Phoenix replaced Detroit as Formula 1's American street race in 1989. Three editions used two related downtown layouts, but extreme heat, modest crowds and limited commercial impact led to the event's disappearance after 1991.
The 1990 race produced Jean Alesi's breakthrough: driving a Tyrrell, he repassed Ayrton Senna and fought the McLaren before finishing second. Senna won that day and also the circuit's final Grand Prix in 1991.
Across 3.720 km, its 12 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a street circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its anti-clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
