The Atlanta 500 Classic was an Indy Racing League event held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway from 1998 until 2001.

Atlanta 500 Classic
Indy Racing League
VenueAtlanta Motor Speedway
First race1965
First ICS race1998
Last race2001
Distance515.505 km (320.32 mi)
Laps208
Most wins (driver)Rick Mears (5)
Most wins (team)Penske Racing (5)

Previous USAC and CART races had been held at the track dating to 1965. The first National Championship races in Atlanta were held at Atlanta Motordrome, a 2-mile (3.2 km) dirt oval, in 1910. Later AAA and USAC races were held at Lakewood Speedway, a dirt oval in Atlanta.

Past winners

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Atlanta Motordrome

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Year Date Race Name Winner Car
American Automobile Association
1910 May 5 Atlanta Speedway Trophy Ray Harroun Marmon
May 6 Atlanta Race 2 Bill Endicott Cole
May 6 Atlanta Race 3 Herbert Lytle American
May 7 Atlanta Automobile Association Trophy Tom Kincade/Johnny AitkenA National

^A Shared drive

Year Date Race name Winner Chassis Engine
American Automobile Association
1946 March 31 Mike Benton Sweepstakes (non-points) Jimmy Wilburn Offy
June 2 Lakewood Race 1 Ted Horn Offy
July 4 Lakewood Race 2 Ted Horn Wetteroth Offy
July 7 Lakewood Race 3 Ted Horn Offy
September 2 Atlanta 100 George Connor Kurtis Kraft Offy
September 28 Lakewood Race 5 Ted Horn Offy
October 5 Lakewood Race 6 Bill Holland Offy
1947 July 4 Atlanta 100 Walt Ader Adams Offy
1948 September 6 Atlanta 100 Mel Hansen Wetteroth Offy
1949–1951: Not held
NASCAR Speedway Division
1952 June 8 Atlanta 100 Al Keller ? Cadillac
1953–1955: Not held
USAC Championship Car
1956 July 14 Atlanta 100 Eddie Sachs Hillegass Offy
1957 July 4 Atlanta 100 George Amick Lesovsky Offy
1958 July 4 Atlanta 100 Jud Larson Watson Offy


Season Date Race Name Driver Team Chassis Engine Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
USAC Championship Car
1965 Aug 1 Atlanta 250   Johnny Rutherford Leader Card Racing A. J. Watson Ford 167 250.5 (403.14) 1:46:03 141.728
1966 June 26 Atlanta 300   Mario Andretti Clint Brawner Brawner Hawk Ford 200 300 (482.803) 2:09:12 139.319
1967

1977
Not held
1978 July 23 Gould Twin Dixie   Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 100 152.2 (244.942) 1:03:44 141.215
CART Championship Car
1979 April 22 Gould Twin Dixie 125   Johnny Rutherford Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren Cosworth 82 124.804 (200.852) 0:47:28 157.758
  Johnny Rutherford Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren Cosworth 82 124.804 (200.852) 0:45:40 166.159
Sept 30 Rich's Atlanta Classic   Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 100 152.2 (244.942) 0:50:09 182.094
1980 Not held
1981 June 21 Kraco Twin 125   Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 83 126.326 (203.301) 0:51:29 147.22
  Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 83 126.326 (203.301) 0:45:20 167.073
1982 May 1 Stroh's 200   Rick Mears Penske Racing Penske Cosworth 132 200.904 (323.323) 1:13:10 164.75
1983 April 17 Kraco Dixie 200   Gordon Johncock Patrick Racing Wildcat Cosworth 132 200.904 (323.323) 1:22:29 146.133
1984

1997
Not held
Indy Racing League
1998 Aug 29 Atlanta 500 Classic   Kenny Bräck A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Oldsmobile 208 320.32 (515.505) 2:17:05 140.026
1999 July 17 Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500
Presented by MCI WorldCom
  Scott Sharp Kelley Racing Dallara Oldsmobile 208 320.32 (515.505) 2:12:15 141.546
2000 July 15 Midas 500 Classic   Greg Ray Team Menard Dallara Oldsmobile 208 320.32 (515.505) 2:02:02 153.403
2001 April 28 zMax 500   Greg Ray Team Menard Dallara Oldsmobile 200 308 (495.677) 2:14:41 133.647
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