Streets of Miami

The Streets of Miami refers to several temporary street course race circuits set up in the Miami-area. Three distinct courses have been utilized over the years:
*Temporary street course in Tamiami Park (CART, 1985-1988)
*Temporary street course in Bicentennial Park, along Biscayne Boulevard (IMSA 1983-1993, CART 1995)
*Temporary street course in downtown. (ALMS and Champ Car, 2002-2003)

History

Modern American open wheel racing in the Miami-area dates back to 1985. In that year, the CART Champ Car series began racing on a temporary street circuit in Tamiami Park, a small outdoor sports facility in the nearby suburb of Tamiami. The 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 March, which was held at a different street course in Miami. After 1988, the Tamiami Park race was discontinued. As of 2007, subtle remnants of the course are still visible.

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 Bicentennial Park circuirt, 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 2007, 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.

For 2002-2003, CART returned to Miami for a short-lived race on a third street course downtown.

Past winners

See also

* XM Satellite Radio Indy 300