1996–97 Indy Racing League

American auto racing season January 2018 February 2025 Indy Racing League 1996–97 Irl logo.png 125px 1996–97 Indy Racing League Indy Racing League 10 August 18, 1996 October 11, 1997 USA Tony Stewart USA Oldsmobile USA Jim Guthrie NLD Arie Luyendyk 1996 1998 right horizontal 300 Defense.gov_News_Photo_050702-F-7203T-246 (cropped).jpg DaveyHamilton.jpg Tony Stewart (left) won his first and only Drivers' Championship while Davey Hamilton (right) finished second in the championship. The 1996–97 Indy Racing League was the second season contested by the Indy Racing League. Tony Stewart was the champion, while Arie Luyendyk won the Indianapolis 500. The lengthy season was a result of the league abandoning the concept of ending each season with the Indianapolis 500. The 1996–97 season would ultimately consist of the two races that followed the Indy 500 in the calendar year of 1996, and all events contested in the calendar year of 1997. It also saw the introduction of a new chassis and engine package effective from January 1. The 1996–97 season was originally scheduled to begin at New Hampshire in August 1996 and end with the Indianapolis 500 in May 1997. At some point in the summer of 1996, the consensus regarding the unusual split-calendar season was decidedly unfavorable. Omitting the normal winter offseason caused potential difficulty with driver contracts, sponsor contracts, and equipment purchasing, which all traditionally followed a calendar-based schedule.IRL season will go with the calendar https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21515418/ The Indianapolis Star 34 Newspapers.com October 10, 1996 July 3, 2018 In addition, the months of November, December, and most of January were not expected to be filled with race dates, since few suitable venues (outside of Orlando) were available in warm-weather locations. It was felt the long winter gap between races was disruptive and disjointed, and came at a time of year when auto racing was traditionally on hiatus anyway. Following the 1996 races at New Hampshire and Las Vegas, on October 9, 1996, the Indy Racing League announced that the league would revert to a calendar-based schedule for 1998. To avoid awarding four championships in less than two and a half years, all events contested in the calendar year of 1997 were added to the two aforementioned races held in 1996. Now combined, a single seventeen-month 1996–1997 championship would be awarded in October 1997. The two remaining races in 1996 (New Hampshire and Las Vegas) were contested with the same equipment as the 1996 season. All races that took place in the calendar year of 1997, starting with the race at Orlando, were contested with all new purpose-built oval chassis from G-Force and Dallara with a radical 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. Confirmed entries TeamChassisEngineTiresNo. Car numberDriver(s)Round(s) USA ABF Motorsports Lola T92/00 Buick Goodyear 96 USA Joe Gosek orange R silver 1 USA Dave Steele orange R silver 2 USA A. J. Foyt Enterprises Lola T95/00IRL1996 N Used in the 1996 races.DallaraFoyt N Used at Walt Disney World. Billy Boat used it at the Indy 500 and Las Vegas 2, and Scott Sharp used it at Pikes Peak.G-Force Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NOldsmobile Goodyear 1 USA Scott SharpSharp N Injured in a practice crash at Indianapolis and at Pikes Peak. 1–5, 7USA Johnny O'Connell5 USA Paul Durant orange R silverIndyRookie N Not considered rookie for Indy 500. 5 USA Billy Boat orange R silver 6, 8–10 11 5 14 USA Davey Hamilton AllUSA Arizona MotorsportsArizona N Official name of the team for the #40 entry for sponsorship reasons.USA Sinden Racing Services Lola T95/00 Ford-Cosworth GoodyearFirestoneMiller N Used by Dr. Jack Miller. 40 BRA Marco GrecoGrecoArizona N Run in conjunction with Team Scandia. 1–2DallaraOldsmobileInfinitiMiller2 N Used by Dr. Jack Miller from Indianapolis onwards. USA Dr. Jack Miller orange R silver 3–10 44 USA Steve Kinser orange R silver 5 USA Allen May orange R silver 6USA Beck Motorsports Lola T94/00 Ford-Cosworth Firestone 54 USA Robbie Buhl 1–2 Dallara Infiniti USA Dennis Vitolo 5 USA Blueprint Racing Lola T93/00IRL1996 NDallara MenardNH1 N Used at New Hampshire 1.BuickLV1 N Used at Las Vegas 1.Oldsmobile Firestone 16 USA Johnny Parsons 2 USA Sam Schmidt orange R silver 4–6 27 USA Jim Guthrie orange R silverIndyRookie N All 72 CAN Claude BourbonnaisIndyNotRookie N Considered rookie only for the Indy 500. 5 USA Bradley Motorsports Reynard 95IIRL1996 NG-Force Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NOldsmobile FirestoneIRL1996 NGoodyear 12 USA Buzz CalkinsCalkins N Injured in a testing crash at New Hampshire. 1–7, 9–10 USA Byrd-Cunningham Racing Reynard 95IIRL1996 NG-Force Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NInfinitiByrd N Used from Walt Disney World to Pikes Peak.Oldsmobile Firestone 10 USA Mike GroffGroff N Injured in practice crashes at Texas and New Hampshire 2. 1–5, 8 USA Johnny Unser 6–7, 9 USA Paul Durant orange R silver 10 USA Chastain Motorsports G-Force Oldsmobile Goodyear 77 FRA Stéphan Grégoire 3–5, 7–10 USA Chitwood Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile Goodyear 17 USA Danny Ongais 3 BRA Affonso Giaffone orange R silver 4–10 USA Della Penna Motorsports Reynard 95I Ford-Cosworth Goodyear 4 USA Richie Hearn 1–2 ITA EuroInternational Dallara Oldsmobile Firestone 50 USA Billy Roe orange R silver 4–5USA Galles RacingG-ForceOldsmobileGoodyear4USA Davy Jones3 USA Jeff Ward orange R silver 3 SWE Kenny Bräck orange R silver 4–10 70 BRA Marco Greco 7–10 USA Hemelgarn Racing Reynard 95I Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NInfinitiOldsmobileLazier N Used by Buddy Lazier from Indianapolis onwards. Firestone 9 USA Brad Murphey orange R silver 1–2 Reynard 95IIRL1996 NDallara USA Johnny Unser 5, 10 90 USA Lyn St. James 5 91 USA Buddy Lazier All USA ISM Racing Dallara Oldsmobile Goodyear 35 USA Jeff Ward orange R silverISM N Run in conjunction with Sinden Racing Services. 10 USA IZ Racing Dallara Infiniti Goodyear 95 USA Tyce Carlson orange R silver 10 SWE Johansson Motorsports G-Force Infiniti Firestone 36 USA Scott Harrington orange R silver 5 USA Knapp Motorsports Dallara Oldsmobile Firestone 97 USA Greg Ray orange R silverRay N #31 at Charlotte because of a technical/sponsorship deal with Richard Childress Racing. 5–8, 10 USA LP Racing Dallara Oldsmobile Firestone 99 USA Sam Schmidt orange R silver 8–10 USA McCormack Motorsports Lola T94/00 Ford-Cosworth Goodyear 30 USA Stan Wattles orange R silver 1–2 G-Force Oldsmobile USA Jeret Schroeder orange R silver 3–4 USA Robbie Groff orange R silver 5–10 USA Metro Racing Systems Riley & Scott Oldsmobile Goodyear 19 USA Stan Wattles orange R silver 10 USA Nienhouse Motorsports Riley & Scott Oldsmobile Goodyear 23 USA Mike Shank orange R silver 10 USA Pagan Racing Reynard 95INH1 NReynard 94ILV1 NDallara Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NInfinitiPagan N Used from Walt Disney World to Texas.Oldsmobile Goodyear 21 COL Roberto Guerrero All USA PDM Racing Lola T93/00IRL1996 NDallaraG-ForcePDM N Used at Las Vegas 2 by John Paul Jr. MenardIRL1996 NOldsmobile Goodyear 18 USA John Paul Jr. 1–5, 8–10 USA Tyce Carlson orange R silver 5–6 USA Billy Boat orange R silver 7 28 USA Tyce Carlson orange R silver 1–2 USA Kelley Racing – PDM USA Mark Dismore 5–10 USA Project Indy Reynard 95I Ford-Cosworth Goodyear 64 USA Johnny Unser 1–2 USA Roe Racing Dallara Oldsmobile Firestone 24 USA Billy Roe orange R silver 10 USA Team Cheever Lola T95/00IRL1996 NG-Force MenardIRL1996 NOldsmobile Goodyear 51 USA Eddie Cheever All 52 USA Jeff Ward orange R silver 5 USA Team Menard Lola T95/00IRL1996 NG-Force MenardIRL1996 NOldsmobile Firestone 2 USA Tony Stewart All 3 USA Mark Dismore 1–2 USA Robbie BuhlBuhl N Injured in a testing crash prior to Pikes Peak. 4–6, 9–10 USA Team SABCO G-Force Oldsmobile Goodyear 42 USA Robby Gordon 5 USA Team Scandia Lola T95/00IRL1996 NReynard 95IAlboreto N Used by Michele Alboreto.Lola T94/00Giaffone N Used by Affonso Giaffone.Dallara Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NOldsmobile Goodyear 7 CHL Eliseo SalazarSalazar N Injured in a testing crash at Walt Disney World. 1–2, 5–10 8 FRA Stéphan Grégoire 2 ITA Vincenzo Sospiri orange R silver 5–6 22 FRA Stéphan Grégoire 1 MEX Michel Jourdain Jr. 2 BRA Marco Greco 3–6 ITA Vincenzo Sospiri orange R silver 7–10 33 ITA Michele Alboreto 1–2 ESP Fermín Vélez orange R silverIndyRookie N 3–6 USA Jimmy Kite orange R silver 7–10 34 BRA Affonso Giaffone orange R silver 2 ITA Alessandro Zampedri 5–6 USA Tempero/Giuffre Racing Lola T93/00 Buick Goodyear 15 USA David Kudrave 1 CHL Juan Carlos Carbonell orange R silver 2 USA Treadway Racing Reynard 95IIRL1996 NReynard 94IO'Connell N Used by Johnny O'Connell.G-Force Ford-CosworthIRL1996 NOldsmobile Firestone 5 NED Arie Luyendyk All 6 USA Johnny O'Connell 1–2 CAN Scott Goodyear 3–10 USA Walker Racing Reynard 95I Ford-Cosworth Goodyear 50 USA Robby Gordon 2 Schedule Rd Date Race Name Track Location 1 August 18 1996 True Value 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire 2 September 15 1996 1996 Las Vegas 500K Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nevada 3 January 25 1997 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Speedway Bay Lake, Florida 4 March 23 1997 Phoenix 200 Phoenix International Raceway Phoenix, Arizona 5 May 26–27 1997 81st Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Speedway, Indiana 6 June 7 1997 True Value 500 Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas 7 June 29 1997 Samsonite 200 Pikes Peak International Raceway Fountain, Colorado 8 July 27 1997 VisionAire 500 Charlotte Motor Speedway Concord, North Carolina 9 August 17 1997 Pennzoil 200 New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon, New Hampshire 10 October 11 1997 1997 Las Vegas 500K Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, NevadaSources:NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 1997 https://motorsportstats.com/series/ntt-indycar-series/calendar/1997 Motorsport Stats November 17, 20231996-97 Schedule & Ticket Information http://brickyard.com/irl/97sched.htm Indy Racing League November 17, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/19970216150124/http://brickyard.com/irl/97sched.htm February 16, 1997 dead All races were run on oval speedways.thumb|right|300px|Tony Stewart's championship car. After the 1996 prologue-style, 3-race season that ended at the 80th Indianapolis 500, the 1996–97 season had just two further races in calendar year 1996, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a former CART venue, and a barely inaugurated Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On 9 October 1996, the IRL decided to revert to a calendar-based format for 1998, moving the intended end of the 1996–97 season at Indianapolis in May to Las Vegas in October.https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-seasons-to-change-to-claendar-years/?y=1996&s=1 Seasons to change to calendar years Motorsport.com 1996-10-09 2017-12-29 2017-12-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232307/https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/irl-seasons-to-change-to-claendar-years/?y=1996&s=1 dead For calendar year 1997, all five races from 1996 were held again, alongside three further races, contested consecutively in the summer months after the Indianapolis 500. Two new venues, Texas Motor Speedway and Pikes Peak International Raceway, was followed by IRL's first incursion in a NASCAR foothold, the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Texas and Charlotte held the first night races in Indy-car history, and became the first 1.5 mile banked oval racetracks in an Indy-car schedule since Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1983. Results RoundRacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace WinnerReportDriverTeamChassisEngine 1 New Hampshire 1 USA Richie Hearn USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Scott Sharp A. J. Foyt EnterprisesLolaFord-Cosworth Report 2 Las Vegas 1 NLD Arie Luyendyk USA Richie Hearn USA Richie Hearn USA Richie Hearn Della Penna MotorsportsReynardFord-Cosworth Report 3 Walt Disney World USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Eddie Cheever Team CheeverG-ForceOldsmobile Report 4 Phoenix USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Jim Guthrie Blueprint RacingDallaraOldsmobile Report 5 Indianapolis NLD Arie Luyendyk USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart NLD Arie Luyendyk Treadway RacingG-ForceOldsmobile Report 6 Texas USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart NLD Arie Luyendyk Treadway RacingG-ForceOldsmobile Report 7 Pikes Peak USA Scott Sharp USA Jimmy Kite USA Tony Stewart USA Tony Stewart Team MenardG-ForceOldsmobile Report 8 Charlotte USA Tony Stewart USA Billy Boat USA Tony Stewart USA Buddy Lazier Hemelgarn RacingDallaraOldsmobile Report 9 New Hampshire 2 BRA Marco Greco ITA Vincenzo Sospiri USA Eddie Cheever USA Robbie Buhl Team MenardG-ForceOldsmobile Report 10 Las Vegas 2 USA Billy Boat USA Billy Boat CHL Eliseo Salazar CHL Eliseo Salazar Team ScandiaDallaraOldsmobile Report Race summaries True Value 200 The True Value 200 was held on August 18, 1996, at New Hampshire International Speedway. Richie Hearn qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 1 – Scott Sharp 12 – Buzz Calkins 33 – Michele Alboreto 10 – Mike Groff 14 – Davey Hamilton 21 – Roberto Guerrero 40 – Marco Greco 22 – Stéphan Grégoire 7 – Eliseo Salazar 18 – John Paul Jr. Failed to qualify: 24-Randy Tolsma, 25-Jon Field, 64-Johnny Unser, 75-Johnny O'Connell and 96-Mike Orday This was Sharp's first IndyCar win. The win was also the first for A. J. Foyt Enterprises since A. J. Foyt won the 1981 Van Scoy Diamond Mines 500 at Pocono International Raceway. Tony Stewart was the class of the field leading for 165 of 200 laps, accruing a nearly 3 lap lead over second place. However, he suffered complete electrical failure after 182 laps and finished 12th. Las Vegas 500K (1996) The Las Vegas 500K was held on September 15, 1996, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Arie Luyendyk qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 4 – Richie Hearn 22 – Michel Jourdain Jr. 10 – Mike Groff 21 – Roberto Guerrero 33 – Michele Alboreto 12 – Buzz Calkins 7 – Eliseo Salazar 54 – Robbie Buhl 40 – Marco Greco 34 – Affonso Giaffone Failed to qualify: 96-Dave Steele This was the final IRL race contested with the turbocharged machines. Hearn's only IndyCar win. Because he and his team, Della Penna Motorsports, were switching to CART for 1997, he would not compete in any more IRL races for the remainder of the season. The slow pace of the race, consisting of nine cautions, caused ABC to leave just past the halfway point. Johnny O'Connell had a violent crash on lap 185 that resulted in him sliding upside down on the main straightaway resulting in a short red flag period. Johnny Parsons' final IndyCar race. He had started IndyCar races since 1969. In this race, he crashed on lap nine and finished 28th (last). Indy 200 The Indy 200 was held on January 25, 1997, at Walt Disney World Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 51 – Eddie Cheever 10 – Mike Groff 6 – Scott Goodyear 1 – Scott Sharp 91 – Buddy Lazier 27 – Jim Guthrie 14 – Davey Hamilton 22 – Marco Greco 33 – Fermin Velez 2 – Tony Stewart (DNF, crash) Failed to qualify: 4-Davy Jones The race was shortened from 200 laps to 149 laps due to rain. This was the first IRL race contested with the normally aspirated engines and new chassis. This was Eddie Cheever's first Indy car win. Buzz Calkins was leading when his engine failed on lap 145. Stewart took the lead, but crashed on the following lap. Cheever inherited the lead and the race was stopped three laps later when a downpour ensued. Danny Ongais' final IndyCar race. He finished 13th due to a crash after 94 laps. Phoenix 200 The Phoenix 200 was held on March 23, 1997, at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 27 – Jim Guthrie 2 – Tony Stewart 14 – Davey Hamilton 22 – Marco Greco 77 – Stéphan Grégoire 10 – Mike Groff 21 – Roberto Guerrero 12 – Buzz Calkins 18 – John Paul Jr. 16 – Sam Schmidt Failed to qualify: 17-Danny Ongais and 54-Robbie Buhl Guthrie's only IndyCar win. He stretched his fuel over the final 82 laps and the $170,100 payout allowed him to settle off his debts from getting a second mortgage. Kenny Bräck and Sam Schmidt made their IndyCar debuts in this race. Bräck led 24 laps, but crashed on lap 146 and finished 11th. Schmidt crashed on lap 176, but finished 10th. Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 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 qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 5 – Arie Luyendyk 6 – Scott Goodyear 52 – Jeff Ward 91 – Buddy Lazier 2 – Tony Stewart 14 – Davey Hamilton 11 – Billy Boat 3 – Robbie Buhl 30 – Robbie Groff 33 – Fermin Velez Failed to qualify: 1-Scott Sharp, 1-Johnny O'Connell, 18-John Paul Jr. and 36-Scott Harrington On lap 199, the caution came when Stewart brushed the wall and it was expected that the race would end under caution. However, the green flag and the white flag came out simultaneously without warning to start the final lap and caution lights were still displayed around the track, causing confusion if the race was really restarted. Treadway Racing's cars finished 1st and 2nd, making it the first time since 1962 with Leader Card Racing that a team finished 1st and 2nd. The starting grid was expanded from 33 to 35 cars due to the 25/8 rule (which guaranteed the top 25 cars in the IRL standings a starting position, provided they meet a minimum speed) causing cars outside the fastest 33 to qualify. As a result, Lyn St. James and Johnny Unser were added to the rear of the field. A crash during the pace lap on Monday caused all of row 5 (Stéphan Grégoire, Affonso Giaffone and Kenny Bräck) to retire. Sharp was injured in a practice crash and replaced by O'Connell, who then was injured in practice. Paul Durant successfully qualified via the 25/8 rule (see above) and finished 21st. True Value 500 The inaugural True Value 500 was held June 7, 1997, at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 5 – Arie Luyendyk 1 – Billy Boat 14 – Davey Hamilton 6 – Scott Goodyear 2 – Tony Stewart 51 – Eddie Cheever 7 – Eliseo Salazar 97 – Greg Ray 8 – Vincenzo Sospiri 10 – Johnny Unser Failed to qualify: 10-Mike Groff, 36-Scott Harrington, 50-Billy Roe, 77-Stéphan Grégoire and 90-Lyn St. James Boat was initially declared the winner due to a scoring error. Luyendyk came into victory lane to protest, but was slapped by A. J. Foyt. The error was eventually realized and Luyendyk was declared the winner. Foyt still has the original trophy. Stewart appeared to be on his way to his first win when his engine blew, causing him to then crash, on lap 207. Points leader Groff was injured in practice. Unser drove in his place to a 10th-place finish. In the aftermath of the scoring error, USAC was removed as sanctioning body and the IRL went in-house. Samsonite 200 The inaugural Samsonite 200 was held on June 29, 1997, at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Scott Sharp qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 2 – Tony Stewart 77 – Stéphan Grégoire 14 – Davey Hamilton 51 – Eddie Cheever 12 – Buzz Calkins 22 – Vincenzo Sospiri 6 – Scott Goodyear 91 – Buddy Lazier 17 – Affonso Giaffone 30 – Robbie Groff Failed to qualify: 3-Robbie Buhl and 27-Jim Guthrie This was Stewart's first IndyCar win. Scott Sharp returned in this race and qualified on the pole position. However, he crashed on the first lap and re-injured himself, missing the rest of the season. This was the first race for the IRL as the sole sanctioning body and sole operator of race control VisionAire 500 The inaugural VisionAire 500 was held on July 26, 1997, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 91 – Buddy Lazier 1 – Billy Boat 6 – Scott Goodyear 17 – Affonso Giaffone 4 – Kenny Bräck 51 – Eddie Cheever 2 – Tony Stewart 77 – Stéphan Grégoire 70 – Marco Greco 7 – Eliseo Salazar Greg Ray's car was run in conjunction with Richard Childress Racing for this race. Pennzoil 200 The Pennzoil 200 was held August 17, 1997, at New Hampshire International Speedway. Marco Greco qualified on the pole position. Top 10 results 3 – Robbie Buhl 22 – Vincenzo Sospiri 5 – Arie Luyendyk 7 – Eliseo Salazar 4 – Kenny Bräck 21 – Roberto Guerrero 18 – John Paul Jr. 1 – Billy Boat 51 – Eddie Cheever 30 – Robbie Groff Failed to qualify: 10-Mike Groff and 97-Greg Ray This was Buhl's first IndyCar win. Mike Groff was injured once again in practice and missed the remainder of the season. Entering the season finale at Las Vegas, Tony Stewart led Davey Hamilton by 10 points. Las Vegas 500K (1997) The Las Vegas 500K was held on October 11, 1997, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole. Top 10 results 7 – Eliseo Salazar 6 – Scott Goodyear 3 – Robbie Buhl 27 – Jim Guthrie 28 – Mark Dismore 33 – Jimmy Kite 14 – Davey Hamilton 19 – Stan Wattles 77 – Stéphan Grégoire 70 – Marco Greco This was Salazar's first and only IndyCar win. Tony Stewart won the championship by six points over Hamilton by virtue of finishing 11th to Hamilton's 7th. On lap 201, Roberto Guerrero lost control on the back straightway and flipped through the grass. By virtue of Arie Luyendyk finishing 25th due to engine failure and Scott Goodyear finishing 2nd, Goodyear was able to leapfrog from 9th in the season standings to 5th for the final season standings. Points standings List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems Pos Driver NHS1 LVS1 WDW PHX INDY TMS PPR CHA NHS2 LVS2 Pts 1USA Tony Stewart 12* 21 10* 2* 5* 5* 1* 7* 14 11 278 2USA Davey Hamilton 5 11 7 3 6 3 3 16 17 7 272 3USA Eddie Cheever 15 25 1 12 23 6 4 6 9* 21 230 3BRA Marco Greco 7 9 8 4 16 26 13 9 20 10 230 5CAN Scott Goodyear 3 17 2 4 7 3 16 2 226 6NLD Arie Luyendyk 13 20 12 22 1 1 15 21 3 25 223 7COL Roberto Guerrero 6 4 17 7 27 13 18 17 6 14 221 8USA Buddy Lazier 19 24 5 21 4 17 8 1 12 31 209 9CHL Eliseo Salazar 9 7 24 7 12 10 4 1* 208 10USA Buzz Calkins 2 6 11 8 11 19 5 21 28 204 11FRA Stéphan Grégoire 8 26 19 5 31 2 8 15 9 192 12USA Jim Guthrie yellow RY silver 23 13 6 1 26 21 Wth 12 24 4 186 13USA Robbie Buhl 22 8 18 8 16 1 3 170 14USA Mike Groff 4 3 2 6 12 Wth 14 Wth 169 15USA John Paul Jr. 10 15 18 9 Wth 11 7 12 163 16BRA Affonso Giaffone orange R silver 10 13 32 20 9 4 18 15 159 17USA Mark Dismore 20 17 28 11 11 19 11 5 158 18USA Billy Boat orange R silver 7 2 19 2 8 23 151 19SWE Kenny Bräck orange R silver 11 33 18 14 5 5 20 139 20USA Robbie Groff orange R silver 9 15 10 13 10 18 135 21ITA Vincenzo Sospiri orange R silver 17 9 6 20 2 22 134 22USA Scott Sharp 1 16 4 16 Wth 22 119 23USA Dr. Jack Miller orange R silver 15 20 20 24 16 23 19 29 114 24 USA Johnny Unser Wth 22 18 10 21 13 19 107 25USA Tyce Carlson orange R silver 11 23 19 14 24 84 26ESP Fermín Vélez orange R silver 9 14 10 25 82 27USA Jimmy Kite orange R silver 20 15 23 6 76 27USA Sam Schmidt orange R silver 10 34 23 18 22 27 76 29USA Greg Ray orange R silver 25 8 17 22 30 73 30USA Jeff Ward orange R silver 16 3 17 69 31USA Stan Wattles orange R silver 16 18 8 63 32ITA Michele Alboreto 3 5 62 33USA Richie Hearn 14 1* 59 34USA Billy Roe orange R silver 15 22 13 55 35USA Jeret Schroeder orange R silver 14 19 37 36MEX Michel Jourdain Jr. 2 33 37USA Robby Gordon 14 29 27 38USA Brad Murphey orange R silver 18 27 25 39ITA Alessandro Zampedri 35 12 24 40USA Johnny O'Connell 12 Wth 23 40USA Paul Durant orange R silver 21 26 23 42USA Danny Ongais 13 22 42USA Lyn St. James 13 22 44USA Steve Kinser orange R silver 14 21 45USA Dennis Vitolo 15 20 46USA Mike Shank orange R silver 16 19 47USA David Kudrave 17 18 48CHL Juan Carlos Carbonell orange R silver 19 16 49USA Joe Gosek orange R silver 21 14 50USA Allen May orange R silver 22 13 51USA Johnny Parsons 28 7 52 CAN Claude Bourbonnais 30 5 –USA Dave Steele orange R silver Wth 0 –USA Scott Harrington orange R silver DNQ 0 –USA Davy Jones Wth 0 Pos Driver NHS1 LVS1 WDW PHX INDY TMS PPR CHA NHS2 LVS2 Pts Color Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green 4th & 5th place Light Blue 6th–10th place Dark Blue Finished(Outside Top 10) Purple Did not finish(Ret) Red Did not qualify(DNQ) Brown Withdrawn(Wth) Black Disqualified(DSQ) White Did not start(DNS) Blank Did notparticipate(DNP) Not competing In-line notationBoldPole position(2 points)ItalicsRan fastest race lap*Led most race laps(1 point)DNSAny driver who qualifiesbut does not start (DNS),earns all the pointshad they taken part.yellow RY silver Rookie of the Yearorange R silver Rookie Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc. See also 1997 Indianapolis 500 1997 Indy Lights season 1997 CART season 1997 Toyota Atlantic Championship season http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1996-97.htm http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf 2016-03-04 (p. 148–149) Footnotes N Bibliography Indy Review, Volume 7: 1996-1997 Indy Racing League Season 1997 Indy 500 Publications / Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation Osceola, WI en 978-1-880526-06-4 References Indy Racing League Indy Racing League Category:IndyCar Series seasons Category:1996–97 in IndyCar Indy Racing League Indy Racing League