![]() ![]() Races returned in 20 before a long-term hiatus. Lowering attendance and lack of sponsorship led to the race being left off the 2005 schedule. The event was called the “ Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America” in his honor. Andretti later stepped in to help both CART and track officials agree to a race for 2003, which they did in time for it to make it on the calendar. Drivers and fans alike were unhappy with that result, given the race’s popularity. ![]() This led to the race being canceled by CART. Then-CART officials sued the promoters of the Road America race in 2003 over unpaid fees. ![]() First-time winners at the track later included four-time champion Dario Franchitti (1998), Christian Fittipaldi (1999), Bruno Junqueira (2001), Alex Tagliani (2004), and Felix Rosenqvist (2020). Jacques Villeneuve, the 1995 champion and 1997 Formula 1 champion, took his first Ind圜ar win at Road America in 1994. In addition to Rebaque, Jacques Villeneuve (uncle to the Ind圜ar and Formula 1 champion) won his first and only Ind圜ar race in 1985. The race at Road America has become the place for many drivers to notch their first Ind圜ar victory. The remaining 47 laps were run on October 4, with 1989 champion Emerson Fittipal winning. It began on September 21 but, due to rain, stopped the race three laps in. The 1986 race is the only event with a different start and finish date. Mario Andretti won three of the following five races, including his championship season in 1984. It was typically held in August or September in the early years, making it a pivotal round for the championship. It quickly became a popular event due to the competitive races and the scenic track. Road America was one of many races added to Ind圜ar during the 1980s, like Detroit and Long Beach. Mexican driver Héctor Rebaque won the first race in his only career CART/Ind圜ar victory. The Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America first appeared on the Ind圜ar (then-CART) calendar in 1982. The length, high speeds, and mix of corners make it an exciting race for drivers and fans alike. It’s also one of the most extended courses on the schedule. It first held an Ind圜ar race in 1982, making it one of the more senior races on the calendar. It occurs on one of the oldest road racing courses in the U.S. The Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America is the eighth round of the 2023 Ind圜ar Series season. ![]()
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