The Grand Prix du Mardi Gras was an IMSA GT Championship street race held in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1991, 1992 and 1995.
The 1991 IMSA GTP/Lights race was held on June 16, 1991 using a circuit near the Mississippi River. The winner of 81 lap race was Wayne Taylor with Geoff Brabham finishing second and Jeff Purner and Tim McAdam finishing tied for 3rd place.
On June 14, 1992, the IMSA GTP/Lights street race was moved to a circuit around the Louisiana Superdome. The winner of 89 lap race was Juan Fangio II with Geoff Brabham and P.J. Jones finishing 2nd and 3rd.
In 1995, the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras IMSA GTS-2 street race was run on the circuit around the Louisiana Superdome on October 8. The winner of the 29 lap race was Bill Auberlen with Kevin Buckler and Jorge Trejos finishing 2nd and 3rd. This would be the last major race in the New Orleans area until the 2015 Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana at NOLA Motorsports Park.
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at the Grand Prix du Mardi Gras (New Orleans) are listed as:
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent Grand Prix Circuit (1992, 1995): IMSA GTP 1:05.217 Davy Jones Jaguar XJR-14 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras WSC 1:08.948 James Weaver Riley & Scott Mk III 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min IMSA GTP Lights 1:09.429 Fermin Velez Kudzu DG-2 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras IMSA GTS-1 1:11.726 Darin Brassfield Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min IMSA GTS-2 1:12.514 Bill Auberlen Porsche 911 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min IMSA GTS 1:16.801 Darin Brassfield Oldsmobile Cutlass 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras IMSA Supercar 1:16.875 Martin Snow Porsche 911 Turbo 1995 New Orleans 1 h 45 min IMSA GTO 1:21.242 Irv Hoerr Oldsmobile Cutlass 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras IMSA GTU 1:21.738 Butch Leitzinger Nissan 240SX 1992 Grand Prix du Mardi Gras Original Circuit (1991): IMSA GTP 1:01.363 Perry McCarthy Spice SE90P 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours IMSA GTP Lights 1:06.997 Parker Johnstone Spice SE90P 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours IMSA GTO 1:08.672 Price Cobb Mazda RX-7 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours IMSA GTU 1:13.701 John Fergus Dodge Daytona 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours IMSA AAC 1:14.081 Anthony Puleo Chevrolet Camaro 1991 New Orleans 2 Hours
Winners
Year Date Driver Entrant Car Race title1991 June 15-16 Wayne Taylor MTI Racing Intrepid RM-1 Nissan Grand Prix du Mardi Gras 1992 June 14 Juan Manuel Fangio II All American Racers Eagle MkIII Grand Prix du Mardi Gras 1993–1994 Not held 1995 October 8 James Weaver Dyson Racing Riley & Scott Mk III Acxiom Grand Prix du Mardi Gras
References