spectators over the course of its weekends, and in 1996 held the Canadian single-day sporting event attendance record until it was beaten by the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal that year. [1] The final event in 2004 had race day attendance of 63,000 with a total three day turnout of 158,420 spectators.[2] However, from 2004, Vancouver was left off the Champ Car fixture list.

In July 2021 it was announced a new race for the electric-powered FIA Formula E World Championship, the Vancouver ePrix would be run on the reconfigured 2.21 km (1.37 mi) track on the same site.[3][4] However on 18 June 2022, it was announced that the race contract was terminated.[5]

Controversy and cancellation

[edit]

For much of its time in Vancouver, the Molson Indy was a source of considerable local controversy, as local residents complained of the noise and disruption caused by this major event. As the lands of the former Expo 86 site were developed into the billion-dollar condominium development by Concord Pacific, debates raged over whether the Indy made Vancouver a "world-class city" or an "urban nightmare." Such debates were chronicled by Mark Douglas Lowes in his 2002 book, Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares: Speed Merchants, Spectacle, and the Struggle over Public Space in the World-Class City.[6]

The official explanation for the cancellation came from Jo-Ann McArthur, president of sponsoring Molson Sports and Entertainment, who stated that "the bottom line is the business model couldn't work".[7] The race had just two seasons left in the city, due to the impending construction of the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympics on the south end of the course. She stated that the lack of a long-term commitment to holding the event made it difficult to attract sponsors to continue the race.[8]

Following the cancellation, Champ Car continued to race in the Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton as part of the 2005 season.

Layout history

[edit]
  • Vancouver Street Circuit (1990–1997)
    Vancouver Street Circuit (1990–1997)
  • Vancouver Street Circuit (1998)
    Vancouver Street Circuit (1998)
  • Vancouver Street Circuit (1999–2004), which removed the chicane at the old Turn 7 and added a chicane at Turn 13
    Vancouver Street Circuit (1999–2004), which removed the chicane at the old Turn 7 and added a chicane at Turn 13

CART/Champ Car race winners

[edit]
Season Driver Chassis Engine Team Report Ref
1990 United States Al Unser Jr. Lola Chevrolet Galles-KRACO Racing Report [9]
1991 United States Michael Andretti Lola Chevrolet Newman/Haas Racing Report [10]
1992 United States Michael Andretti Lola Ford-Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report [11]
1993 United States Al Unser Jr. Lola Chevrolet Galles Racing Report [12]
1994 United States Al Unser Jr. Penske Ilmor Marlboro Team Penske Report [13]
1995 United States Al Unser Jr. Penske Mercedes-Ilmor Marlboro Team Penske Report [14]
1996 United States Michael Andretti Lola Ford-Cosworth Newman/Haas Racing Report [15]
1997 Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Reynard Mercedes-Benz PacWest Racing Report [16]
1998 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Reynard Honda Team KOOL Green Report [17]
1999 Colombia Juan Pablo Montoya Reynard Honda Target Chip Ganassi Racing Report [18]
2000 Canada Paul Tracy Reynard Honda Team KOOL Green Report [19]
2001 Brazil Roberto Moreno Reynard Toyota Patrick Racing Report [20]
2002 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Lola Honda Team KOOL Green Report [21]
2003 Canada Paul Tracy Lola Ford-Cosworth Team Player's Report [22]
2004 Canada Paul Tracy Lola Ford-Cosworth Forsythe Championship Racing Report [23]

Indy Lights/Atlantic winners

[edit]
Indy Lights
Season Winning Driver
1990 Italy Vinicio Salmi
1991 Not held
1992 United States Mark Smith
1993 United States Bryan Herta
1994 Brazil André Ribeiro
1995 Portugal Pedro Chaves
1996 Canada Claude Bourbonnais
1997 Brazil Cristiano da Matta
1998 Brazil Cristiano da Matta
1999 Not held
2000 New Zealand Scott Dixon
Atlantic Championship
Season Winning Driver
1990 Canada Claude Bourbonnais
1991 Canada Stéphane Proulx
1992 Canada Patrick Carpentier
1993 Canada Claude Bourbonnais
1994 Canada David Empringham
1995 Canada David Empringham
1996 Canada Patrick Carpentier
1997 United States Memo Gidley
1998 Canada Andrew Bordin
1999 United States Will Langhorne
2000 Not held
2001 United States Joey Hand
2002
2003 		Not held
2004 United Kingdom Ryan Dalziel

Lap records

[edit]

The fastest official race lap records at Molson Indy Vancouver are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Street Circuit: 2.865 km (1999–2004)[24]
CART 1:01.538[25] Juan Pablo Montoya Lola B2K/00 2000 Molson Indy Vancouver
Indy Lights 1:07.439[26] Scott Dixon Lola T97/20 2000 Vancouver Indy Lights round
Formula Atlantic 1:09.214[27] Jon Fogarty Swift 014.a 2004 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round
Barber Pro 1:14.675[28] Leonardo Maia Reynard 98E 2003 Vancouver Barber Pro round
Street Circuit: 2.866 km (1998)[24]
CART 1:06.939 Hélio Castroneves Reynard 98I 1998 Molson Indy Vancouver
Indy Lights 1:10.995[29] Cristiano da Matta Lola T97/20 1998 Vancouver Indy Lights round
Street Circuit: 2.660 km (1994–1997)[24]
CART 0:55.136 Alex Zanardi Reynard 97I 1997 Molson Indy Vancouver
Indy Lights 1:00.653[30] Eddie Lawson Lola T93/20 1994 Vancouver Indy Lights round
Super Touring 1:10.414[31] David Donohue Dodge Stratus 1997 Vancouver NATCC round
Street Circuit: 2.699 km (1991–1993)[24]
Indy Lights 0:59.513[32] Bryan Herta Lola T93/20 1993 Vancouver Indy Lights round
Formula Atlantic 1:03.970[33] Chris Smith Swift DB4 1992 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round
Original Street Circuit: 2.740 km (1990)[24]
Formula Atlantic 1:10.599[34] Mark Dismore Swift DB4 1990 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Charters, David A. (2007). The Chequered Past: Sports Car Racing & Rallying in Canada, 1951-1991. University of Toronto Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-8020-9394-3.
  2. ^ Sabine, Alex (2005). Autocourse Official Champ Car Yearbook 2004–2005. Crash Media Group Press. pp. 110–113. ISBN 978-1905334001.
  3. ^ "SEASON 8 CALENDAR: Cape Town, Vancouver and Seoul feature on most expansive Formula E schedule yet". FIA Formula E. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Canadian E-Fest Formula E Overview". Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Formula E nixes 2023 Vancouver race, cuts ties with local organizers". 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  6. ^ Lowes, Mark Douglas (2002). Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 148. ISBN 978-0-8020-8498-9. Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares: Speed Merchants, Spectacle, and the Struggle over Public Space in the World-Class City.
  7. ^ "Molson ends Indy-car race in Vancouver". The Seattle Times. November 19, 2004. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  8. ^ "Vancouver Molson Indy cancelled". CBC News. Toronto. November 18, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "1990 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "1991 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "1992 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "1993 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "1994 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "1995 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "1996 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "1997 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "1998 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "1999 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "2000 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "2001 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  21. ^ "2002 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  22. ^ "2003 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  23. ^ "2004 Molson Indy Vancouver". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c d e "Vancouver - Motor Sport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  25. ^ "2000 Vancouver Champ Cars". Motor Sport Magazine. 3 September 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  26. ^ "2000 Vancouver Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 3 September 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  27. ^ "2004 Formula Atlantic Vancouver". 25 July 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  28. ^ "2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series - Round 8: Vancouver, 27th July - Race Results". 27 July 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  29. ^ "1998 Vancouver Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 6 September 1998. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  30. ^ "1994 Vancouver Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 4 September 1994. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  31. ^ "NATCC 1997 » Vancouver Street Circuit Round 15 Results Results". 30 August 1997. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  32. ^ "1993 Vancouver Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 29 August 1993. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Vancouver, Molson Indy Vancouver, August 29 Aout 1992". 29 August 1992. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  34. ^ "Vancouver, Molson Indy Vancouver, August 31 Aout 1990". 31 August 1990. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
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