200506 A1 Grand Prix of Nations United States of America

The 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, United States of America, was held at Laguna Seca on March 12, 2006. It was the first and only American stop for the A1GP series and faced significant challenges. The event was announced before Laguna Seca confirmed it, leading to minimal advertising and low fan awareness. Constant rain forced the cancellation of the race a week prior, despite the rain stopping later. However, the track remained wet, causing parking lot closures and deterring fans. Fewer than 2000 people attended.

Qualifying on March 11 occurred under ideal conditions with quick lap times. The sprint race on March 12 began in cold temperatures (around 40°F) and saw heavy rain just before the start, prompting teams to switch to rain tires. Despite the rain subsiding by halfway, wet patches caused tricky conditions.

The main race started mostly dry but had lingering wet spots that led to spins and a disqualifying incident involving Jos Verstappen due to questionable official decisions. Mexico’s driver, Ricardo Pena, secured first place in both qualifying and the main race. The main race results showed close competition, with positions varying by lap differences and some drivers completing extra laps.

Overall, the event faced challenges but showcased competitive racing despite adverse conditions.