Milwaukee Mile
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Mile is a 1 miles (1.6 km)-long oval race track
in West Allis, Wisconsin
that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954.
The Milwaukee Mile’s premier distinction is as the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, hosting at least one auto race every year since 1903 (except during U.S. involvement in World War II). The track is located at the grounds for the Wisconsin State Fair
. The track has held events sanctioned by major sanctioning bodies, such as the American Automobile Association
, USAC
, NASCAR
, CART
/Champ Car World Series, and the IndyCar Series
. There have also been many races in regional series such as ARTGO
.
Racers who have competed at the track are a Who's-Who of racing history: Barney Oldfield
, Ralph DePalma
, Walt Faulkner
, Parnelli Jones
, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser
, Bobby Unser
, Mario Andretti
, Bobby Rahal
, Jim Clark
, Darrell Waltrip
, Alan Kulwicki
, Emerson Fittipaldi
, Bobby Allison
, Davey Allison
, Nigel Mansell
, Michael Andretti
, Alex Zanardi
, Harry Gant
, Rusty Wallace
, and Walker Evans
, as well as current racing stars Danica Patrick
, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
, Dario Franchitti
, Jeff Gordon
, Tony Kanaan
, Scott Dixon
, Hélio Castroneves
and many others.
On December 16, 2009, Wisconsin State Fair Park officials confirmed that the Milwaukee Mile would not host any NASCAR or IndyCar races in 2010. NASCAR confirmed that their June Nationwide Series date would remain in Wisconsin for 2010, as they announced they would hold a race at Road America
for the first time since the Grand National Series raced there in 1956. NASCAR announced on January 20, 2010 that the Milwaukee date for the Truck Series would be moved to August and that the series would return to Darlington Raceway
for the first time since 2004. The track hosted two ASA Late Model Series
races in 2010. IndyCar returned to the track in 2011.
(which it still is).
The first motorsports event was held on September 11, 1903. William Jones of Chicago won a five lap speed contest, and set the first track record with a 72 second, 50 mi/h lap. There were 24-hour endurance races in 1907 and 1908. Louis Disbrow won the first 100 miles (160.9 km) event in 1915, averaging 62.5 mi/h.
Barney Oldfield
's success at The Mile helped make him a legend. He set the track record in 1905 and raised his speed in 1910 to 70.159 mi/h in his "Blitzen Benz". In 1911, Ralph DePalma
won the first Milwaukee Mile Championship Car race, four years before his Indianapolis 500
win. Oldfield drove a gold car built by Harry Miller that completely enclosed the driver (called the "Golden Submarine
"), and in June 1917 he beat DePalma in a series of 10 to 25 miles (40.2 km) match races.
The race usually credited as being the first Champ Car event at the track was held on July 17, 1933. The show was rained out. Wilbur Shaw
and the other drivers convinced the track promoters to run the race the following day and the term "Rain Date" was born.
Huge new grandstands were installed in the 1930s, with seating for 14900 people. They replaced the original grandstands that were built in 1914. A roof was placed over the grandstands in 1938. These grandstands stood until new aluminum grandstands were installed in September 2002.
The 1937 Champ Car event was best known for running 96 laps (instead of 100) due to a scoring error. It was won by Rex Mays
, who continued his domination throughout the 1940s by winning in 1941 and the next race (after World War II) in 1946.
The tradition of hosting the "race after the Indianapolis 500" began in 1947.
The Milwaukee Mile held more national Championship midget, stock and Indy car races than any other track in the country between 1947 and 1980.
In 1963 Jim Clark
won the first victory for a rear-engined Indy Car in his Lotus
-Ford
.
In 1964 A.J. Foyt dominated in what was to be his final race in a roadster. The rear-engine began dominating races in the 1960s, replacing the front-engine roadster, but not before one unexpected race. In 1965 A.J. Foyt had to tow his front-engine backup dirt car from Springfield because his primary car and crew wouldn't make it to Milwaukee in time for qualifying. He prepared the car himself for pavement, and put the car on the pole with a speed of 107.881 mi/h. He led for 16 of 200 laps, and finished second.
The track was repaved before the 1967 season. By 1967 both the 1/4 dirt track and 1/2 mile road course were closed to accommodate the pit area. Lloyd Ruby
swept both USAC
races held at Milwaukee in 1968, giving him three wins at the Mile including his first win there in 1961.
In the 1983 CART race, Tom Sneva
finished first by 10 seconds. Post race inspection found an improper ground clearance on the side mount skirts, so second place finisher Al Unser
was given the win. On appeal, the decision was overturned, and Sneva was awarded the win two weeks later. Sneva would repeat the win one year later in a new 200 kilometer race.
The last sports car
race was held on the infield road course on June 16, 1984. The track had deteriorated. It was repaved before October 2004.
In the 1985 CART event, Mario Andretti
won the pole on his way to his fourth career track win. His son Michael
won the next two races in 1986 and 1987.
Al Unser Jr. won the 1990 CART race after Michael Andretti
ran out of fuel with two laps to go. The victory was the ninth for the Unser family (father Al Unser, Sr.
and uncle Bobby Unser
each have four).
The 1991 CART event, however, was dominated by their archrival Andretti family. For the first time in the worldwide history of auto racing, three member of the same family finished 1–2–3. Michael Andretti won the race, second went to his cousin John
, and third to his father Mario. Michael's brother Jeff
finished 11th.
Milwaukee was in danger of losing its CART date in 1992. To save the date, the Fair Board hired Carl Haas
to organize all track activities.
The 1992 CART event was again won by Michael Andretti. In 1993, reigning Formula One
champion Nigel Mansell
got his first oval track win on his way to winning the CART championship. In 2000, Juan Pablo Montoya
gave Toyota its first CART win. History was made again when Ryan Hunter-Reay
led all of 250 laps to the victory. The final Champ Car
race was held in 2006, with eventual champion Sébastien Bourdais
winning.
The Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
came to the mile in 2004. Dario Franchitti
won the inaugural event. His team, Andretti Green Racing
has won three out of six races at the mile with the other two being won by Penske Racing
drivers Sam Hornish Jr. in 2005 and Ryan Briscoe
in 2008 and Chip Ganassi Racing
driver Scott Dixon
in 2009.
held two Nationwide Series (formerly Busch Series) stock car races at Milwaukee in 1984 and 1985. The 1984 field was full of NASCAR legends: Alan Kulwicki
(2nd), Dick Trickle
(3rd), Bobby Allison
(4th), Davey Allison
(5th), Dale Jarrett
(6th), and Darrell Waltrip
(25th). The 1984 race was won by Sam Ard
.
On July 3, 1993, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returned to Milwaukee. The event was won by Steve Grissom
. In 1996 Wisconsin native Dick Trickle
was passed with four laps to go by Buckshot Jones
, who nosed out Mike McLaughlin and won the race from the furthest starting spot (32nd) and by the closest margin of victory in race and NASCAR Nationwide Series history (.002 seconds). The Nationwide Series has run every year since 1993. Five drivers that won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee went on to win the Busch Series championship in the same year (Steve Grissom
-1993, Randy LaJoie
-1997, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
-1998, Jeff Green
-2000, Greg Biffle
-2002). Biffle became the first repeat winner when he scored back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2002. Despite Trickle having come the closest previously, the last two NASCAR Nationwide Series races have been won by Wisconsin natives (Johnny Sauter
/Necedah-2005 and Paul Menard
/Eau Claire-2006). Menard also became the third driver to make the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee his first career NASCAR Busch Series win, joining Buckshot Jones
in 1996 and Casey Atwood
in 1999.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series) (CTS) began racing at Milwaukee in its inaugural season in 1995. Mike Skinner
won the event. The 1996 event featured 17 lead changes. The CTS has returned every season since 1995. Ted Musgrave
became the only repeat winner as he followed up victory in 2001 with a second triumph in 2004, both behind the wheel of the #1 Mopar Performance Parts Dodge for Jim Smith and Ultra Motorsports. Musgrave is also the only Wisconsin native to have won the race. Two drivers have the distinction of having won both a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and a NASCAR Busch Series race at Milwaukee. Ron Hornaday
won in Truck race in 1996 and the Busch race in 2004, while Greg Biffle won the Truck race in 1999 and the Busch race in 2001 and 2002.
The track was resurfaced after the 1995 season.
In 2003 temporary Musco lights
were brought in for the Champ Car World Series event. The temporary lights were also used for the CTS and Busch Series events in 2005 and 2006. The following is a map of Milwaukee Mile:
IndyCar Series/Champ Car World Series
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
in West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was...
that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954.
The Milwaukee Mile’s premier distinction is as the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, hosting at least one auto race every year since 1903 (except during U.S. involvement in World War II). The track is located at the grounds for the Wisconsin State Fair
Wisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair is an annual event held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The modern fair takes place in August and lasts 11 days.-History:...
. The track has held events sanctioned by major sanctioning bodies, such as the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
, USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, CART
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
/Champ Car World Series, and the IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
. There have also been many races in regional series such as ARTGO
ARTGO
The ARTGO Challenge Series was a United States midwest late model short track racing series that ran from 1975 until 1998. Many race car drivers have used the ARTGO series as a stepping stone to get into ASA, ARCA, and NASCAR. A guy by the name of Art Frigo created the series with the help of Bob...
.
Racers who have competed at the track are a Who's-Who of racing history: Barney Oldfield
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
, Ralph DePalma
Ralph DePalma
Ralph De Palma was an Italian-American racecar driving champion, most notably winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2000 races...
, Walt Faulkner
Walt Faulkner
Walt Faulkner was an American racing driver from Tell, Texas, who moved to Milledgeville, Georgia at the age of two-and-a-half, and to Lake Wales, Florida at the age of eight. He then moved to Los Angeles, California in 1936. Faulkner competed mainly in the National Championship and in stock car...
, Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones
Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in a turbine car...
, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser
Al Unser
Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
, Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
, Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
, Bobby Rahal
Bobby Rahal
Robert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
, Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
, Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
, Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
, Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi
Emerson Fittipaldi |São Paulo]], Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver who throughout a long and successful career won the Indianapolis 500 twice and championships in both Formula One and CART.-Early and personal life:...
, Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, Davey Allison
Davey Allison
David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
, Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
, Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
, Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and paracyclist.He won two CART championship titles in North America during the late 1990s. He also had a less successful career as a Formula One driver...
, Harry Gant
Harry Gant
Harry Phil Gant is a retired American racecar driver best known for driving the #33 Skoal Bandit car on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit during the 1980s and 1990s.-Nicknames:...
, Rusty Wallace
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
, and Walker Evans
Walker Evans (racer)
Roger Walker Evans is an Off-road Motorsports Hall of Famer . He was also a driver and owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Walker Evans is nicknamed "the Legend". Walker is the father of off-road racer Evan Evans...
, as well as current racing stars Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
, Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
, Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
, Tony Kanaan
Tony Kanaan
Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho, commonly known as Tony Kanaan is a Brazilian race car driver of Lebanese heritage. Kanaan won the 2004 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series championship driving Andretti Green Racing's 7-Eleven sponsored car, winning three times in his Honda-powered Dallara...
, Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon
Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...
, Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
and many others.
On December 16, 2009, Wisconsin State Fair Park officials confirmed that the Milwaukee Mile would not host any NASCAR or IndyCar races in 2010. NASCAR confirmed that their June Nationwide Series date would remain in Wisconsin for 2010, as they announced they would hold a race at Road America
Road America
Road America is a road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin on Wisconsin Highway 67. It has hosted races since the 1950s and currently hosts races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series , American Le Mans , SCCA Speed World Challenge Series, ASRA, and AMA Superbike series.- Current track and...
for the first time since the Grand National Series raced there in 1956. NASCAR announced on January 20, 2010 that the Milwaukee date for the Truck Series would be moved to August and that the series would return to Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
for the first time since 2004. The track hosted two ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
races in 2010. IndyCar returned to the track in 2011.
Dirt track history
The track started out as a one-mile (1.6 km) private horse racing track on or before 1876. In 1891, the site was purchased by the Agricultural Society of the State of Wisconsin to create a permanent site for the Wisconsin State FairWisconsin State Fair
The Wisconsin State Fair is an annual event held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. The modern fair takes place in August and lasts 11 days.-History:...
(which it still is).
The first motorsports event was held on September 11, 1903. William Jones of Chicago won a five lap speed contest, and set the first track record with a 72 second, 50 mi/h lap. There were 24-hour endurance races in 1907 and 1908. Louis Disbrow won the first 100 miles (160.9 km) event in 1915, averaging 62.5 mi/h.
Barney Oldfield
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
's success at The Mile helped make him a legend. He set the track record in 1905 and raised his speed in 1910 to 70.159 mi/h in his "Blitzen Benz". In 1911, Ralph DePalma
Ralph DePalma
Ralph De Palma was an Italian-American racecar driving champion, most notably winner of the 1915 Indianapolis 500. His entry at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame estimates that he won about 2000 races...
won the first Milwaukee Mile Championship Car race, four years before his Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
win. Oldfield drove a gold car built by Harry Miller that completely enclosed the driver (called the "Golden Submarine
Golden Submarine
The Golden Submarine was an early twentieth century streamlined race car designed and built in 1917 by Fred Offenhauser and Harry A. Miller for Barney Oldfield...
"), and in June 1917 he beat DePalma in a series of 10 to 25 miles (40.2 km) match races.
The race usually credited as being the first Champ Car event at the track was held on July 17, 1933. The show was rained out. Wilbur Shaw
Wilbur Shaw
Warren Wilbur Shaw was a noted American racing driver and president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1945 until his death. Shaw was the automotive test evaluator for Popular Science magazine...
and the other drivers convinced the track promoters to run the race the following day and the term "Rain Date" was born.
Huge new grandstands were installed in the 1930s, with seating for 14900 people. They replaced the original grandstands that were built in 1914. A roof was placed over the grandstands in 1938. These grandstands stood until new aluminum grandstands were installed in September 2002.
The 1937 Champ Car event was best known for running 96 laps (instead of 100) due to a scoring error. It was won by Rex Mays
Rex Mays
Rex Mays is a former AAA Championship Car race driver from Riverside, California. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1934 and won the pole in 1935, 1936, and again in 1940 and finished second, he returned the next year and finished second again. Mays won the AAA National Championship in 1940...
, who continued his domination throughout the 1940s by winning in 1941 and the next race (after World War II) in 1946.
The tradition of hosting the "race after the Indianapolis 500" began in 1947.
The Milwaukee Mile held more national Championship midget, stock and Indy car races than any other track in the country between 1947 and 1980.
Open Wheel
In 1954 the 1 miles (1.6 km) track was paved, and an infield road course was created. The 1/4 mile dirt infield track was kept for weekly programs during the 1950s and 1960s.In 1963 Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
won the first victory for a rear-engined Indy Car in his Lotus
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
-Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
.
In 1964 A.J. Foyt dominated in what was to be his final race in a roadster. The rear-engine began dominating races in the 1960s, replacing the front-engine roadster, but not before one unexpected race. In 1965 A.J. Foyt had to tow his front-engine backup dirt car from Springfield because his primary car and crew wouldn't make it to Milwaukee in time for qualifying. He prepared the car himself for pavement, and put the car on the pole with a speed of 107.881 mi/h. He led for 16 of 200 laps, and finished second.
The track was repaved before the 1967 season. By 1967 both the 1/4 dirt track and 1/2 mile road course were closed to accommodate the pit area. Lloyd Ruby
Lloyd Ruby
Lloyd Ruby was an American racecar driver.Ruby raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1958-1977 seasons, with 177 career starts, including every Indianapolis 500 race during 1960-1977. He finished in the top ten 88 times, with 7 victories. His best Indy finish was 3rd in 1964...
swept both USAC
USAC
USAC may refer to:* Unified Speech and Audio Coding, an audio compression scheme and MPEG-4 Audio Object Type* United States Army Cadet Corps, a non-profit youth education organization...
races held at Milwaukee in 1968, giving him three wins at the Mile including his first win there in 1961.
In the 1983 CART race, Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva
Tom Sneva is a former Indy Car driver who was named to the prestigious Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005. Sneva is best remembered for winning the 1983 Indianapolis 500. Nicknamed "The Gas Man," Sneva was an outstanding qualifier, winning the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 three...
finished first by 10 seconds. Post race inspection found an improper ground clearance on the side mount skirts, so second place finisher Al Unser
Al Unser
Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
was given the win. On appeal, the decision was overturned, and Sneva was awarded the win two weeks later. Sneva would repeat the win one year later in a new 200 kilometer race.
The last sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
race was held on the infield road course on June 16, 1984. The track had deteriorated. It was repaved before October 2004.
In the 1985 CART event, Mario Andretti
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
won the pole on his way to his fourth career track win. His son Michael
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
won the next two races in 1986 and 1987.
Al Unser Jr. won the 1990 CART race after Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
ran out of fuel with two laps to go. The victory was the ninth for the Unser family (father Al Unser, Sr.
Al Unser
Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
and uncle Bobby Unser
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
each have four).
The 1991 CART event, however, was dominated by their archrival Andretti family. For the first time in the worldwide history of auto racing, three member of the same family finished 1–2–3. Michael Andretti won the race, second went to his cousin John
John Andretti
John Andretti is an American race car driver. He has won in CART, IMSA GTP, Rolex Sports Car Series and NASCAR. He was the last NASCAR driver to win a Cup race for the famous Petty Enterprises team.-Andretti family:...
, and third to his father Mario. Michael's brother Jeff
Jeff Andretti
Jeff Andretti is an American race car driver. He competed in CART, and was the series' Rookie of the Year in 1991.-Racing career:...
finished 11th.
Milwaukee was in danger of losing its CART date in 1992. To save the date, the Fair Board hired Carl Haas
Carl Haas
Carl A. Haas is an American auto racing impresario. He co-owned the Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing team in the IndyCar Series with the late Paul Newman and Mike Lanigan. He also owned Carl A...
to organize all track activities.
The 1992 CART event was again won by Michael Andretti. In 1993, reigning Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
champion Nigel Mansell
Nigel Mansell
Nigel Ernest James Mansell OBE is a British racing driver who won both the Formula One World Championship and the CART Indy Car World Series...
got his first oval track win on his way to winning the CART championship. In 2000, Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint...
gave Toyota its first CART win. History was made again when Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay is a professional American race car driver best known as the only driver to have won races in each of North America's top open wheel formulas, CART the ChampCar World Series and the IndyCar Series...
led all of 250 laps to the victory. The final Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
race was held in 2006, with eventual champion Sébastien Bourdais
Sébastien Bourdais
Sébastien Olivier Bourdais is a French race car driver. He is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Champ Car World Series, having won four successive championships from 2004 to 2007....
winning.
The Indy Racing League IndyCar Series
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
came to the mile in 2004. Dario Franchitti
Dario Franchitti
George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
won the inaugural event. His team, Andretti Green Racing
Andretti Green Racing
Andretti Autosport is an auto racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Star Mazda Championship, and U.S. F2000 National Championship.-Current IndyCar Drivers and Cars:*7 Danica Patrick, GoDaddy.com*26 Marco Andretti...
has won three out of six races at the mile with the other two being won by Penske Racing
Penske Racing
Penske Racing is a racing team that competes in the IndyCar Series and NASCAR. They also previously competed in road racing, and Formula One. Penske Racing is a division of Penske Corporation, and is owned and chaired by Roger Penske...
drivers Sam Hornish Jr. in 2005 and Ryan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe
Ryan Briscoe is an Australian auto racing driver who has raced open wheel and sports cars in Europe and America.In addition to his native English, Briscoe speaks Italian and French...
in 2008 and Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates is an automotive racing organization with teams competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Rolex Sports Car Series. It is owned by businessmen Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates. They have won 4 Champ Car, 3 Indy Racing League and 1 Grand-Am championships...
driver Scott Dixon
Scott Dixon
Scott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...
in 2009.
NASCAR Nationwide Series/Craftsman Truck Series
NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
held two Nationwide Series (formerly Busch Series) stock car races at Milwaukee in 1984 and 1985. The 1984 field was full of NASCAR legends: Alan Kulwicki
Alan Kulwicki
Alan Dennis Kulwicki , nicknamed "Special K" and the "Polish Prince", was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series racecar driver. He started racing at local short tracks in Wisconsin before moving up to regional stock car touring series...
(2nd), Dick Trickle
Dick Trickle
Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
(3rd), Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
(4th), Davey Allison
Davey Allison
David Carl "Davey" Allison was a NASCAR driver. He was best known for driving the #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford for Robert Yates Racing in the Winston Cup Series. Born in Hollywood, Florida, he was the eldest of four children born to Bobby Allison and wife Judy...
(5th), Dale Jarrett
Dale Jarrett
Dale Arnold Jarrett is a former American race car driver and current sports commentator known for winning the 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship...
(6th), and Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
(25th). The 1984 race was won by Sam Ard
Sam Ard
Sam Ard is a former NASCAR driver.Ard was the runner-up in 1982 of NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman Series , and followed up his run with back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984...
.
On July 3, 1993, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returned to Milwaukee. The event was won by Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom is a NASCAR driver. Grissom was the 1993 Busch Series champion and has eleven Busch wins in 185 starts. He turned down a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Alabama to focus a career on racing....
. In 1996 Wisconsin native Dick Trickle
Dick Trickle
Richard "Dick" Trickle is a retired American race car driver. He raced for decades around the short tracks of Wisconsin, winning many championships along the way. Trickle has competed in the ASA, ARTGO, ARCA, All Pro, IMCA, NASCAR, and USAC.In more than an estimated 2,200 races, Trickle has logged...
was passed with four laps to go by Buckshot Jones
Buckshot Jones
Roy "Buckshot" Jones , is an auto racing driver who has competed in NASCAR and sprint cars. He most recently ran in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series....
, who nosed out Mike McLaughlin and won the race from the furthest starting spot (32nd) and by the closest margin of victory in race and NASCAR Nationwide Series history (.002 seconds). The Nationwide Series has run every year since 1993. Five drivers that won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee went on to win the Busch Series championship in the same year (Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom
Steve Grissom is a NASCAR driver. Grissom was the 1993 Busch Series champion and has eleven Busch wins in 185 starts. He turned down a scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Alabama to focus a career on racing....
-1993, Randy LaJoie
Randy LaJoie
Randall LaJoie was a driver in the NASCAR Busch Series , where he is a two-time champion. Presently, he does not have a full-time ride. He is the father of racers Casey and Corey LaJoie.-Early racing career:LaJoie started racing go-karts when he was 12 years old...
-1997, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
* NOTE: References to "Earnhardt", "he", and "him" refer to the subject of this article, unless otherwise specified. References to his father will include "Sr."...
-1998, Jeff Green
Jeff Green (NASCAR)
Jeffery Green is an American stock car driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He currently drives part time in the Nationwide Series for Tri-Star Motorsports in their #44 entry and the Sprint Cup Series for Front Row Motorsports in their #55 entry.Green's 1990 Nashville Speedway USA championship...
-2000, Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle
Gregory Jack "Greg" Biffle is a NASCAR driver who drives the #16 3M Ford Fusion for Roush Fenway Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. After racing in the NASCAR Winter Heat Series in the mid-90s, he was recommended to Jack Roush by former announcer Benny Parsons...
-2002). Biffle became the first repeat winner when he scored back-to-back victories in 2001 and 2002. Despite Trickle having come the closest previously, the last two NASCAR Nationwide Series races have been won by Wisconsin natives (Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
/Necedah-2005 and Paul Menard
Paul Menard
Paul Menard is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #27 Menards Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing and runs part-time for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is the son of Menards founder John Menard, Jr., whose company is his sponsor...
/Eau Claire-2006). Menard also became the third driver to make the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Milwaukee his first career NASCAR Busch Series win, joining Buckshot Jones
Buckshot Jones
Roy "Buckshot" Jones , is an auto racing driver who has competed in NASCAR and sprint cars. He most recently ran in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series....
in 1996 and Casey Atwood
Casey Atwood
Casey Lee Atwood is an American race car driver. Atwood is currently a free agent in NASCAR. He married his longtime girlfriend, Laura, in 2005. Atwood and Laura have two daughters, Kaylee and Emma...
in 1999.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman Truck Series) (CTS) began racing at Milwaukee in its inaugural season in 1995. Mike Skinner
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
won the event. The 1996 event featured 17 lead changes. The CTS has returned every season since 1995. Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
became the only repeat winner as he followed up victory in 2001 with a second triumph in 2004, both behind the wheel of the #1 Mopar Performance Parts Dodge for Jim Smith and Ultra Motorsports. Musgrave is also the only Wisconsin native to have won the race. Two drivers have the distinction of having won both a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and a NASCAR Busch Series race at Milwaukee. Ron Hornaday
Ron Hornaday
Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
won in Truck race in 1996 and the Busch race in 2004, while Greg Biffle won the Truck race in 1999 and the Busch race in 2001 and 2002.
The track was resurfaced after the 1995 season.
In 2003 temporary Musco lights
Musco Lighting
Musco Lighting is an American privately owned company, based out of Oskaloosa, Iowa that is noted for providing permanent or temporary lighting at major sports events and stadiums including the Super Bowl and Olympics....
were brought in for the Champ Car World Series event. The temporary lights were also used for the CTS and Busch Series events in 2005 and 2006. The following is a map of Milwaukee Mile:
2008 Events & Results
- All times are Central Time ZoneCentral Time zoneIn North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...
Date Series Race Time Results June 1 08 Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 2:00 p.m. Winner: 
Bobby WilsonBobby Wilson (driver)Bobby Wilson is an American racing driver.An accomplished karter, Wilson won the "Stars of Tomorrow" championship and the Jim Trueman Scholarship in 2003 and was Shifter Kart Illustrated's driver of the year. He moved up to cars the following year and won the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec championship...June 1 08 IndyCar Series IndyCar SeriesThe IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
ABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225 ABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225The Milwaukee 225 is an IndyCar Series race held at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin. It is the only IndyCar race to be sanctioned by all four of the sport's various governing bodies: AAA, USAC, CART , and IndyCar....
4:00 p.m. Winner: 
Ryan BriscoeRyan BriscoeRyan Briscoe is an Australian auto racing driver who has raced open wheel and sports cars in Europe and America.In addition to his native English, Briscoe speaks Italian and French...June 20 08 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Camping World RV Sales 200 Camping World RV Sales 200At one time, four NASCAR races were known as the Camping World RV Sales 200:* For the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway from 2007-present, see New England 200...
7:30 p.m. Winner: Johnny BensonJohnny BensonJonathan Benson, Jr. is an American NASCAR driver and the son of former Michigan modified driver John Benson, Sr...June 21 08 NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Rental 250 7:00 p.m. Winner: Carl EdwardsCarl EdwardsCarl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...August 24 08 ASA Late Model Series ASA Late Model SeriesASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
Governor's Cup 150 3:30 p.m. Winner: Brian Campbell
2009 Schedule
- All times are Central Time ZoneCentral Time zoneIn North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...
Date Series Race Time Results May 31 09 Firestone Indy Lights Milwaukee 100 2:00 p.m. Winner: 
Mario RomanciniMario RomanciniMario Romancini is a professional racing driver from Brazil.Romancini started his racing career in 2006 in the Brazilian Formula Renault 2.0 series. Driving for the Full Time Racing Team, he took two podium finishes, including one race win, to finish the season in fifth place...May 31 09 IndyCar Series IndyCar SeriesThe IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
ABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225 ABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225The Milwaukee 225 is an IndyCar Series race held at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisconsin. It is the only IndyCar race to be sanctioned by all four of the sport's various governing bodies: AAA, USAC, CART , and IndyCar....
4:00 p.m. Winner: 
Scott DixonScott DixonScott Ronald Dixon, MNZM is a New Zealand motor racer who became the most successful all-time driver in the Indy Racing League championship in the United States when he won the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio in August 2009. This took his total to 21 wins...June 19 09 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Copart 200 7:30 p.m. Winner: Ron HornadayRon HornadayRonald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...June 20 09 NASCAR Nationwide Series NorthernTool.com 250 7:00 p.m. Winner: Carl EdwardsCarl EdwardsCarl Michael Edwards, II is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #99 Fastenal/Aflac Ford Fusion in the Sprint Cup Series and the #60 Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing...
Records
ARCA RE/MAX SeriesARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
| Type | Distance (miles / km) |
Date | Driver | Time | Average Speed (mph / km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying (1 lap) |
1.006 / 1.619 | 2005 | David Ragan David Ragan David Ragan, , is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver. He has previously driven the #6 Roush Fenway Racing ford, but is currently looking for a ride for the 2012 season... |
0:00:30.016 |
IndyCar Series/Champ Car World Series
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
| Type | Distance (miles / km) |
Date | Driver | Time | Average Speed (mph / km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying (IndyCar) (1 lap) |
1.006 / 1.619 | 2011 |  Dario FranchittiDario Franchitti George Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing... |
0:00:21.3826 | 170.841 / 274.499 |
| Qualifying (Champ Car) (1 lap) |
1.006 / 1.619 | 1998 |  Patrick CarpentierPatrick Carpentier Patrick Carpentier is a retired Canadian race car driver. He is best known for his career in the Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. In 2009, Patrick shared the #36 of Tommy Baldwin Racing with Mike Skinner and ran Michael Waltrip's #55 Toyota Camry in the road course races in the... |
0:00:20.028 | 185.500 / 298.533 |
| Race (225 laps) |
226.350 / 364.275 | 2000 |  Juan Pablo MontoyaJuan Pablo Montoya Juan Pablo Montoya Roldán is a Colombian race car driver known internationally for participating and winning in Formula One and CART race competitions. He has enjoyed great success. Currently, he competes in NASCAR, driving the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the Sprint... |
1:37:38.526 | 142.684 / 229.628 |
NASCAR Nationwide Series
| Type | Distance (miles / km) |
Date | Driver | Time | Average Speed (mph / km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying (1 lap) |
1.006 / 1.619 | June 25, 2005 | Johnny Sauter Johnny Sauter Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter... |
0:00:29.365 | 122.595 / 197.298 |
| Race (200 laps) |
201.200 / 323.800 | June 26, 2004 | Ron Hornaday Ron Hornaday Ronald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent... |
2:26:59.??? | 105.052 / 169.065 |
External links
- Milwaukee Mile – Interactive Map with area Search and Weather