Sao Paulo

The IndyCar Series returned to Brazil in 2010 for the first time since 2000 on a temporary street circuit designed by series vice president Tony Cotman around the Anhembi Convention Center in São Paulo’s Santana neighbourhood. The startline was situated on the concrete surface of the Anhembi Sambadrome that had been built in 1991 for carnival, before joining the tarmac Avenida Olavo Fontoura and service roads. The pits were situated in the Convention Center’s grounds after Turn 4. Cement dust and gripless conditions caused qualifying for the inaugural race to be postponed to race day. Overnight work helped but dust enveloped the field at the start and caused a multiple pile-up. The 2011 race was postponed until Monday due to rain. Penske’s Will Power won the first three of four IndyCar races here, and James Hinchcliffe passed Takumā Sato on the final corner to win the final race in 2013. Racing returned to the Sambadrome for the Formula E World Championship in 2023, five years after the event had first been scheduled. Track direction was reversed to anticlockwise on a layout that now focused on the Avinida Olavo Fontoura.