Caesars Palace

The makeshift road course at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas epitomised the madness that afflicted Formula 1 in the United States during the 1980s. Constructed in the hotel’s parking lot, the course was over two miles of racing circuit bordered by concrete barriers – no visual landmarks and no atmosphere, just the latest show in town. The organisers hired Long Beach promoter Chris Pook and used taxi drivers to bed in the new tarmac. The general reaction was that it was better than expected, but F1 lasted just two years at the site. During this time, Caesars Palace staged the final race of the championship and both Nelson Piquet (1981) and Keke Rosberg (1982) claimed world titles here. The circuit then hosted the Champ Car World Series on a modified oval before that championship also moved on after two races.