Portland International Raceway

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.

Portland International Raceway

Portland International Raceway via the USGS satellite imagery
LocationPortland, Oregon, U.S.
Time zoneGMT−8
Coordinates45°35′49″N 122°41′45″W
Capacity30,000
FIA Grade2
OwnerCity of Portland
OperatorE. C. Mueller[1]
Opened1960
Major eventsCurrent:
Formula E
Portland ePrix (2023)
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
(1986, 2009–2012, 2021–present)
Former:
IMSA Portland Grand Prix
(1978–1994, 1999–2001, 2004–2006)
Pirelli World Challenge
Rose Cup Races
(2001, 2004–2005, 2018–2019)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
LINE-X 225
(1999–2000)
AMA Superbike Championship (1983–1984)
Websitewww.portlandraceway.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present)
SurfaceAsphalt/concrete
Length1.967[2] miles (3.166 km)
Turns12
Race lap record0:58.7403 (Colombia Carlos Muñoz, Dallara DW12, 2018, IndyCar)
Grand Prix Circuit (1992–2007)
SurfaceAsphalt/concrete
Length1.944 miles (3.129 km)
Turns12
Race lap record0.59.259 (Australia Will Power, Lola B02/00, 2006, Champ Car)
Grand Prix Circuit (1984–1991)
SurfaceAsphalt/concrete
Length1.922 miles (3.093 km)
Turns12
Race lap record0:57.626 (South Africa Wayne Taylor, Intrepid RM-1, 1991, IMSA GTP)
Grand Prix Circuit (1971–1983)
SurfaceAsphalt/concrete
Length1.915 miles (3.082 km)
Turns9
Race lap record1:04.860 (United Kingdom John Fitzpatrick, Porsche 935 K4, 1982, IMSA GTP)

The track hosts the IndyCar Series, ICSCC and SCCA and OMRRA road racing, the NASCAR K&N Pro 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.

Entrance to Portland International Raceway

The road course is almost perfectly flat and runs clockwise. Two track configurations are possible. One includes a hard chicane at the end of the front straight and involves 12 turns alength of 1.945 mi (3.130 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]

The City of Portland is working to establish the track as carbon neutral.[4]

History

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",[5] 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.[5]

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.

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.[6] 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. The qualifying record is 0:57.3467, set by Will Power during the 2018 Grand Prix of Portland.

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.[7][8]

Lap records

The unofficial outright all-time lap record set during a race weekend is 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 June 2022, the fastest official race lap records at Portland International Raceway are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.166 km (2008–present)
IndyCar0:58.7403 Carlos MuñozDallara DW122018 Grand Prix of Portland
Indy Lights1:03.1665[9]Rinus VeeKayDallara IL-152019 Indy Lights Grand Prix of Portland
Indy Pro 20001:07.1597[10][11]Rinus VeeKayTatuus PM-182018 Pro Mazda Grand Prix of Portland
US F20001:11.2101[12][13]Kyle KirkwoodTatuus USF-172018 US F2000 Grand Prix of Portland
TCR Touring Car1:18.770[14]Michael James LewisHyundai i30 N TCR2018 Portland Pirelli World Challenge round
Stock car racing1:21.883[15]Myatt SniderChevrolet Camaro SS2022 Pacific Office Automation 147
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.129 km (1992–2007)
Champ Car0:59.259Will PowerLola B02/002006 Grand Prix of Portland
CART1:00.801Bruno JunqueiraLola B02/002002 G.I. Joe's 200
IMSA GTPP1:02.067[16]P. J. JonesEagle MkIII1992 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix Presented by Nissan
LMP11:04.271[17]Andy WallaceMG-Lola EX2572005 Portland Grand Prix
LMP21:04.488[18]Lucas LuhrPorsche RS Spyder2006 Portland Grand Prix
LMP9001:04.909[19]Emanuele PirroAudi R82000 Rose City Grand Prix
LMP1:05.451[20]J.J. LehtoBMW V12 LMR1999 Rose City Grand Prix
Formula Atlantic1:05.680[21]Joe D´AgostinoSwift 016.a2006 Portland Formula Atlantic round
Indy Lights1:06.572[22]Greg MooreLola T93/201995 Portland Indy Lights round
GT1 (GTS)1:08.595[17]Oliver GavinChevrolet Corvette C6.R2005 Portland Grand Prix
LMP6751:09.394[23]Didier de RadiguesReynard 01Q2001 Grand Prix of Portland
WSC1:09.595[24]Fermin VelezFerrari 333 SP1994 Grand Prix of Portland
IMSA GTP Lights1:10.849[16]Parker JohnstoneSpice SE91P1992 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix Presented by Nissan
GTS1:11.475[25]Darin BrassfieldOldsmobile Cutlass1993 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
GT2 (GTS)1:12.219[26]Olivier BerettaDodge Viper GTS-R1999 Rose City Grand Prix
GT21:12.931[18]Jaime MeloFerrari F430 GTC2006 Portland Grand Prix
Trans-Am1:13.992[27]Scott PruettChevrolet Camaro1994 Portland Trans-Am round
GT1:14.392[28]Boris SaidBMW M3 GTR2001 Grand Prix of Portland
IMSA GTO1:14.613[25]Brian DeVriesOldsmobile Cutlass1993 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
Pickup truck racing1:16.776[29]Greg BiffleFord F-1502000 LINE-X 225
IMSA GTU1:17.355[30]John FergusDodge Daytona1992 G.I. Joe's Camel Gran Prix Presented by Nissan
Super Touring1:20.227[31]Randy PobstHonda Accord1996 Portland NATCC round
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.093 km (1984–1991)[32]
IMSA GTP0:57.626[33]Wayne TaylorIntrepid RM-11991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
CART1:00.058[34]Michael AndrettiLola T91/001991 Budweiser/G.I.Joe's 200
IMSA GTO1:02.772[35]Dorsey SchroederFord Mustang1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTP Lights1:03.495[33]Ruggero MelgratiSpice SE89P1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
IMSA AAC1:07.996[35]Tommy RigginsOldsmobile Cutlass1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTU1:08.872[35]John FergusDodge Daytona1991 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
Trans-Am1:11.090[36]Greg PickettMercury Capri1984 Portland 200
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.082 km (1971–1983)
IMSA GTP1:04.860[37]John FitzpatrickPorsche 935 K41982 G.I. Joe's/Toyota Grand Prix
IMSA GTX1:06.140[38]John Paul, Jr.Lola T6001981 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
TO1:08.170[39]John PaulPorsche 935 JLP-11979 Portland Trans-Am round
IMSA GTO1:10.540[37]Don DevendorfNissan 280ZX Turbo1982 G.I. Joe's/Toyota Grand Prix
Group 41:11.920[38]Dave CowartBMW M11981 G.I. Joe's/Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTU1:13.780[40]Bob BergstromPorsche 924 Carrera GTR1983 G.I. Joe's Grand Prix
TU1:21.330[41]Lee MidgleyAlfa Romeo GTV1972 Portland Trans-Am round

IndyCar race history
Main article: Grand Prix of Portland

IMSA Sports Car race history
Main article: Portland Grand Prix

Formula E race history
Main article: Portland ePrix

See also

References
  1. Casey Parks (September 17, 2014). "Portland Parks & Recreation hires former Intel marketer to manage Portland International Raceway". OregonLive. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. David Malsher-Lopez (August 30, 2018). "Dixon edges Penske pair, tops Portland test". Motorsport.com.
  3. "List of FIA licensed circuits" (PDF) (Press release). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  4. Bengt Halvorson (April 16, 2007). "Raceway Seeks Carbon-Neutral Status". The Car Connection. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  5. "Portland International Raceway History". Portland International Raceway. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008.
  6. Jeff Zurschmeide (February 15, 2008). "Track debuts smooth moves". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.
  7. "Formula E heading for Portland, Oregon in Season 9". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  8. "Formula E secures IndyCar venue as New York replacement in Season 9". The Race. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. "2019 Portland Indy Lights - Round 16". Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  10. "2018 Pro Mazda Portland Race 1 Statistics". Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  11. "2023 USF Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires Current Track Records". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. "2018 U.S. F2000 Portland Race 1 Statistics". Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  13. "2023 USF2000 Presented by Cooper Tires Current Track Records". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  14. "Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car 2018 » Portland International Raceway Round 7 Results". Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  15. "2022 Portland NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Statistics". Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  16. "Portland 2 Hours 1992". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  17. "2005 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). 30 July 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  18. "2006 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). 22 July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  19. "American Le Mans Series Portland 2000". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  20. "2 h 45 min Portland 1999". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  21. "2006 Formula Atlantic Portland". Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  22. "1995 Portland Indy Lights". Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  23. "2001 RACE RESULTS - OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). 5 August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  24. "Portland 2 Hours 1994". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  25. "Portland 1 Hour IMSA GTS 1993". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  26. "AMeriacn Le Mans Series Portland 1999". Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  27. "1994 TRANS-AM BOX SCORES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  28. "2 h 45 min Portland 2001". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  29. "Portland starting line up". 23 April 2000. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  30. "Portland 1 Hour IMSA GTS 1992". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  31. "NATCC 1996 » Portland International Raceway Round 6 Results". Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  32. "Portland - Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  33. "Portland 300 Kilometres 1991". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  34. "1991 Portland Champ Cars". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  35. "Portland [GT] 1991". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  36. "Trans-Am Portland 1984". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  37. "Portland 100 Miles 1982". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  38. "Portland 100 Miles 1981". Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  39. "Trans-Am Portland 1979". Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  40. "Portland 3 Hours 1983". Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  41. "Trans-Am Portland - Two Five Challenge 1972". Retrieved 30 January 2023.

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