Denver 1990-91
Circuit info:
- Circuit length:
- 1.970 miles/3.170 km
- Circuit type:
- Temporary street course
Circuit history:
A typically tight and slippery circuit (although it did boast one quick corner), Denver unusally had pits located on a corner. Slow and impossible to pass on, drivers had to jump on their brakes almost as soon as they came off each turn.
Denver was one of those rare beasts - a street race which was well-organised, well-attended and constructed on-time for the first running. Even the food was good! Spectators at the 1990 CART event had a free day on Friday practice and qualifying, which resulted in sell-out crowds on Saturday and Sunday. The local authorities and police also proved enthusiatic, so this seemed to be a race with a good future.
So how did it fail? Unfortunately, Denver is a high-altitude city, and at 5,000 ft above sea level, racing cars struggled as they overheated engines, brakes and drivers. After two victories by Al Unser Jr in Lola-Chevrolets, Denver quietly faded away.
By 2002, however, the event - if not the circuit - was revived by the Champcar series on a new course around the Pepsi Center. The race was organised by Chris Pook - famously the promotor of Long Beach - and has proved a longer-lasting success story.
- Denver streets need widening
News | 25 Mar 2002 - Denver streets to race again
News | 01 May 2001
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