California Speedway was built by Roger Penske’s speedway corporation on the site of the disused Kaiser steel works in Fontana at an estimated cost of $110m. The concrete water tower on the infield is the only reminder of the former site, which was so bleak that it served as the set for futuristic films such as Terminator 2, Robocop and Independence Day. The circuit is a near-copy of the Michigan Speedway that Penske also owned, but the shallower 14 degree turns resulted in world record speeds. The backstretch was also raised to provide a better view for the 86,439 spectators. The 1999 Champ Car race was marred by the tragic death of emerging Canadian star Greg Moore. Penske sold his speedways to the International Speedway Corporation in 1999.
