From 2003 to 2006, the race marked the final IRL race before the
Indianapolis 500. The extended travel time required typically found the race held the weekend before or after
Easter, leaving one or two weeks of travel and rest time until practice began at Indianapolis in early May. This situation was widely unpopular for fans, and for television, because it left a large gap in the schedule, and disrupted continuity leading to the series' premier event. In 2007, the race at Kansas Speedway was moved immediately after Motegi to be the race preceding the Indianapolis 500. In 2008, following the open wheel unification, the race served as part of the unique "doubleheader" weekend with the
Grand Prix of Long Beach. Existing IRL teams raced at Motegi, and former Champ Car teams raced at Long Beach. For 2009, in an effort to reorganize the IndyCar schedule, the race was moved to September (swapping with the
MotoGP event) on the
Respect-for-the-Aged Day and
autumnal equinox public holidays, also kept for 2010. Following the
2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, it was announced that the 2011 event would be moved to the 2.98 mile road course (used by
MotoGP but utilized oval pit lane rather than traditional pit lane due to lack of room) due to damage to the oval. The 2011 event was the final running, a decision made before, and unrelated to, the earthquake and tsunami. ==Past winners==