Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

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Image:CORKSCREW.JPG Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved roadracing track (for both auto racing and motorcycle racing) built in 1957 near Monterey, California, USA.

The racetrack is 2.238 miles in length (3.58 kilometers), and has eleven turns, including the famous (and gut-wrenching) Corkscrew at turn 8. Turn 9 has been renamed 'Rainey Curve' in honor of 500 c.c. Grand Prix Motorcycle World champion Wayne Rainey, a resident of nearby Salinas, California.

The track has undergone significant changes over the past two decades to meet evolving safety homologation requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and other sanctioning bodies. Changes include the addition of the entire infield area (present day turns 3, 4, and 5), relocation of pedestrian bridges and embankments, and expansion of gravel pits outside turns for run off.

A variety of racing and exhibition events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to American Le Mans racing to car shows.

The track is featured in video games, most notably the Gran Turismo series (including the bike version Tourist Trophy) for Playstation 2 and Forza Motorsport for Xbox. Jeremy Clarkson of the British automotive show Top Gear attempted to beat his GT4 time of 1:41.148 seconds in a Honda NSX in 2005, but reality prevailed and he managed to get a 1:57 on the real course.

There are camping facilities located at the raceway, which are used year-round as part of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, the county park in which the racetrack is set.

The raceway's primary corporate sponsor is Mazda, who hold some of their own events there and display their products at major racing events.

Also at Laguna Seca is a branch of the Skip Barber Racing School.

Major events each year include the U.S. Sports car Invitational featuring the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series , Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring a four-hour endurance race for the ALMS, Monterey Historics for classic race-cars, The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring both the MotoGP World Championship and the U.S. AMA Superbike Series. Starting in 2006, the A1 Grand Prix brings prominent international open-wheel racing back to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. A Champ Car World Series weekend has been a prominent event in the past.

Laguna Seca and part of the old Fort Ord that is now BLM land annually host the Sea Otter Classic "Celebration of Cycling". As the first major event of the year - typically held in April - it kicks off both the road bike and mountain bike seasons.

1 Race Winners
2 External links

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Race Winners

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Champ Car

Season	Winning Driver	Chassis	Engine
1983	Teo Fabi	March	Cosworth
1984	Bobby Rahal	March	Cosworth
1985	Bobby Rahal	March	Cosworth
1986	Bobby Rahal	March	Cosworth
1987	Bobby Rahal	Lola	Cosworth
1988	Danny Sullivan	Penske	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1989	Rick Mears	Penske	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1990	Danny Sullivan	Penske	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1991	Michael Andretti	Lola	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1992	Michael Andretti	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
1993	Paul Tracy	Penske	Chevrolet-Ilmor
1994	Paul Tracy	Penske	Mercedes Benz-Ilmor
1995	Gil de Ferran	Reynard	Mercedes Benz-Ilmor
1996	Alex Zanardi	Reynard	Honda
1997	Jimmy Vasser	Reynard	Honda
1998	Bryan Herta	Reynard	Ford-Cosworth
1999	Bryan Herta	Reynard	Ford-Cosworth
2000	Helio Castroneves	Reynard	Honda
2001	Max Papis	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
2002	Cristiano da Matta	Lola	Toyota
2003	Patrick Carpentier	Lola	Ford-Cosworth
2004	Patrick Carpentier	Lola	Ford-Cosworth