# Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200

The Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 was the final name of a PPG IndyCar World Series race held annually at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, from 1979 though 1986; it was known as the Miller High Life 150 for five editions during that period. The race was known by multiple other names, operated under other sanctioning bodies, and was run at other distances during a much longer history before IndyCar.

## Race history

Open wheel racing in the Phoenix area dates back to 1915 on a dirt oval at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. Earl Cooper, who competed in the Indianapolis 500 seven times, won the inaugural race—scheduled for 150 laps of the one-mile track, it was ended after 109 miles due to darkness.
The race was revived in 1950 by the AAA, and then passed to the United States Auto Club (USAC) in 1956. USAC moved the race to the newly built Phoenix International Raceway in 1964. The race became a CART event in 1979. During the CART years, two races were scheduled through the mid-1980s, but the track dropped down to one race per year starting in 1987.
Starting in 1954, the race was named for driver Bobby Ball, who died in February 1954 following a racing accident in Los Angeles in January 1953. The race was renamed in 1972 due to sponsorship from Best Western. Bobby Ball naming returned for the 1976–1978 editions, the last of which was title sponsored by Miller High Life. Miller's sponsorship continued through the 1983 edition. The race then had three different title sponsors for its final three editions: Stroh's, Dana, and Circle K.
Over the entire history of the race, A. J. Foyt and Al Unser each won four times, the most of any driver. Foyt's wins came in 1960 at the Fairgrounds and then in 1965, 1971, and 1975 at the Raceway. Unser's wins all came at the Raceway, in 1969, 1976, 1979, and 1985. The most consecutive wins was three, by Tom Sneva in 1980, 1981, and 1982. Sneva's three wins were the most by any driver during the IndyCar era of the race (1979–1986).

### Arizona State Fairgrounds

| Season | Date | Race Name | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Race Distance | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
| Season | Date | Race Name | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Laps | Miles (km) | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
| AAA Championship Car history ||||||||||||
| 1915 | November 20 | | Earl Cooper | Stutz Motor Company | Stutz | Stutz | F | 109 | 109 (175.418) | 1:42:30 | 64.39 |
| 1916 – 1949 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1950 | November 12 | Phoenix 100 | Jimmy Davies | Pat Clancy Racing | Ewing | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:16:54 | 78.020 |
| 1951 | November 4 | Phoenix 100 | Johnnie Parsons | Kurtis Kraft | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:10:54 | 84.626 |
| 1952 | November 11 | Phoenix 100 | Johnnie Parsons | Ricketts | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:09:52 | 85.87 |
| 1953 | November 11 | Phoenix 100 | Tony Bettenhausen | Belanger Motors | Kurtis Kraft | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:11:30 | 83.916 |
| 1954 | November 7−8* | Bobby Ball Memorial | Jimmy Bryan | Dean Racing Enterprises | Kuzma | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:10:59 | 84.524 |
| 1955 | November 6 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Jimmy Bryan | Dean Racing Enterprises | Kuzma | Offenhauser | F | 97* | 97 (156.106) | 1:09:24 | 83.862 |
| USAC Championship Car history ||||||||||||
| 1956 | November 12 | Bobby Ball Memorial | George Amick | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Lesovsky | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:05:20 | 91.826 |
| 1957 | November 11 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Jimmy Bryan | Dean Racing Enterprises | Kuzma | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:09:46 | 86.001 |
| 1958 | November 11 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Jud Larson | Bignotti-Bowes Racing Associates | Lesovsky | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:04:42 | 92.738 |
| 1959 | October 18 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Tony Bettenhausen | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Kuzma | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:07:50 | 88.458 |
| 1960 | November 20 | Bobby Ball Memorial | A. J. Foyt | Bignotti-Bowes Racing Associates | Meskowski | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:07:21 | 89.079 |
| 1961 | November 19 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Parnelli Jones | Agajanian Racing | Lesovsky | Offenhauser | F | 89* | 89 (143.231) | | |
| 1962 | November 18 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Bobby Marshman | Lindsey Hopkins Racing | Kuzma | Offenhauser | F | 51* | 51 (82.076) | 0:33:13 | 92.124 |
| 1963 | November 17 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Rodger Ward | Leader Card Racing | Watson | Offenhauser | F | 100 | 100 (160.934) | 1:10:35 | 85.01 |
* 1954: Final 65 laps completed on November 8 due to heavy dust and the rough condition of the track.
* 1955: Race shortened due to rough track conditions. Driver Jack McGrath was killed in an accident during this race.
* 1961: Race shortened due to darkness.
* 1962: Race shortened due to crash.
* Bolded driver indicates this was their first USAC Championship Car win

### Phoenix International Raceway

| Season | Date | Race Name | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine/Aero Kit | Tires | Race Distance | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
| Season | Date | Race Name | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine/Aero Kit | Tires | Laps | Miles (km) | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
| USAC Championship Car history ||||||||||||
| 1964 | November 22 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Lloyd Ruby | Bill Forbes Racing | Halibrand RE | Offenhauser | F | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:51:23 | 107.736 |
| 1965 | November 21 | Bobby Ball Memorial | A. J. Foyt | Anstead-Thompson Racing | Lotus RE | Ford | G | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 2:00:01 | 99.99 |
| 1966 | November 20 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Mario Andretti | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford | F | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:54:38 | 104.697 |
| 1967 | November 19 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Mario Andretti | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford | F | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:49:13 | 109.872 |
| 1968 | November 17 | Bobby Ball Memorial | Gary Bettenhausen | Gerhardt Racing | Gerhardt | Offenhauser | F | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:54:19 | 104.972 |
| 1969 | November 15 | Bobby Ball 200 | Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Lola | Ford | F | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:48:59 | 110.109 |
| 1970 | November 21 | Bobby Ball 150 | Swede Savage | All American Racers | Eagle | Ford | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:17:30 | 116.807 |
| 1971 | October 23 | Bobby Ball 150 | A. J. Foyt | Anstead-Thompson Racing | Coyote 71 | Ford | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:18 | 110.333 |
| 1972 | November 4 | Best Western 150 | Bobby Unser | All American Racers | Eagle | Offenhauser | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:10:31 | 127.618 |
| 1973 | November 3 | Arizona 150 | Gordon Johncock | STP-Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:18:15 | 115.015 |
| 1974 | November 2 | Phoenix 150 | Gordon Johncock | STP-Patrick Racing | Eagle | Offenhauser | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:12:28 | 124.202 |
| 1975 | November 9 | Phoenix 150 | A. J. Foyt | Gilmore-Foyt Racing | Coyote | Foyt TC | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:02 | 111.055 |
| 1976 | November 7 | Bobby Ball 150 | Al Unser | Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing | Parnelli | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:23:34 | 107.695 |
| 1977 | October 29 | Bobby Ball 150 | Gordon Johncock | Patrick Racing | Wildcat | Drake Goosen Sparks | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:22:53 | 108.597 |
| 1978 | October 28 | Miller High Life Bobby Ball Memorial 150 | Johnny Rutherford | Team McLaren | McLaren | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:14:24 | 120.974 |
| CART Championship Car history ||||||||||||
| 1979 | October 20 | Miller High Life 150 | Al Unser | Chaparral Cars | Chaparral | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:13:03 | 123.203 |
| 1980 | November 8 | Miller High Life 150 | Tom Sneva | Jerry O'Connell Racing | Phoenix | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:30:04 | 99.925 |
| 1981 | October 31 | Miller High Life 150 | Tom Sneva | Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:20:10 | 112.266 |
| 1982 | November 6 | Miller High Life 150 | Tom Sneva | Bignotti-Cotter Racing | March 82C | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:21:05 | 110.997 |
| 1983 | October 29 | Miller High Life 150 | Teo Fabi | Forsythe Racing | March 83C | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:11:03 | 126.671 |
| 1984 | October 13 | Stroh's 150 | Bobby Rahal | Truesports | March 84C | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:31:47 | 98.048 |
| 1985 | October 13 | Dana 150 | Al Unser | Team Penske | March 85C | Cosworth DFX | G | 150 | 150 (241.401) | 1:14:35 | 120.644 |
| 1986 | October 19 | Circle K/Fiesta Bowl 200 | Michael Andretti | Kraco Racing | March 86C | Cosworth DFX | G | 200 | 200 (321.868) | 1:29:06 | 134.676 |
* F = Firestone
* G = Goodyear
* Bolded driver indicates this was the drivers first IndyCar win.

### Support races

| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine |
| ARS / Indy Lights Series |||||
| 1986 | October 19 | Fabrizio Barbazza | March | Buick |
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine |
| USAC Mini-Indy Series |||||
| 1977 | October 29 | Herm Johnson | Lola | Volkswagen |
| 1978 | October 28 | Kevin Cogan | Ralt | Volkswagen |
| Season | Date | Winning Driver |
| SCCA Super Vee Series |||
| 1980 | November 8 | Al Unser Jr. |
| 1981 | October 31 | Pete Halsmer |
| 1982 | November 6 | Michael Andretti |
| 1983 | October 29 | Ludwig Heimrath Jr. |
| 1985 | October 13 | Jeff Andretti |
| 1986 | October 19 | Mike Groff |

## Selected race summaries

* 1980: Johnny Rutherford led the first 37 laps, then on lap 71 was chasing leader Tom Sneva. Dicing through slower traffic, Rutherford slipped by Sneva in turn three to take the lead. He then suffered a spectacular crash. Coming out of turn four, he touched wheels with Dennis Firestone and spun into the outside wall. Then the car flipped up in the air and landed upside-down on its roll bar. Rutherford escaped with a concussion and only minor cuts and lacerations.
* 1985: In the second-to-last race of the season at Phoenix, Al Unser Sr. and Al Unser Jr. finished first-second, and ended the day within three points of each other going into the season finale. The father and son battle for the 1985 championship is famous in Indy car lore.