Yahoo Autos This Is Every Track That Formula 1 Has Raced At In The U.S.
Lights out and away we go, but which lights?
On this year’s Formula 1 calendar, there are three different races taking place in the United States of America. It marks just the third time a single country has hosted three races in one season following Italy in 2021 and, you guessed it, the Land Of The Free back in 1982.
The U.S. has hosted Formula 1 races at way more tracks over the years. In fact, by the end of the 2023 season the U.S. will have hosted F1 races at 12 different locations, which is the highest number of different locations any country has hosted grands prix.
Read more
Peter Parker Can’t Do The ‘Wakanda Forever’ Salute In Spider-Man 2
Dancing With The Stars casting Sean Spicer is a big part of why Tom Bergeron left
Years Active: 1950-60, 2000-2007
Fastest Lap: 1:10.399 (Rubens Barrichello, 2004)
Formula 1 first started racing in America back in 1950, when the famed Indy 500 event counted in the F1 calendar. Formula 1 returned to Indiana in the 2000s, but its standing in F1 will always be marred by the 2005 event that saw just six cars start the race.
Sebring International Raceway, Florida
Years Active: 1959
Fastest Lap: 3:05.000 (Maurice Trintignant, 1959)
While it might now be known for its endurance racing events, Sebring was actually also the second American circuit to host an F1 race. It did so for just one year, when Cooper driver Bruce McLaren took the win and teammate Maurice Trintignant set the fastest lap.
Riverside International Raceway, California
Years Active: 1960
Fastest Lap: 1:56.300 (Jack Brabham, 1960)
Another year that Formula 1 hosted multiple races in America was 1960. That year, the sport hosted races at Indianapolis and the Riverside International Raceway in California. Over the course of the 3.28-mile circuit, drivers at the 1960 event took on nine corners over 75 laps.
Watkins Glen International, New York
Years Active: 1961-1980
Fastest Lap: 1:34:068 (Alan Jones, 1980)
One of the longest-standing circuits in America’s long history with Formula 1 is Watkins Glen in upstate New York. The track, which also hosts Nascar races, first opened in 1956. Over the year’s it’s gone through several layout changes, including with the addition of The Boot in 1971.
Long Beach Street Circuit, California
Years Active: 1976-1983
Fastest Lap: 1:19.830 (Nelson Piquet, 1980)
Officially called the United States Grand Prix West, the Long Beach race ran for eight seasons. Over the years, nobody managed to win the race more than once, but drivers including Mario Andretti, Alan Jones and Niki Lauda all won events.
Caesars Palace Grand Prix Circuit, Nevada
Years Active: 1981-1982
Fastest Lap: 1:19.639 (Michele Alboreto, 1982)
Formula 1 first raced in las Vegas back in the 1980s when it set up a circuit in the Caesars Palace parking lot. When F1 last raced there in 1982, it was also the last time F1 hosted three races in the U.S. over a single season.
Detroit Street Circuit, Michigan
Years Active: 1982-1988
Fastest Lap: 1:40.464 (Ayrton Senna, 1987)
As well as holding the fastest lap in Detroit, Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna also holds the record for the most wins in Detroit, with three to his name. Across the 2.5-mile circuit, drivers took on 22 corners.
Dallas Fair Park, Texas
Years Active: 1984
Fastest Lap: 1:45.353 (Niki Lauda, 1985)
For one year and one year only, Formula 1 took to Dallas for a race around the state’s Fair Park, which is usually home to the North Texas Irish Festival. The race was won by Williams racer Keke Rosberg, who finished more than 20 seconds ahead of the pack.
Phoenix Street Circuit, Arizona
Years Active: 1989-1991
Fastest Lap: 1:26.758 (Jean Alesi, 1991)
While Jean Alesi might hold the lap record around the 2.3-mile circuit, it’s Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna who gets the real bragging rights in Phoenix after wining the U.S. Grand Prix in Phoenix on two occasions.
Circuit Of The Americas, Texas
Years Active: 2012-2019, 2021 - Present
Fastest Lap: 1:36.169 (Charles Leclerc, 2019)
Some see the Circuit Of The America’s as the place F1 blossomed in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why as it’s turned up some great races in recent years. Heck, COTA even managed to spice up a season that’s been dominated by Max Verstappen.
Miami International Autodrome, Florida
Years Active: 2022 - Present
Fastest Lap: 1:29.708 (Max Verstappen, 2023)
Premiered in 2022, the Miami Grand Prix was billed as a Monaco for America. As such, it’s track is too narrow for much overtaking of note and there’s a marina for millionaires to chill out on their yachts. Except in Miami, it’s full of wood rather than actual seawater.
Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Nevada
Years Active: 2023
Fastest Lap: Probably Max Verstappen
Sure, F1 hasn’t raced here just yet, but lights will go out at the new Las Vegas street circuit in just a few weeks’ time. At the race, which will take place under the lights on Saturday night, drivers will contend with 17 corners across the 3.85-mile track.
Where Next?
That’s a lot of circuits in a lot of states, but where should F1 go next? If you could see a Formula 1 race at any street circuit or on any race track across America, where would you like to see it go?
Maybe a trip to Laguna Seca could be on the cars one day, or maybe even that genius idea for a Rikers Island Grand Prix could become a reality one day. Let us know in the comments section below where you think F1 should really race in the U.S.
More from Jalopnik
New House Speaker Mike Johnson Wants Women to Pop Out 'Able-Bodied Workers' to Fund Social Security
Paramount delays the next Mission: Impossible, which is no longer called Dead Reckoning: Part Two
Xbox Fan Uses Sexy Butt Starfield Mod To Dunk On Spider-Man 2
Sign up for Jalopnik's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
