{{Short description|Car race in British Columbia, Canada, 1990–2004}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox motor race |Race title = Molson Indy Vancouver |Logo = 250px |Track map = |Series long = IndyCar / CART / Champ Car |Series short = |Location = Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |Coordinates = {{coord|49|16|34|N|123|6|24|W|display=inline}} |Sponsor = Molson |First race = 1990 |First series race = |Last race = 2004 |Distance = |Laps = |Duration = |Previous names = |Most wins driver = Al Unser Jr. (4) |Most wins team = Newman/Haas Racing (3)<br />Team Green (3) |Most wins manufacturer = '''Chassis:''' Lola (7)<br>'''Engine:''' Ford-Cosworth (4)<br>Honda (4) |Surface = Asphalt/Concrete |Length km = 2.865 |Turns = 15 |Record time = |Record driver = |Record car = |Record year = |Record class = }}
{{Infobox motorsport venue | name = Vancouver Street Circuit | location = Concord Pacific Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |coordinates = {{coord|49|16|34|N|123|6|24|W|type:landmark_region:CA-BC_dim:2000|display=inline,title}} | image = Grand Prix of Vancouver 1999-2004.png | image_caption = Vancouver Street Circuit (1999–2004) | opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1990|08|30}} | closed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2004|07|25}} | fia_grade = | capacity = | events = '''Former:'''<br />CART<br />''Molson Indy Vancouver'' (1990–2004)<br />Atlantic Championship (1990–1999, 2001, 2004)<br />CASCAR Super Series (2001–2004)<br />Barber Pro Series (2000–2003)<br />Indy Lights (1990, 1992–1998, 2000)<br />Trans-Am Series (1999)<br />SpeedVision World Challenge (1999)<br />North American Touring Car Championship (1996–1997) | layout = Street Circuit (1999–2004) | length_km = 2.865 | length_mi = 1.780 | turns = 14 | record_time = 1:01.538 | record_driver = {{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya | record_car = Lola B2K/00 | record_year = 2000 | record_class = CART | layout2 = Street Circuit (1998) | length2_km = 2.866 | length2_mi = 1.781 | turns2 = 14 | record_time2 = 1:06.939 | record_driver2= {{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio Castroneves | record_car2 = Reynard 98I | record_year2 = 1998 | record_class2 = CART | layout3 = Street Circuit (1994–1997) | length3_km = 2.660 | length3_mi = 1.653 | turns3 = 16 | record_time3 = 0:55.136 | record_driver3= {{flagicon|ITA|1946}} Alex Zanardi | record_car3 = Reynard 97I | record_year3 = 1997 | record_class3 = CART | layout4 = Street Circuit (1991–1993) | length4_km = 2.699 | length4_mi = 1.677 | turns4 = 16 | record_time4 = 0:59.513 | record_driver4= {{flagicon|USA}} Bryan Herta | record_car4 = Lola T94/00 | record_year4 = 1993 | record_class4 = Indy Lights | layout5 = Street Circuit (1990) | length5_km = 2.740 | length5_mi = 1.704 | turns5 = 17 | record_time5 = 1:10.599 | record_driver5= {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore | record_car5 = Swift DB4 | record_year5 = 1990 | record_class5 = Formula Atlantic }}
'''Molson Indy Vancouver''' was an annual Champ Car race held in the ''Vancouver Street Circuit'' near BC Place and running past Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada held in July, August or September from 1990 to 2004.
On September 2, 1990, the first race took place on the original circuit, which was won by Al Unser Jr. From 1998, a new circuit was created to the east of the old Pacific Place, where only a small part of the original circuit was used. The circuit was popular with drivers and often produced an entertaining race. For most of its fifteen years, the Vancouver Indy attracted in excess of 100,000 spectators over the course of its weekends, and in 1996 held the Canadian single-day sporting event attendance record until it was beaten by the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal that year.<ref>{{cite book |last=Charters |first=David A. |year=2007 |title=The Chequered Past: Sports Car Racing & Rallying in Canada, 1951-1991 |publisher=University of Toronto Press|pages=240 |isbn=978-0-8020-9394-3}}</ref> The final event in 2004 had race day attendance of 63,000 with a total three day turnout of 158,420 spectators.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sabine|first=Alex|year=2005|title=Autocourse Official Champ Car Yearbook 2004–2005|publisher=Crash Media Group Press|pages=110–113 |isbn=978-1905334001}}</ref> However, from 2004, Vancouver was left off the Champ Car fixture list.
In July 2021 it was announced a new race for the electric-powered FIA Formula E World Championship, the Vancouver ePrix would be run on the reconfigured {{cvt|2.21|km|mi|abbr=on}} track on the same site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEASON 8 CALENDAR: Cape Town, Vancouver and Seoul feature on most expansive Formula E schedule yet |url=http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2021/july/season-8-calendar-announcement?app=true&app=true |website=FIA Formula E |language=en |date=8 July 2021 |access-date=8 July 2021}}</ref><ref name='formulae_canadian_efest'>{{cite web |title=Canadian E-Fest Formula E Overview |url=https://www.canadianefest.com/formula-e/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107162050/https://www.canadianefest.com/formula-e/ |archive-date=7 January 2022 |access-date=6 November 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However on 18 June 2022, it was announced that the race contract was terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formula E nixes 2023 Vancouver race, cuts ties with local organizers |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/formula-e-nixes-possibility-of-2023-vancouver-race |date=18 June 2022 |access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref>
==Controversy and cancellation== For much of its time in Vancouver, the Molson Indy was a source of considerable local controversy, as local residents complained of the noise and disruption caused by this major event. As the lands of the former Expo 86 site were developed into the billion-dollar condominium development by Concord Pacific, debates raged over whether the Indy made Vancouver a "world-class city" or an "urban nightmare." Such debates were chronicled by Mark Douglas Lowes in his 2002 book, ''Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares: Speed Merchants, Spectacle, and the Struggle over Public Space in the World-Class City''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lowes|first=Mark Douglas|title=Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares|year=2002|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Toronto|isbn=978-0-8020-8498-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/indydreamsurbann0000lowe/page/148 148]|url=https://archive.org/details/indydreamsurbann0000lowe|url-access=registration|quote=Indy Dreams and Urban Nightmares: Speed Merchants, Spectacle, and the Struggle over Public Space in the World-Class City.}}</ref>
The official explanation for the cancellation came from Jo-Ann McArthur, president of sponsoring Molson Sports and Entertainment, who stated that "the bottom line is the business model couldn't work".<ref>{{cite news|title=Molson ends Indy-car race in Vancouver|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20041119/digs19/molson-ends-indy-car-race-in-vancouver|access-date=12 February 2011|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=November 19, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001210057/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20041119&slug=digs19|url-status=live|archive-date=1 October 2012}}</ref> The race had just two seasons left in the city, due to the impending construction of the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympics on the south end of the course. She stated that the lack of a long-term commitment to holding the event made it difficult to attract sponsors to continue the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-molson-indy-cancelled-1.468246|title=Vancouver Molson Indy cancelled|work=CBC News|location=Toronto|date= November 18, 2004 |access-date=October 10, 2017}}</ref>
Following the cancellation, Champ Car continued to race in the Canadian cities of Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton as part of the 2005 season.
==Layout history== <gallery> File:Grand Prix of Vancouver old layout.png|Vancouver Street Circuit (1990–1997) File:Vancouver Grand Prix New Layout.png|Vancouver Street Circuit (1998) File:Grand Prix of Vancouver 1999-2004.png|Vancouver Street Circuit (1999–2004), which removed the chicane at the old Turn 7 and added a chicane at Turn 13 </gallery>
==CART/Champ Car race winners==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! Season ! Driver ! Chassis ! Engine ! Team ! Report ! Ref |- ! 1990 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. | Lola | Chevrolet | Galles-KRACO Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1990 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1990_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1991 | {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Andretti | Lola | Chevrolet | Newman/Haas Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1991 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1991_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1992 | {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Andretti | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | Newman/Haas Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1992 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1992_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1993 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. | Lola | Chevrolet | Galles Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1993 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1993_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1994 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. | Penske | Ilmor | Marlboro Team Penske | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1994 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1994_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1995 | {{flagicon|USA}} Al Unser Jr. | Penske | Mercedes-Ilmor | Marlboro Team Penske | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1995 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1995_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1996 | {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Andretti | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | Newman/Haas Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1996 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1996_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1997 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Maurício Gugelmin | Reynard | Mercedes-Benz | PacWest Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1997 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1997_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1998 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dario Franchitti | Reynard | Honda | Team KOOL Green | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1998 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1998_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 1999 | {{flagicon|COL}} Juan Pablo Montoya | Reynard | Honda | Target Chip Ganassi Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=1999 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1999_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 2000 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Paul Tracy | Reynard | Honda | Team KOOL Green | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=2000 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2000_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 2001 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Roberto Moreno | Reynard | Toyota | Patrick Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2001_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 2002 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dario Franchitti | Lola | Honda | Team KOOL Green | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2000_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 2003 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Paul Tracy | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | Team Player's | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=2003 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2003_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |- ! 2004 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Paul Tracy | Lola | Ford-Cosworth | Forsythe Championship Racing | Report | align=center| <ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Molson Indy Vancouver|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2004_Molson_Indy_Vancouver/R|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> |}
===Indy Lights/Atlantic winners=== {| |style="vertical-align:top;"| {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !colspan=2| Indy Lights |- ! Season !! Winning driver |- ! 1990 | {{flagicon|ITA|1946}} Vinicio Salmi |- ! 1991 | ''Not held'' |- ! 1992 | {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Smith |- ! 1993 | {{flagicon|USA}} Bryan Herta |- ! 1994 | {{flagicon|BRA}} André Ribeiro |- ! 1995 | {{flagicon|POR}} Pedro Chaves |- ! 1996 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Claude Bourbonnais |- ! 1997 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Cristiano da Matta |- ! 1998 | {{flagicon|BRA}} Cristiano da Matta |- ! 1999 | ''Not held'' |- ! 2000 | {{flagicon|NZL}} Scott Dixon |} |style="vertical-align:top;"| {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" !colspan=2| Atlantic Championship |- ! Season!! Winning driver |- ! 1990 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Claude Bourbonnais |- ! 1991 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Stéphane Proulx |- ! 1992 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Patrick Carpentier |- ! 1993 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Claude Bourbonnais |- ! 1994 | {{flagicon|CAN}} David Empringham |- ! 1995 | {{flagicon|CAN}} David Empringham |- ! 1996 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Patrick Carpentier |- ! 1997 | {{flagicon|USA}} Memo Gidley |- ! 1998 | {{flagicon|CAN}} Andrew Bordin |- ! 1999 | {{flagicon|USA}} Will Langhorne |- ! 2000 | ''Not held'' |- ! 2001 | {{flagicon|USA}} Joey Hand |- ! 2002<br />2003 | ''Not held'' |- ! 2004 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Ryan Dalziel |} |}
==Lap records==
The fastest official race lap records at Molson Indy Vancouver are listed as:
{| class="wikitable" !Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event |- ! colspan=5 | Street Circuit (1999–2004): {{cvt|2.865|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name='msportmagazine_vancouver'>{{cite web |title=Vancouver - Motor Sport Magazine |website=Motor Sport Magazine |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/circuits/vancouver/ |access-date=7 January 2022}}</ref> |- | CART || '''1:01.538'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2000 Vancouver Champ Cars |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2000-vancouver-champ-cars/ |website=Motor Sport Magazine |date=3 September 2000 |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> || Juan Pablo Montoya || Lola B2K/00 || 2000 Molson Indy Vancouver |- | Indy Lights || '''1:07.439'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2000 Vancouver Indy Lights |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2000-vancouver-indy-lights/ |website=Motor Sport Magazine |date=3 September 2000 |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> || Scott Dixon || Lola T97/20 || 2000 Vancouver Indy Lights round |- | Formula Atlantic || '''1:09.214'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2004 Formula Atlantic Vancouver |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2004%2520Formula%2520Atlantic%2520Vancouver |date=25 July 2004 |access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> || Jon Fogarty || Swift 014.a || 2004 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round |- | Barber Pro || '''1:14.675'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2003 Barber Dodge Pro Series - Round 8: Vancouver, 27th July - Race Results |url=http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/2003/barber.html |date=27 July 2003 |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> || Leonardo Maia || Reynard 98E || 2003 Vancouver Barber Pro round |- ! colspan=5 | Street Circuit (1998): {{cvt|2.866|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name='msportmagazine_vancouver' /> |- | CART || '''1:06.939''' || Hélio Castroneves || Reynard 98I || 1998 Molson Indy Vancouver |- | Indy Lights || '''1:10.995'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1998-vancouver-indy-lights/ |title=1998 Vancouver Indy Lights |website=Motor Sport Magazine |date=6 September 1998 |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> || Cristiano da Matta || Lola T97/20 || 1998 Vancouver Indy Lights round |- | Formula Atlantic || '''1:15.386'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1998 Formula Atlantic Vancouver |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/1998_Formula_Atlantic_Vancouver |date=5 September 1998 |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> || Rino Mastronardi || Swift 008.a || 1998 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round |- ! colspan=5 | Street Circuit (1994–1997): {{cvt|2.660|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name='msportmagazine_vancouver' /> |- | CART || '''0:55.136''' || Alex Zanardi || Reynard 97I || 1997 Molson Indy Vancouver |- | Indy Lights || '''1:00.653'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Vancouver Indy Lights |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1994-vancouver-indy-lights/ |website=Motor Sport Magazine |date=4 September 1994 |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> || Eddie Lawson || Lola T93/20 || 1994 Vancouver Indy Lights round |- | Formula Atlantic || '''1:03.981'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Formula Atlantic Vancouver |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/1994_Formula_Atlantic_Vancouver |date=3 September 1994 |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> || Richie Hearn || Ralt RT41 || 1994 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round |- | Super Touring || '''1:10.414'''<ref>{{cite web |title=NATCC 1997 » Vancouver Street Circuit Round 15 Results Results |url=https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=1234 |date=30 August 1997 |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> || David Donohue || Dodge Stratus || 1997 Vancouver NATCC round |- ! colspan=5 | Street Circuit (1991–1993): {{cvt|2.699|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name='msportmagazine_vancouver' /> |- | Indy Lights || '''0:59.513'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 Vancouver Indy Lights |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1993-vancouver-indy-lights/ |website=Motor Sport Magazine |date=29 August 1993 |access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref> || Bryan Herta || Lola T93/20 || 1993 Vancouver Indy Lights round |- | Formula Atlantic || '''1:02.053'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1993 Formula Atlantic Vancouver |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/1993_Formula_Atlantic_Vancouver |date=28 August 1993 |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> || Jamie Galles || Ralt RT40 || 1993 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round |- ! colspan=5 | Original Street Circuit (1990): {{cvt|2.740|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name='msportmagazine_vancouver' /> |- | Formula Atlantic || '''1:10.599'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver, Molson Indy Vancouver, August 31 Aout 1990 |url=https://www.autocourse.ca/archives/usa/fatlantic/1990cdn-fatlantic.htm |date=31 August 1990 |access-date=6 November 2024}}</ref> || Mark Dismore || Swift DB4 || 1990 Vancouver Formula Atlantic round |- |}
==External links== * [http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/vancouver.htm Champ Car Stats] * [http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=655 Ultimate Racing History]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Champ Car series}} {{Champ Car tracks}} {{Atlantic Championship circuits}} {{Pirelli World Challenge circuits}} {{Trans-Am tracks}} {{Indy Lights racetracks}} {{Barber Pro Series tracks}}
Vancouver Category:Molson Indy Vancouver