SunTrust Indy Challenge Information & SunTrust Indy Challenge Links at HealthHaven.com

**SunTrust Indy Challenge**
Venue	Richmond International Raceway
Corporate sponsor	SunTrust Banks
First race	2001
First IndyCar race	{{{First IRL race}}}
Distance	225 miles
Number of laps	300
Previous names	SunTrust Indy Challenge Presented by XM Satellite Radio (2006-2007)

The SunTrust Indy Challenge was an Indy Racing League IndyCar Series race held at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia. From 2001-2009. From 2001-2007, the race was scheduled for 250 laps (187.5 miles). Starting in 2008, the race was extended to 300 laps.

The event debuted as a Saturday night race in 2001. The event has become one of the more popular races on the schedule, and has become the most successful race to date held in traditionally "NASCAR Country." The race harkens back to the classic short track "bull ring" style of racing known for during the USAC era of Indy car racing.

ISC has traditionally paired the race with other open-wheeled racing. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour once accompanied the race, but in recent years USAC open-wheel short track racing had been on the undercard.

AAA sanctioned two short races at the track when it was still a ½-mile dirt track under the name Strawberry Hill Speedway. Later, NASCAR sanctioned two Championship Car events at nearby Martinsville Speedway in 1952-1953.

On July 30, 2009. Richmond International Raceway track President Doug Fritz announced that the Suntrust Indy Challenge would not be on the 2010 IndyCar Series schedule. The Economic downturn, along with costs to put the event on, and possible loss of sponsorship was cited as the reason for the IRL and RIR to not come to an agreement on the event[1].

[edit] Past winners

Season	Date	Winning Driver	Distance (laps)	Chassis	Engine	Team
AAA Championship Car history
1946	October 12	Ted Horn			Offy	Ted Horn Engineering
1946	November 10	Tommy Hinnershitz				Ted Horn Engineering
IRL IndyCar Series history
2001	June 30	Buddy Lazier	250	Dallara	Oldsmobile	Hemelgarn Racing
2002	June 29	Sam Hornish, Jr.	250	Dallara	Chevrolet	Panther Racing
2003	June 28	Scott Dixon	206†	G-Force	Toyota	Chip Ganassi Racing
2004	June 26	Dan Wheldon	250	Dallara	Honda	Andretti Green Racing
2005	June 25	Hélio Castroneves	250	Dallara	Toyota	Team Penske
2006	June 24	Sam Hornish, Jr.	250	Dallara	Honda	Team Penske
2007	June 30	Dario Franchitti	250	Dallara	Honda	Andretti Green Racing
2008	June 28	Tony Kanaan	300	Dallara	Honda	Andretti Green Racing
2009	June 27	Scott Dixon	300	Dallara	Honda	Chip Ganassi Racing

2003: Race shortened to 206 laps / 154.4 miles due to rain

[edit] References

[2]

[edit] External links

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