Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200

The Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 was a PPG IndyCar World Series was an IndyCar Series race held at the ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Open wheel racing in the Phoenix area dates back to 1915 (see Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200) on a dirt oval at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. The race was revived in 1950 by the AAA, and then passed to the United States Auto Club in 1956. USAC moved the race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979. During the CART years, two races were scheduled through the mid-1980s, but the track dropped down to one race per year starting in 1987. This race was the site of one of the greatest championship battles in IndyCar history in 1985 where Al Unser Jr led his father Al Unser Sr by 3 points heading into the event. After the event however Father and son finished 1st and 2nd, and the standings were flipped. Al Sr. led Al Jr. by 3 points going into the finale at Miami. It also saw a horrifying crash involving Johnny Rutherford (1980). During its time on the USAC Championship Car circuit, Phoenix International Raceway typically held two races annually, one in the spring, and one in the fall. During the CART years, two races were scheduled through the mid-1980s, but the track dropped down to one race per year starting in 1987

Arizona State Fairgrounds

 * 1954: Final 65 laps completed on November 8 due to heavy dust and the rough condition of the track.
 * 1955: Race shortened due to rough track conditions.
 * 1961: Race shortened due to darkness.
 * 1962: Race shortened due to crash.
 * Bolded driver indicates this was their first USAC Championship Car win

Phoenix International Raceway

 * = Firestone
 * = Goodyear
 * Bolded driver indicates this was the drivers first IndyCar win.

Selected race summaries

 * 1980: Johnny Rutherford led the first 37 laps, then on lap 71 was chasing leader Tom Sneva. Dicing through slower traffic, Rutherford slipped by Sneva in turn three to take the lead. He then suffered a spectacular crash. Coming out of turn four, he touched wheels with Dennis Firestone and spun into the outside wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and landed upside-down on its roll bar. Rutherford escaped with a concussion and only minor cuts and lacerations.
 * 1985: In the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, Al Unser, Sr. and Al Unser, Jr. finished 1st-2nd, and ended the day within 3 points of each other going into the season finale. The father and son battle for the 1985 championship is famous in Indy car lore.