Illinois GP

The Bommarito Automotive Group 500 appeared on the IndyCar (then-CART) calendar in 1997. The Motorola 300, as it was called at the time, was the first major event at the newly constructed facility in Madison, Illinois. CART organizers originally scheduled it for the day before the Indianapolis 500. A few drivers competed in both events on one Memorial Day weekend.

Paul Tracy took the lead with two laps to go and won the opening event at World Wide Technology Raceway. Alex Zanardi, who finished third in that first race in 1997, won the following year by holding off 1991 champion Michael Andretti. The last race held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend was in 1998, when Andretti broke a 23-race winless streak by taking the top spot.

Starting in 2000, the race was moved to later in the calendar to September. The final race under the CART series saw polesitter Juan Pablo Montoya take the win. At an average speed of 155 mph, this was by far the fastest event yet by the series at the track.

Under the Indy Racing League series in 2001, the race changed to 200 laps (250 miles) and moved to late August. Two-time champion Al Unser Jr. won after a battle with Sam Hornish Jr. The following year saw Penske teammates Gil de Ferran and Hélio Castroneves lead more than three-quarters of the 200 laps. De Ferran would take the win after passing Castroneves as they made their way through lapped traffic.

Castroneves would get redemption the following season, winning the 2003 race marked by a pit lane crash that injured a mechanic. Bryan Herta hit Buddy Lazier as he left the pits and slid into Anton Julian, the left-rear tire changer for Al Unser Jr.’s pit crew. Julian suffered a knee injury, concussion, and a cut on his head. Following the race, the event went on hiatus until 2017.

IndyCar returned to the track in late August 2017 to packed grandstands. Team Penske dominated that return race, with their drivers leading 235 of 248 laps. Two-time champion Josef Newgarden passed teammate and 2016 champion Simon Pagenaud heading into turn 1.

Newgarden’s win in 2017 kicked off a run of success for Team Penske in Madison. Two-time champion Will Power won in 2018, and Newgarden won the second race of a 2020 doubleheader. The latter also won in 2021 and 2022, giving the team five wins in seven IndyCar races since the series returned.

Newgarden holds the record for most wins at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 with four.

The excitement continues to build as IndyCar fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming Bommarito Automotive Group 500 in Madison, Illinois. With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1997, this event has become a staple on the racing calendar.

As the race draws near, enthusiasts and bettors alike are keeping a close eye on the 2023 Illinois GP Odds, looking for insights and predictions that could potentially make this year’s event even more thrilling. From past champions to rising stars, the stage is set for another exhilarating showdown that showcases the best of IndyCar racing. Stay tuned for more IndyCar news and updates leading up to this highly-anticipated race.