[1] The first major open wheel racing at Road America was a USAC/SCCA Formula 5000 (SCCA Continental Championship) held from 1974 to 1976.

Throughout nearly its entire history as part of the CART/CCWS series calendar, the race was scheduled for either August or September, usually late in the season.

A few weeks later, the track issued a countersuit against CART,[4] stating that the sanctioning body broke the contract by cancelling the race.

[6] After coming back for two more seasons, Road America was left off the 2005 Champ Car schedule due to lack of sponsorship and declining attendance.

Despite the demanding and challenging nature of the course, Road America has been the site of the first career win for several drivers in Indy car racing.

In early years, Héctor Rebaque and "Uncle" Jacques Villeneuve both scored their first and only wins in the Indy cars.

In the 1990s, Paul Tracy won his first career pole position at Road America, and Jacques Villeneuve followed in the footsteps of his uncle in winning his first Indy car race here as well.

Dario Franchitti, Christian Fittipaldi, Bruno Junqueira, and Alex Tagliani also all scored their first-career CART/Champ Car series wins at Road America.

This is in stark contrast to the rival Andretti family, which scored six victories at Road America but only one win (1969) at Indianapolis.

Al Unser Jr. also started on the pole in a Can-Am race at Road America, but broke the transmission on the second lap.