The event was the first major auto race in the New York City metropolitan area since the 1937 Vanderbilt Cup,[1] and came with high expectations, including the potential of rivaling the Indianapolis 500 in stature, and crowds of up to 60,000.

Despite its negative legacy, the event holds some distinctions, including a notable late-race duel between Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi in 1988, and in 1989 the milestone final victory for the Cosworth DFX/DFS.

[5] At the same time, CART and the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the help of Long Beach promoter Chris Pook, announced a race for the 1984 season.

[6] The race carried high expectations, was televised nationally, and came on the heels of high-profile successes at former Formula One events in Long Beach and Las Vegas.

The race was postponed until 1993 then cancelled due to cost and conflicts between sponsor Marlboro and Mayor David Dinkins' anti-tobacco advertising policies.