Hurricane Relief 400

"For the Formula One event, see Las Vegas Grand Prix"Champ Car race infobox
Name=Hurricane Relief 400
Logo=
Venue=Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Sponsor=None
First race=1996
First CCWS race=2004
Distance=248 miles
Time=
Laps=166
Previous names=Las Vegas 500K (1996-1998)
Vegas.com 500 (1999)
Vegas Indy 300 (2000)
Bridgestone 400 Presented by Corona "Double Down in the Desert" (2004)
"'Champ Car Hurricane Relief 400 "Double Down in the Desert" (2005)|

The Hurricane Relief 400 was a Champ Car World Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada during its 2005 season. To date, it remains the final major open wheel race to take place at the facility. The Indy Racing League ran 5 races at the track from 1996 to 2000, while the Champ Car World Series ran 2 races at the track in 2004 and 2005.

Race history

AAA Championship Car

The Silver State Century was a 100-lap/100-mile race at Las Vegas Park, a dirt track in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jimmy Bryan was the winner of the races' lone running.

tardust Raceway

The Can-Am series held a race on the short-lived Stardust Raceway. Named the Stardust Grand Prix, the event served as the Can-Am season finale from 1966-1968.

Caesars Palace

Starting in 1981, Formula One scheduled a race on laid out in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel. The race was referred to as the Caesars Palace Grand Prix (I & II). Despite the sweltering heat, the course was met wide strong approval for its wide, smooth surface, overtaking areas, and ample run-off areas. The race exceeded expectations, but drew only medicore crowds, and Formula One left after only two years.

The CART series picked up where Formula One left off, and started holding a race on the same Caesars Palace course. After two races (III & IV) the race ended.

Indy Racing League

In 1996, Las Vegas Motor Speedway was announced as a venue for the newly-formed Indy Racing League. The facility was still under construction when it was added to the 1996-97 season.

For the first four runnings, the race was advertised as a 500 km race. Starting in 1997, the race was moved to a night race. In 2000, it was moved from the fall to the spring, and returned to a day race. After 2000, the race was removed from the IndyCar Series for an indefinite period.

American Le Mans Series

From 1997-2000, the American Le Mans Series held a race on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway combined road course. The race was scheduled as a 2 hour & 45 minute event.

Champ Car

In 2004-2005, the Champ Car series competed in a 400 kilometer (249 miles) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Both editions were held under the lights on a Saturday night. After only two years, however, the race was considered unpopular and was removed from the schedule.

For 2005, the name of the race was changed to the Hurricane Relief 400, and it served as a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Fremont Street

In July 2006, the Las Vegas City Council approved a 2.44-mile, 14-turn, counterclockwise street circuit in the downtown Las Vegas-area near the Fremont Street Experience. Champ Car held their first event on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007. The race was titled the Vegas Grand Prix. The course was generally liked by competitors and fans. After only one running, however, the event was cancelled.

Return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Following the 2008 unfication of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car, a return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been offered by SMI and suggested by several media outlets. It would serve as the 2009 season finale, and be coupled with the year-end victory banquet, to be held at a resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Past Winners

Road/Street circuits

Las Vegas Motor Speedway