Portland International Raceway
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![]() Portland International Raceway via the USGS satellite imagery | |
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Location | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
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Time zone | GMT−8 |
Coordinates | 45°35′49″N 122°41′45″W / 45.59694°N 122.69583°W |
Capacity | 30,000 |
FIA Grade | 2 |
Owner | City of Portland |
Operator | E. C. Mueller[1] |
Broke ground | 1960 |
Opened | June 1961 |
Major events | Current: Formula E Portland ePrix (2023–2024) IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Portland (1984–2007, 2018–2019, 2021–present) NASCAR Xfinity Series Pacific Office Automation 147 (2022–present) ARCA Menards Series West West Series races at Portland (1986, 2009–2012, 2021–present) Trans-Am West Coast Championship (2017–2019, 2021–present) Former: IMSA Portland Grand Prix (1978–1994, 1999–2001, 2004–2006) Pirelli World Challenge Rose Cup Races (2001, 2004–2005, 2018–2019) Trans-Am Series (1972, 1975–1987, 1990–1995, 2001, 2004–2005, 2009) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Grainger Industrial Supply 225K (1999–2000) AMA Superbike Championship (1983–1984) |
Website | http://www.portlandraceway.com/ |
Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.967[2] miles (3.166 km) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 0:58.7403 (![]() |
Formula E Circuit (2023–2024) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 2.001 miles (3.221 km) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 1:10.650 (![]() |
Grand Prix Circuit (1992–2007) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.944 miles (3.129 km) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 0.59.259 (![]() |
Grand Prix Circuit (1984–1991) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.922 miles (3.093 km) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 0:57.626 (![]() |
Grand Prix Circuit (1971–1983) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.915 miles (3.082 km) |
Turns | 9 |
Race lap record | 1:04.860 (![]() |
Full Circuit (1969–1970) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.800 miles (2.896 km) |
Turns | 9 |
West Delta Park Circuit (1966–1968) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 1.964 miles (3.160 km) |
Turns | 11 |
West Delta Park Circuit (1961–1965) | |
Surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Length | 2.000 miles (3.217 km) |
Turns | 11 |
Portland International Raceway (PIR) is a motorsport facility in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is part of the Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It lies west of the Delta Park/Vanport light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5.
The track hosts the IndyCar Series, Formula E, ICSCC and SCCA and OMRRA road racing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series West, and SCCA autocross events. Additionally, the PIR grounds are host to OBRA (Oregon Bicycle Racing Association) bicycling races on the track and the surrounding grounds. The facility includes a dragstrip and a motocross track.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Portland_International_Raceway_entrance.jpg/220px-Portland_International_Raceway_entrance.jpg)
The road course is almost perfectly flat and runs clockwise. Two track configurations are possible. The modern Grand Prix circuit includes a hard chicane at the end of the front straight, referred to as the "Shelton Chicane" in honor of Vanport racing legend Monte Shelton, and involves 12 turns at a length of 1.967 mi (3.166 km). Without the chicane, the track has nine turns and a lap length of 1.915 mi (3.082 km). Portland is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.[3]
PIR boasts a Winners' List starring some of the most accomplished open-wheel drivers of all time including Mario Andretti (1985, 1986), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Michael Andretti (1990, 1991, 1992), Bobby Rahal (1987), Sébastien Bourdais (2004, 2007), Will Power (2019, 2024), and Álex Palou (2021, 2023).
The City of Portland is working to establish the track as carbon neutral.[4] In 2023, an investigation revealed the use of leaded gasoline at the track, which poses significant health risks for spectators and residents near the track.[5] This occurs primarily during drag races, as unleaded fuel (often alcohol based) is used in major weekends.
History
[edit]PIR is built on the former location of Vanport, Oregon, which was destroyed on Memorial Day, May 30, 1948, when a railroad berm broke and water from the Columbia River flooded the city. After the flood, all that remained were the paved streets and concrete foundations of destroyed buildings.
The first races took place on these old city streets in 1961 during the Portland Rose Festival. Since then, the Rose Cup has become an annual event. Racing at "West Delta Park",[6] as PIR was known back then, was quite dangerous. Racers leaving the track unexpectedly could collide with leftover concrete foundations or fall into ponds.
Under the threat of losing the Rose Cup races, since many of the sanctioning racing bodies would no longer sanction races due to the deteriorating roads and dangerous obstacles, the track was finally paved in the 1970s.[6]
In 1975, Portland International hosted the Trans-Am Series, the premier series of the Sports Car Club of America, which was won by John Greenwood, driving a Chevrolet Corvette. Greenwood would go on to win the 1975 Trans-Am Series Championship.
Beginning in 1984, Portland International began hosting the cars and stars of the PPG Indycar World Series, with Al Unser Jr. taking his first win, driving a Cosworth powered March.
Portland is best-remembered as being the site of two of the closest finishes on a road course in Indy car racing history. In 1986, Michael Andretti lost fuel pressure on the final turn of the final lap, which allowed his father Mario to catch up and beat him to the finish line by 0.070 seconds. At the time, it was the closest finish of any race in Indy car history. In 1997, in a three-wide finish, Mark Blundell beat second place Gil de Ferran by 0.027 seconds, and beat third place Raul Boesel by 0.055 seconds. For a road course race, it was the all-time closest finish in CART series history, as well as the closest three-car finish in series history.
In 1999 and 2000, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ran a race at Portland International Raceway. The race was added after the demise of the ½-mile Portland Speedway that hosted races early in the series. The 1999 running saw the first (and as of 2021, the only) time there were more than one African-Americans competing in the same NASCAR top-three division race, with Bill Lester and Bobby Norfleet on the grid.
At the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, PIR went through a track renovation. The track was repaved with new asphalt and some minor changes were made to the track layout. Turns 4-7 were widened. The fence on the inside of turn 6 was moved to provide a better sightline through the corner. Turn 7 was sharpened to slow down racers prior to entering the back straight. Formula One-style curbs were also installed on the track.[7] The track reopened on February 23, 2008, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
In September 2018, the Grand Prix of Portland returned after an 11-year hiatus, now an IndyCar Series race. The qualifying record is 0:57.3467, set by Will Power during the 2018 Grand Prix of Portland. Will Power (2019, 2024) and Álex Palou (2021, 2023) have each won twice since the race returned to the calendar.
On September 29, 2021, it was announced that the NASCAR Xfinity Series would race there in the regular season.
On December 8, 2022, it was announced that Formula E would race in there with a modified layout in the 2022–23 season instead of Brooklyn Street Circuit.[8] Nick Cassidy won the inaugural Portland ePrix in June 2023.
Lap records
[edit]The unofficial outright all-time lap record set during a race weekend is 0:55.760 seconds, set by Wayne Taylor on the old circuit layout, in an Intrepid RM-1-Chevrolet, during qualifying for the 1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix Presented by Nissan. As of August 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Portland International Raceway are listed as:
Lead contamination
[edit]40% of races at the Portland International Raceway use leaded gasoline.[47] The urban location of the track, near the Portsmouth, Kenton and Piedmont neighborhoods of Portland, OR, has raised concerns about the potential for the Raceway to contribute to lead poisoning of nearby residents and a movement to end the use of leaded fuels at the Raceway.[48]
IndyCar race history
[edit]IMSA Sports Car race history
[edit]Formula E race history
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Casey Parks (September 17, 2014). "Portland Parks & Recreation hires former Intel marketer to manage Portland International Raceway". OregonLive. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ David Malsher-Lopez (August 30, 2018). "Dixon edges Penske pair, tops Portland test". Motorsport.com.
- ^ "List of FIA licensed circuits" (PDF) (Press release). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Bengt Halvorson (April 16, 2007). "Raceway Seeks Carbon-Neutral Status". The Car Connection. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- ^ Emma Pattee and Stuart Henigson (June 21, 2023). "Revealed: a toxic metal is in a US city's air – and may be harming children's brains". The Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ a b "Portland International Raceway History". Portland International Raceway. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008.
- ^ Jeff Zurschmeide (February 15, 2008). "Track debuts smooth moves". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.
- ^ "Formula E secures IndyCar venue as New York replacement in Season 9". The Race. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Portland International Raceway - Racingcircuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Portland - Motor Sport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ "2023 Portland Indy NXT". Motor Sport Magazine. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "2018 Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Portland - Race 1 Lap Report" (PDF). 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Grand Prix of Portland GT SprintX - GT Class Round 7 - Saturday 14th July 2018 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 14 July 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Grand Prix of Portland GT SprintX Round 7 - Saturday 14th July 2018 - Sector Analysis" (PDF). 14 July 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "2018 Cooper Tires USF2000 GP of Portland - Race 1 Lap Report" (PDF). 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Trans Am West Round 5 Portland International Raceway July 26–28, 2019 Official TA TA2 GT Race Results" (PDF). 28 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "2024 Continental Tire Grand Prix Of Portland - USF Juniors - Race 3" (PDF). 24 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli July 15–17 2022 Portland International Raceway Trans Am West Round 5 All Classes Race Revised Official Results" (PDF). 21 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "2024 Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Statistics". 1 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "2019 Pirelli GT4 America West - Portland - Race 2 - Classification - Final" (PDF). 14 July 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car 2018 » Portland International Raceway Round 7 Results". 14 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "2019 Global Mazda MX5 Cup - Portland International Raceway - Race 2 Lap Report" (PDF). 1 September 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Portland 2 Hours 1992". 26 July 1992. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "2005 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 30 July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "2006 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 22 July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "American Le Mans Series Portland 2000". 10 September 2000. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "2 h 45 min Portland 1999". 1 August 1999. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "2006 Formula Atlantic Portland". 18 June 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ "1995 Portland Indy Lights". Motor Sport Magazine. 25 June 1995. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "2001 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 5 August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Portland 2 Hours 1994". 7 August 1994. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Portland 1 Hour IMSA GTS 1993". 1 August 1993. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "American Le Mans Series Portland 1999". 1 August 1999. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "1994 TRANS-AM BOX SCORES" (PDF). 25 June 1994. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "2 h 45 min Portland 2001". 5 August 2001. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Portland 1 Hour IMSA GTS 1992". 26 July 1992. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "NATCC 1996 » Portland International Raceway Round 6 Results". 22 June 1996. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Portland 300 Kilometres 1991". 28 July 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "1991 Portland Champ Cars". Motor Sport Magazine. 23 June 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "Portland [GT] 1991". 28 July 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Trans-Am Portland 1984". 16 June 1984. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Portland 100 Miles 1982". 1 August 1982. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Portland 100 Miles 1981". 2 August 1981. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Trans-Am Portland 1979". 10 June 1979. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Portland 3 Hours 1983". 31 July 1983. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Trans-Am Portland - Two Five Challenge 1972". 17 September 1972. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ Pattee, Emma; Henigson, Stuart (21 June 2023). "Revealed: a toxic metal is in a US city's air – and may be harming children's brains". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Leadfreeparks.com ENDING LEADED FUEL AT PIR". Historic Kenton. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
Further reading
[edit]- Zurschmeide, Jeffrey (2013). Portland International Raceway. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-3065-3.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Portland International Raceway official site
- Trackpedia guide to driving this track
- Friends of PIR
- Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association OMRRA
- Unofficial History of PIR
- Aerial imagery from Google Earth of Portland International Raceway as an overlay on an old photo of Vanport City, Oregon
- Short video about, and on the history, of Portland International Raceway
- Sports venues in Portland, Oregon
- Motorsport venues in Oregon
- Formula E circuits
- IndyCar Series tracks
- NASCAR tracks
- NHRA Division 6 drag racing venues
- Champ Car circuits
- American Le Mans Series circuits
- IMSA GT Championship circuits
- 1960 establishments in Oregon
- Kenton, Portland, Oregon
- Sports venues completed in 1960
- Portland ePrix