Compared to other events at the time, the Hawaiian Super Prix would have the largest cash prize in motorsports history. The highest payout at the time in Indy car racing had come at the 1999 Indianapolis 500, which had a total purse of $9,047,150. The highest single payout belonged to Arie Luyendyk, who collected $1,568,150 from the 1997 race. The highest single payout for a CART-sanctioned race was the 1996 U.S. 500, where Jimmy Vasser collected $1,145,000.