The Streets of Miami
refers to four street circuits set up in the Miami-area. Four distinct sites have been utilized over the years:
- Temporary street course at Bicentennial Park & Bayfront Park: IMSA (1983-1985)
- Semi-permanent street course at Bicentennial Park: IMSA (1986-1993), CART (1995)
- Temporary street course at Bayfront Park: Champ Car and ALMS (2002-2003)
- Temporary street course in Tamiami Park (CART, 1985-1988)
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GRAND PRIX OF MIAMI TICKETS
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Courses
Bayfront Park circuit 1
IMSA debuted in Miami on the first temporary street circuit in 1983. The 1983 event was deemed a quagmire as torrential rains plagued race day. Few fans stuck around, and the race was halted after only 27 laps due to standing water on the course. After losing a million dollars on the effort, promoter Ralph Sanchez refused to give up after only one running. The race returned as a tremendous success in 1984.
This IMSA course was the site of filming of an episode of
Miami Vice
, guest starring driver
Danny Sullivan.
Tamiami Park
In 1985, the
CART series began racing on a temporary street circuit in Tamiami Park, a small outdoor sports facility in the nearby suburb of
Tamiami. The race was held in late-October/early-November, and served as the season finale. In 1987-1988, the short-lived CART all-star exhibition race, the
Marlboro Challenge, was also held at the Tamiami circuit, in conjunction with the main event. The races did not enjoy the same interest or attendance that had been experienced by the annual
IMSA races in the spring. After 1988, the Tamiami Park race was discontinued. As of 2007, subtle remnants of the course are still visible.
Bicentennial Park 1
For 1986, the IMSA circuit was shifted slightly north to a new semi-permanent layout in Bicentennial Park, along
Biscayne Boulevard. The race enjoyed tremendous popularity and continued through 1993.
Bicentennial Park 2
In 1995, race promoter Ralph Sanchez brought open wheel racing back to Miami. He had already begun construction on the Homestead Motorsports Complex (now known as
Homestead-Miami Speedway), where the race would be, but the track would not be completed until later in the year. For 1995 only, CART held a race on the original
Bicentennial Park circuit, on
Biscayne Bay, formerly used by
IMSA from 1983-1993. It was, however, run in the opposite direction to prevent drivers familiar with the circuit from having an experience advantage. The course wound through roads surrounding the current site of
AmericanAirlines Arena and traversed down
Biscayne Boulevard. As of 2009, some of the course layout remains intact.
In 1996, CART debuted at the
Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 2001, the race switched to the
Indy Racing League, and is now known as the
GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300.
In 1999, about a third of the course layout was demolished for the contruction of
AmericanAirlines Arena.
Bayfront Park circuit 2
For 2002-2003,
CART returned to Miami for a short-lived race on a third distinct street course. The layout was located in the same vicinity of the 1983 IMSA Bayfront course.
Past winners
Season
| Date
| Winning Driver
| Chassis
| Engine
| Team
|
CART Champ Car history (Tamiami Park street course)
|
1985
| November 10
| Danny Sullivan
| March
| Cosworth
| Penske Racing
|
1986
| November 9
| Danny Sullivan
| Lola
| Cosworth
| Penske Racing
|
1987 [1]
| October 31
| Bobby Rahal
| Lola
| Cosworth
| TrueSports
|
1987
| November 1
| Michael Andretti
| March
| Cosworth
| Kraco Racing
|
1988 [1]
| November 5
| Michael Andretti
| Lola
| Cosworth
| Kraco Racing
|
1988
| November 6
| Al Unser, Jr.
| March
| Chevrolet
| Galles Racing
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CART Champ Car history (Bicentennial Park street course)
|
1995
| March 5
| Jacques Villeneuve
| Reynard
| Ford-Cosworth
| Team Green
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CART Champ Car history (Bayfront street course)
|
2002
| October 6
| Cristiano da Matta
| Lola
| Toyota
| Newman/Haas Racing
|
2003
| September 28
| Mario Dominguez
| Lola
| Ford-Cosworth
| Herdez Competition
|
- Marlboro Challenge non-points all-star event
- Marlboro Challenge non-points all-star event
IMSA history (Bicentennial Park street course)
thumb
Season
| Date
| Winning Driver
| Chassis
| Engine
| Team
|
Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami
|
1983
| February 27
| Al Holbert
| March 83G
| Chevrolet
| Holbert Racing
|
1984
| February 26
| Doc Bundy Brian Redman
| Jaguar XJR-5
| Jaguar
| Group 44
|
Löwenbräu Grand Prix of Miami
|
1985
| February 24
| Al Holbert Derek Bell
| Porsche 962
| Porsche
| Holbert Racing
|
1986
| March 2
| Bob Wollek Paolo Barilla
| Porsche 962
| Porsche
| Bayside Leven Racing
|
Grand Prix of Miami
|
1987
| March 1
| Elliott Forbes-Robinson Geoff Brabham
| Nissan GTP ZX-T
| Nissan
| Nissan Electramotive Engineering
|
1988
| February 28
| Price Cobb James Weaver
| Porsche 962
| Porsche
| Dyson Racing
|
Nissan Grand Prix of Miami
|
1989
| March 5
| Geoff Brabham Chip Robinson
| Nissan GTP ZX-T
| Nissan
| Nissan Electromotive Engineering
|
1990
| October 6
| Geoff Brabham Chip Robinson Bob Earl
| Nissan GTP ZX-T
| Nissan
| Nissan Electromotive Engineering
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Nissan Camel Grand Prix of Miami
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1991
| April 7
| Raul Boesel
| Jaguar XJR-10
| Jaguar
| TWR
|
Toyota Grand Prix of Miami
|
1992
| February 22
| Geoff Brabham
| Nissan NPT-91A
| Nissan
| Nissan Performance Technologies
|
1993
| February 21
| Juan Manuel Fangio II
| Eagle Mk III
| Toyota
| All-American Racers
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Indy Lights/Formula Atlantic winners
Season
| Date
| Winning Driver
| Series
| Circuit
|
1986
| November 9
| Fabrizio Barbazza
| American Racing Series
| Tamiami Park
|
1987
| November 1
| Jeff Andretti
| American Racing Series
| Tamiami Park
|
1988
| November 6
| Tommy Byrne
| HFC American Racing Series
| Tamiami Park
|
1992
| February 22
| Russell Spence
| SCCA Toyota Atlantic
| Bicentennial Park
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1995
| March 4
| Patrick Carpentier
| Players Toyota Atlantic Championship
| Bicentennial Park
|
1995
| March 5
| Greg Moore
| PPG Firestone Indy Lights
| Tamiami Park
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2003
| September 28
| Michael Valiante
| Toyota Atlantic Championship
| Bayfront Park street course
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See also
- GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300
- Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (another Florida street course race)
collapsed
es:Gran Premio de Miami