1996-1997 in IRL
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| 1996-1997 IRL IndyCar Series season | |
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The 1996-1997 Indy Racing League season was a result of the league abandoning the concept of ending each season with the Indianapolis 500. Following the races at Loudon and Las Vegas, on October 9, 1996, the Indy Racing League announced that the league would revert to a calendar-based schedule for 1998. The 1996-97 season was originally scheduled to begin at Loudon in August 1996 and end with the Indianapolis 500 in May 1997. To prevent awarding two championships in less than six months, the last two races in 1996 were added to a complete 1997 season to create a single championship awarded in October 1997.
The two remaining races in 1996 were contested with the same outdated equipment as the 1996 season. All races that took place in 1997, starting with the race at Walt Disney World Speedway, were contested with all new purpose-built oval chassis from G-Force and Dallara with stock block naturally aspirated 4.0 liter V8's from Oldsmobile and Infiniti. Only seven drivers competed in all ten races of this seventeen month long marathon schedule.
Contents |
[edit] Calendar
[edit] Race summaries
[edit] True Value 200
This race took place August 18, 1996 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Richie Hearn won the pole.
Top ten results
- Scott Sharp
- Buzz Calkins
- Michele Alboreto
- Mike Groff
- Davey Hamilton
- Roberto Guerrero
- Marco Greco
- Stephan Gregoire
- Eliseo Salazar
- John Paul, Jr.
[edit] 1996 Las Vegas 500K
This race took place September 15, 1996 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Arie Luyendyk won the pole.
Top ten results
- Richie Hearn
- Michel Jourdain, Jr.
- Mike Groff
- Roberto Guerrero
- Michele Alboreto
- Buzz Calkins
- Eliseo Salazar
- Robbie Buhl
- Marco Greco
- Affonso Giaffone
[edit] Indy 200
This race took place January 25, 1997 at Walt Disney World Speedway. It was the first race with the new chassis and naturally aspirated engines. Race shortened due to rain, originally scheduled for 200 laps. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- Eddie Cheever
- Mike Groff
- Scott Goodyear
- Scott Sharp
- Buddy Lazier
- Jim Guthrie
- Davey Hamilton
- Marco Greco
- Fermín Velez
- Tony Stewart
[edit] Phoenix 200
This race took place March 23, 1997 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- Jim Guthrie
- Tony Stewart
- Davey Hamilton
- Marco Greco
- Stephan Gregoire
- Mike Groff
- Roberto Guerrero
- Buzz Calkins
- John Paul, Jr.
- Sam Schmidt
[edit] 1997 Indianapolis 500
The Indy 500 was scheduled for May 25, 1997. Rain postponed the start until the following day, Monday May 26. After 15 laps were run on Monday, rain fell again, halting the race, and postponing it for another day. It was resumed and run to conclusion Tuesday May 27. Arie Luyendyk sat on pole.
Top ten results
- Arie Luyendyk
- Scott Goodyear
- Jeff Ward
- Buddy Lazier
- Tony Stewart
- Davey Hamilton
- Billy Boat
- Robbie Buhl
- Robbie Groff
- Fermín Velez
[edit] True Value 500
This race took place June 7, 1997 at Texas Motor Speedway. It marked the first American open-wheel superspeedway night race. Tony Stewart won the pole. Race officials had presented the checkered flag to Billy Boat as winner of the race, but Arie Luyendyk stormed to victory lane claiming he had won the race. Boat's owner A.J. Foyt slapped Luyendyk and told him to leave. The race tape was reviewed and it was determined that laps where Luyendyk, and in fact some other drivers, passed through pit road were not properly counted by the scoring system. Officially Luyendyk was declared the winner the following day. Foyt, however refused to return the trophy and retains the original to this day. A duplicate was awarded to Luyendyk.
Top ten results
- Arie Luyendyk
- Billy Boat
- Davey Hamilton
- Scott Goodyear
- Tony Stewart
- Eddie Cheever
- Eliseo Salazar
- Greg Ray
- Vincenzo Sospiri
- Johnny Unser
[edit] Samsonite 200
This race took place June 29, 1997 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Scott Sharp won the pole.
Top ten results
- Tony Stewart
- Stephan Gregoire
- Davey Hamilton
- Eddie Cheever
- Buzz Calkins
- Vincenzo Sospiri
- Scott Goodyear
- Buddy Lazier
- Affonso Giaffone
- Robbie Groff
[edit] VisionAire 500
This race took place July 26, 1997 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart won the pole.
Top ten results
- Buddy Lazier
- Billy Boat
- Scott Goodyear
- Affonso Giaffone
- Kenny Bräck
- Eddie Cheever
- Tony Stewart
- Stephan Gregoire
- Marco Greco
- Eliseo Salazar
[edit] Pennzoil 200
This race took place August 17, 1997 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Marco Greco won the pole.
Top ten results
- Robbie Buhl
- Vincenzo Sospiri
- Arie Luyendyk
- Eliseo Salazar
- Kenny Bräck
- Roberto Guerrero
- John Paul, Jr.
- Billy Boat
- Eddie Cheever
- Robbie Groff
[edit] 1997 Las Vegas 500K
This race took place October 11, 1997 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- Eliseo Salazar
- Scott Goodyear
- Robbie Buhl
- Jim Guthrie
- Mark Dismore
- Jimmy Kite
- Davey Hamilton
- Stan Wattles
- Stephan Gregoire
- Marco Greco
[edit] Final point standings
[edit] Driver
For every race points were awarded to all starters: 35 points to the winner, 33 for runner up, 32 for third place, winding down to 1 points for 34th place. Every lower placed driver also was awarded with 1 point. Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (2 points) and to the driver leading the most laps (1 point).
No points (did not qualify):
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