SIGN UP HERE PHOENIX STREET CIRCUIT The Phoenix street circuit was a temporary 3.8 km (2.361 mi) Formula One track in downtown Arizona that hosted the United States Grand Prix from 1989 to 1991. Situated around the Phoenix Civic Plaza and Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the track was known for its 90-degree corners, wide streets, and extreme heat during the inaugural 1989 race. In the inaugural race in 1989, Ayrton Senna took the pole in his McLaren-Honda but suffered an electronic failure a little over halfway through the race. The heat of the Phoenix desert was hard on teams and drivers, and only 6 of 26 cars finished. Alain Prost, Senna's teammate, won the race ahead of Riccardo Patrese and Phoenix native Eddie Cheever. In an attempt to beat the scorching heat, the event date was changed to become the season opener the next year. It was held on March 11, 1990. Senna won. Jean Alesi finished 2nd. The last United States Grand Prix held in Phoenix was on March 10, 1991, with Senna again claiming victory in a modified layout reducing the length to 2.312 mi (3.721 km). Again reliability was a factor, with only nine cars still running at the end of the race. For a second straight season both Tyrrells finished in the points; Stefano Modena, who had replaced the Ferrari-bound Alesi, in fourth heading Nakajima in fifth. F1 1989 R05 PHOENIX ESPN ROUND 5
