The Atlanta 500 Classic was an Indy Racing League event held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway from 1998 until 2001.
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Indy Racing League | |
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Venue | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
First race | 1965 |
First ICS race | 1998 |
Last race | 2001 |
Distance | 515.505 km (320.32 mi) |
Laps | 208 |
Most wins (driver) | Rick Mears (5) |
Most wins (team) | Penske Racing (5) |
Previous USAC and CART races had been held at the track dating to 1965. The first National Championship races in Atlanta were held at Atlanta Motordrome, a 2-mile (3.2 km) dirt oval, in 1910. Later AAA and USAC races were held at Lakewood Speedway, a dirt oval in Atlanta.
Past winners
editAtlanta Motordrome
editYear | Date | Race Name | Winner | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
American Automobile Association | ||||
1910 | May 5 | Atlanta Speedway Trophy | Ray Harroun | Marmon |
May 6 | Atlanta Race 2 | Bill Endicott | Cole | |
May 6 | Atlanta Race 3 | Herbert Lytle | American | |
May 7 | Atlanta Automobile Association Trophy | Tom Kincade/Johnny AitkenA | National |
^A Shared drive
Year | Date | Race name | Winner | Chassis | Engine |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Automobile Association | |||||
1946 | March 31 | Mike Benton Sweepstakes (non-points) | Jimmy Wilburn | Offy | |
June 2 | Lakewood Race 1 | Ted Horn | Offy | ||
July 4 | Lakewood Race 2 | Ted Horn | Wetteroth | Offy | |
July 7 | Lakewood Race 3 | Ted Horn | Offy | ||
September 2 | Atlanta 100 | George Connor | Kurtis Kraft | Offy | |
September 28 | Lakewood Race 5 | Ted Horn | Offy | ||
October 5 | Lakewood Race 6 | Bill Holland | Offy | ||
1947 | July 4 | Atlanta 100 | Walt Ader | Adams | Offy |
1948 | September 6 | Atlanta 100 | Mel Hansen | Wetteroth | Offy |
1949–1951: Not held | |||||
NASCAR Speedway Division | |||||
1952 | June 8 | Atlanta 100 | Al Keller | ? | Cadillac |
1953–1955: Not held | |||||
USAC Championship Car | |||||
1956 | July 14 | Atlanta 100 | Eddie Sachs | Hillegass | Offy |
1957 | July 4 | Atlanta 100 | George Amick | Lesovsky | Offy |
1958 | July 4 | Atlanta 100 | Jud Larson | Watson | Offy |
Season | Date | Race Name | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||||
USAC Championship Car | |||||||||||
1965 | Aug 1 | Atlanta 250 | Johnny Rutherford | Leader Card Racing | A. J. Watson | Ford | 167 | 250.5 (403.14) | 1:46:03 | 141.728 | |
1966 | June 26 | Atlanta 300 | Mario Andretti | Clint Brawner | Brawner Hawk | Ford | 200 | 300 (482.803) | 2:09:12 | 139.319 | |
1967 – 1977 |
Not held | ||||||||||
1978 | July 23 | Gould Twin Dixie | Rick Mears | Penske Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 100 | 152.2 (244.942) | 1:03:44 | 141.215 | |
CART Championship Car | |||||||||||
1979 | April 22 | Gould Twin Dixie 125 | Johnny Rutherford | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 82 | 124.804 (200.852) | 0:47:28 | 157.758 | |
Johnny Rutherford | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren | Cosworth | 82 | 124.804 (200.852) | 0:45:40 | 166.159 | ||||
Sept 30 | Rich's Atlanta Classic | Rick Mears | Penske Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 100 | 152.2 (244.942) | 0:50:09 | 182.094 | ||
1980 | Not held | ||||||||||
1981 | June 21 | Kraco Twin 125 | Rick Mears | Penske Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 83 | 126.326 (203.301) | 0:51:29 | 147.22 | |
Rick Mears | Penske Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 83 | 126.326 (203.301) | 0:45:20 | 167.073 | ||||
1982 | May 1 | Stroh's 200 | Rick Mears | Penske Racing | Penske | Cosworth | 132 | 200.904 (323.323) | 1:13:10 | 164.75 | |
1983 | April 17 | Kraco Dixie 200 | Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Cosworth | 132 | 200.904 (323.323) | 1:22:29 | 146.133 | |
1984 – 1997 |
Not held | ||||||||||
Indy Racing League | |||||||||||
1998 | Aug 29 | Atlanta 500 Classic | Kenny Bräck | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 208 | 320.32 (515.505) | 2:17:05 | 140.026 | |
1999 | July 17 | Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500 Presented by MCI WorldCom |
Scott Sharp | Kelley Racing | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 208 | 320.32 (515.505) | 2:12:15 | 141.546 | |
2000 | July 15 | Midas 500 Classic | Greg Ray | Team Menard | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 208 | 320.32 (515.505) | 2:02:02 | 153.403 | |
2001 | April 28 | zMax 500 | Greg Ray | Team Menard | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 200 | 308 (495.677) | 2:14:41 | 133.647 |