IndyCar Sonsio Grand Prix

The Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America is the eighth round of the 2023 IndyCar Series season. It occurs on one of the oldest road racing courses in the U.S. Road America.

It first held an IndyCar race in 1982, making it one of the more senior races on the calendar. It’s also one of the most extended courses on the schedule. The length, high speeds, and mix of corners make it an exciting race for drivers and fans alike.

The Sonsio Grand Prix at Road America first appeared on the IndyCar (then-CART) calendar in 1982. Mexican driver Héctor Rebaque won the first race in his only career CART/IndyCar victory.

Road America was one of many races added to IndyCar during the 1980s, like Detroit and Long Beach. It quickly became a popular event due to the competitive races and the scenic track. It was typically held in August or September in the early years, making it a pivotal round for the championship.

Mario Andretti won three of the following five races, including his championship season in 1984. The 1986 race is the only event with a different start and finish date. It began on September 21 but, due to rain, stopped the race three laps in. The remaining 47 laps were run on October 4, with 1989 champion Emerson Fittipal winning.

The race at Road America has become the place for many drivers to notch their first IndyCar victory. In addition to Rebaque, Jacques Villeneuve (uncle to the IndyCar and Formula 1 champion) won his first and only IndyCar race in 1985. Jacques Villeneuve, the 1995 champion and 1997 Formula 1 champion, took his first IndyCar win at Road America in 1994. First-time winners at the track later included four-time champion Dario Franchitti (1998), Christian Fittipaldi (1999), Bruno Junqueira (2001), Alex Tagliani (2004), and Felix Rosenqvist (2020).

Then-CART officials sued the promoters of the Road America race in 2003 over unpaid fees. This led to the race being canceled by CART. Drivers and fans alike were unhappy with that result, given the race’s popularity. Andretti later stepped in to help both CART and track officials agree to a race for 2003, which they did in time for it to make it on the calendar. The event was called the “Mario Andretti Grand Prix at Road America” in his honor.

Lowering attendance and lack of sponsorship led to the race being left off the 2005 schedule. Races returned in 2006 and 2007 before a long-term hiatus. Sébastien Bourdais’ win in 2007 would be the last CART race before unification with IndyCar left Road America out.

The race returned in 2016 to great success. Two-time champion Will Power took the win for Team Penske to kick off the latest run of races at Road America. In 2020, the race was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was made into a doubleheader.

Though it’s a fun race for fans and drivers alike, it can be dangerous. The event’s seen multiple high-speed crashes. A.J. Foyt nearly ended his career due to leg and ankle injuries suffered in a collision off-turn one in 1990. Christiano da Matta hit a deer during a test session in 2006 and suffered a subdural hematoma. Later that year during the race, Katherine Legge’s car lost its rear wing going into turn 11, flipping it into the catch fence.

Three drivers are tied with the most wins at Road America: Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, and Emerson Fittipaldi all have three.