Pikes Peak International Raceway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Pikes Peak International Raceway

D-Shaped Oval (1997–present)
Location	16650 Midway Ranch Road, Fountain, Colorado, 80817
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (UTC−06:00 DST)
Coordinates	38°35′29.85″N 104°40′34.39″W / 38.5916250°N 104.6762194°W / 38.5916250; -104.6762194
Capacity	10,000 40,000
Owner	Pikes Peak International Raceway, LLC (2008–present) International Speedway Corporation (2005–2008)
Opened	31 May 1997; 28 years ago (1997-05-31) Re-opened: 2008
Closed	August 2005; 20 years ago (2005-08)
Construction cost	$50 million
Major events	Former: IndyCar Series Honda Indy 225 (1997–2005) NASCAR Busch Series ITT Industries & Goulds Pumps Salute to the Troops 250 (1998–2005) Infiniti Pro Series (2003–2005) Star Mazda Championship (2005) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (1998–2002) Trans-Am Series (1997–1999) SpeedVision World Challenge (1997–1999) IMSA GT Championship (1997)
D-Shaped Oval (1997–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.000 mi (1.619 km)
Turns	4
Banking	10°
Race lap record	0:20.7067 ( Tony Kanaan, Dallara IR-03, 2003, IndyCar)
Road Course (1997–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.289 mi (2.074 km)
Turns	9
Race lap record	0:49.238 ( Andrea Montermini, Ferrari 333 SP, 1997, WSC)
Short Oval (1997–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	0.250 mi (0.402 km)
Turns	4

Previous logo

The Pikes Peak International Raceway (PPIR) is a cool racetrack located near Colorado Springs in Fountain, Colorado. It was once known as "the fastest 1-mile paved oval anywhere" back in 1997! This track used to host big professional races like the Indy Racing League and NASCAR events.

However, professional racing stopped at PPIR in August 2005. A new company bought the track in 2008. They decided not to host big professional races anymore. This was partly because it would cost over $1 million to make the track safe enough for those races. Today, PPIR is a busy place for many amateur racing groups and training events.

History of Racing in the Pikes Peak Area

The Pikes Peak area has a long history of racing, even before cars! In the 1800s, there were horse tracks. Then, in 1916, the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb started on the Pikes Peak Highway. Over the years, different types of tracks appeared, including dirt dragstrips and stock car tracks.

From Horse Track to Raceway

Before it became a car racing hub, the land was home to Pikes Peak Meadows. This was a horse racing track that opened in 1964. It was about 20 miles south of Colorado Springs. It even had a big, blue grandstand for spectators! Horse racing stopped there in 1993.

Just three years later, in May 1996, plans were announced to turn Pikes Peak Meadows into a major auto racing facility.

Building the Speedway

In 1997, a group of companies teamed up to build the new speedway. The track was made of asphalt and built about 6 feet below the normal ground level. The builders hoped to host a big NASCAR race very soon.

PPIR had an open house for the community on May 31, 1997. The first race on June 8 had over 16,000 people watching! The track quickly became popular, hosting its first Indy Racing League event that same year.

Changes in Ownership

The stands and part of the infield, viewed from the south

A large company called International Speedway Corporation (ISC) bought PPIR in October 2005. They paid $11 million for it. After this, racing operations were paused, and even the scoreboard was moved to another track!

ISC later sold PPIR in 2006, and the track reopened in 2008. The new owners decided to focus on other types of racing. They agreed not to host big professional auto races. This is why you won't see NASCAR or IndyCar races there today.

Current Races and Events

Even without professional races, PPIR is still a very active place! It hosts many different kinds of racing and car events.

• USAC Races: The USAC has brought its Silver Crown Series to PPIR.
• SRL Southwest Tour: This series has also held some of its biggest events at PPIR.
• Club Racing: Groups like the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) and SCCA use the track for road course races.
• Enthusiast Events: You can find track days, drifting events, and car shows happening regularly.

PPIR is also home to the largest autocross racing series in the Rocky Mountain Region, called PPIR Time Attack. In these races, drivers try to get the fastest time on different courses in the track's infield. Courses are usually short, lasting about 40 seconds to a little over a minute. Drivers get five chances to beat their best time. Cars are grouped into classes based on their weight, power, and drivetrain (like front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive).

Lap Records

Lap records are the fastest times recorded by cars during official races. As of September 2015, here are some of the fastest lap records at Pikes Peak International Raceway:

Race Winners at PPIR

Many famous drivers have won races at Pikes Peak International Raceway over the years. Here is a list of some of the winners:

PPIR race winners

Date	Series	Winning driver	Vehicle	Event
2014-09/28	SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour	Derek Thorn		SPEARS Manufacturing Colorado 100
2013-09/29	SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour	Greg Voigt		SPEARS Manufacturing Colorado 100
2013-09-27/28	NASA Rocky Mountain	Garrett Edmunds	Chevrolet
2013-06-29	USAC Silver Crown Series	Bobby East	Tony Stewart/Curb Agajanian Performance Group Chevrolet Performance/Curb Beast/Kistler	TRAXXAS USAC Silver Crown Championship "Rocky Mountain Classic" 100
2013-06-29	USAC National Midget Championship	Tracy Hines	Parker Machinery/Turbines, Inc. Spike/Stanton Toyota	Honda USAC National Midget “Rocky Mountain Classic” 25
2009-05-23	United States Late Model Association	Danny Burson
2005-08-21	IRL	Dan Wheldon	Andretti Dallara/Honda	Honda Indy 225
2005-08-21	Indy Lights	Jeff Simmons	Team ISI Dallara / Infiniti	Infiniti Pro Series Pikes Peak 100
2005-08-21	NASCAR West Series	Steve Portenga	Chevrolet	NAPA Auto Parts 150
2005-07-23	NASCAR Busch	David Green	Brewco Ford (#27)	...Salute to the Troops 250
2005-07-23	NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series	Jim Pettit, II	Ford	King Soopers Freedom 150
2005-07-03	USAC National Midget Championship USAC Western States Midget Series	Michael Lewis		Rocky Mountain Classic
2005-07-03	USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series	Dave Steele		Rocky Mountain Classic
2004-08-22	IRL	Dario Franchitti	Andretti Dallara/Honda	Honda Indy 225
2004-08-22	Indy Lights	P. J. Chesson	Pioneer Dallara / Infiniti	Infiniti Pro Series Pikes Peak 100
2004-07-31	NASCAR Busch	Greg Biffle	Ford	Gould Pumps/ITT Industries Salute to the Troops 250
2004-07-31	NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series	Eddie Hoffman		Freedom 150
2004-07-04	USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series	Jay Drake		King Soopers Rocky Mountain Classic
2004-07-04	USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series	Dave Steele		King Soopers Rocky Mountain Classic
2004-07-04	USAC National Midget Series USAC Western States Midget Series	Dave Steele		King Soopers Rocky Mountain Classic
2003-07-26	NASCAR Busch	Scott Wimmer	Chevrolet	TrimSpa Dream Body 250 presented by Dodge
2003-07-26	NASCAR International Truck & Engine Corporation Midwest Series	Steve Carlson	Chevrolet	Wright Group Event Services 150
2003-07-04	USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series	Jay Drake		Rocky Mountain Classic
2003-07-04	USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series USAC Western Sprint Car Series	Tracy Hines		Rocky Mountain Classic
2003-07-04	USAC National Midget Series USAC Western States Midget Series	Dave Steele		Rocky Mountain Classic
2003-06-15	IRL	Scott Dixon	Ganassi G-Force/Toyota	Honda Indy 225
2003-06-14	Indy Lights	Aaron Fike	RFMS Dallara / Infiniti	Infiniti Pro Series Pikes Peak 100
2002-07-27	NASCAR Busch	Hank Parker Jr.	Dodge	NetZero 250
2002-07-27	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Tim Schendel	Chevrolet	Rent-Rite West 150
2002-06-16	IRL	Gil de Ferran	Penske Dallara/Chevrolet	Radisson Indy 225
2002-06-16	USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series	Brian Tyler
2002-05-19	NASCAR Truck	Mike Bliss	Xpress Chevrolet (#16)	Rocky Mountain 200
2002-05-19	NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series	Eddy McKean	Pontiac	Pikes Peak 100
2001-07-28	NASCAR Busch	Jeff Purvis	Chevrolet	NAPA Auto Care 250
2001-07-28	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Jon Lemke	Chevrolet	Rent-Rite West 150
2001-06-17	IRL	Buddy Lazier	Hemelgarn Dallara/Oldsmobile	Radisson Indy 200
2001-06-17	USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series	Dave Steele
2001-06-16	Supermodified Racing League	Troy Regler		Pikes Peak 25
2001	NASCAR Truck	Joe Ruttman	Dodge	Jelly Belly 200
2001-05-20	NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series	Craig Raudman	Chevrolet	Sunstate Equipment Company 100
2000-07-22	NASCAR Busch	Jeff Green	Chevrolet	NAPA Auto Care 250
2000-07-22	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Travis Kvapil	Chevrolet	Jensen Audio 150
2000-06-18	IRL	Eddie Cheever	Cheever Dallara/Infiniti	Radisson 200
2000-06-18	USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Car Series USAC MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car Series	Ryan Newman
2000-05-21	NASCAR Truck	Greg Biffle	Ford	Grainger.com 200
2000-05-21	NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series	Ross Thompson	Chevrolet	Sunstate Equipment Company 100
1999-08-29	IRL	Greg Ray	Menard Dallara/Oldsmobile	Radisson 200
1999-08-29	USAC MCI WorldCom National Midget Car Series USAC MCI WorldCom Western Midget Car Series Ryan Newman
1999-07-24	NASCAR Busch	Andy Santerre	Chevrolet	NAPA Auto Care 250
1999-07-24	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Travis Kvapil	Chevrolet	Jensen 150
1999-06-27	USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series	Tracy Hines		Rocky Mountain Classic
1999-05-16	NASCAR Truck	Mike Wallace	Ford	NAPA 300K
1999-05-16	NASCAR West	Mike Wallace	Ford	King Soopers 150
1998-09-27	USAC Western Sprint Car Series	Tony Hunt
1998-08-16	IRL	Kenny Bräck	Foyt Dallara/Oldsmobile	Radisson 200
1998-08-15	ASA AC-Delco Challenge Series	Mike Garvey	Pontiac	Cornwall Tools 200
1998-07-26	NASCAR West	Kevin Harvick	Chevrolet	Kidde Safety Safety 200
1998-07-26	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Rick Carelli	Chevrolet	Pikes Peak 150
1998-07-25	NASCAR Truck	Ron Hornaday Jr.	Chevrolet	Tempus Resorts 300K
1998-07-14	NASCAR Busch	Matt Kenseth	Chevrolet	Lycos.com 250
1998-07-12	USAC Silver Crown Series	John Heydenreich		Rocky Mountain Classic
1998-07-12	ARCA Bondo Mar-Hyde Series	Tim Steele	Ford	Pikes Peak ARCA 150
1998-07-12	USAC National Midget Car Series USAC Western States Midget Series	Jason Leffler	Nine Racing	Rocky Mountain Classic
1998-06-13	NASCAR RE/MAX Challenge Series	Jim Inglebright	Chevrolet	Cornwell Tools 150
1997-08-17	AMA Superbike	Miguel Duhamel	Honda	MBNA Superbike Final
1997-08-17	AMA Superbike	Rich Oliver	Yamaha	ELF Fuels and Lubricants 250 Grand Prix
1997-08-17	AMA Superbike	Jason Pridmore	Suzuki	Teamline 750 Supersport
1997-08-17	AMA Superbike	Nate Wait	Harley Davidson	Progressive Insurance H-D Supertwins Final
1997-08-17	AMA Superbike	Paul Harrell	Yamaha	Pirelli Formula XTreme Final
1997-07-27	NASCAR Winston West	Michael Waltrip	Ford	NASCAR 500K
1997-07-27	USAC Western Sprint Car Series	Kevin Urton
1997-06-29	IRL	Tony Stewart	Menard G-Force/Oldsmobile	Samsonite 200
1997-06-08	USAC Silver Crown Series	Kenny Irwin, Jr		Rocky Mountain Classic
1997-06-08	USAC National Midget Championship USAC Western States Midget Series	Ryan Newman		Rocky Mountain Classic