Dec 2, 1998 - F1 is coming to Indy. IMS and Formula
One announced there will be a U.S. Grand Prix in 2000 at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Read all about it at U.S. Grand Prix 2000.
Also don't miss my Indycar/Formula One comparison at
F1 vs IRL vs CART
Dec. 16, 1998 - Seven permanent large-screen video
displays will be installed at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in time for use at the 1999 Indianapolis 500.
[I've seen one from behind at a distance. They are BIG! 30
feet wide or so.]
The purchase and installation of the seven permanent
screens is the first phase of the video screen project.
More large-screen video displays will be purchased and
installed after completion of a new Master Control Tower,
Formula One circuit and other construction in 2000.
One announced there will be a U.S. Grand Prix in 2000 at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Read all about it at U.S. Grand Prix 2000.
Also don't miss my Indycar/Formula One comparison at
F1 vs IRL vs CART
Dec. 16, 1998 - Seven permanent large-screen video
displays will be installed at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway in time for use at the 1999 Indianapolis 500.
[I've seen one from behind at a distance. They are BIG! 30
feet wide or so.]
The purchase and installation of the seven permanent
screens is the first phase of the video screen project.
More large-screen video displays will be purchased and
installed after completion of a new Master Control Tower,
Formula One circuit and other construction in 2000.
May 24, 1998 - Eddie Cheever wins the 82nd Indy 500
and collects 1.4 million in prize money! (Over 8 million in
total prize money for this year's event.) Steve Knapp wins
rookie of the year.
1998 - Tony Stewart is running alot of the Busch series
races in anticipation of running NASCAR in 1999.
June 15, 1998 - Speedway President, Tony George,
proposes plan to FIA for holding an American Formula One
race at the speedway for the year 2000. If they decide to
go for it, Tony will build a road course to run thru the
middle of the speedway's huge infield. It will include the
main straightaway and the first turn, although they will run
the opposite direction that normal. Tony says he has the
cash to do this, but needs to get started on it now if its to
be completed in time. He also said that this would be the
largest attendance of any F1 race in the world. (Come on
Bernie!!)
July 31, 1998 - Mark Martin wins the Inaugraul IROC @
INDY race and the 1998 IROC Championship. He pocketed
$225,000 for winning the 4-race series. A new
energy-absorbing wall buffer was tested by Arie Luyendyk
after he spun head on into it at 160 mph after being hit by
Tom Kendall. He suffered a minor concussion. Someday,
these wall buffers may be placed on all the walls.
August 1, 1998 - Jeff Gordon wins the Brickyard 400.
The first person to do it twice. Not only did he collect
$637,625 for the race, he also wins the Winston No-Bull
$1 million bonus prize . This gives him a total of
$1,637,625 - THE LARGEST PAY OUT IN AUTO-RACING
HISTORY!
September - It appears that with the loss of New
Hampshire, the IRL will be running a second race at Pikes
Peak in 1999. Also, the Charlotte race has been moved to
May 1!
Sep 24, 1998 - A rumor of a oral agreement between
IMS and Formula One to bring an F1 race here for
September 2000 was announced today in the Indianapolis
Star. The Speedway denies that any agreement has been
reached. However, it has been determined that
Indianapolis' main competition for an F1 race, Las Vegas,
dropped out of contention. Does IMS want to spend the 15
million to add the roadcourse to the existing track?
Evidently so. However are they willing to pay the F1 ransom
(rumored to be between 10 & 26 million)? And if they do,
can they sell enough tickets to pay for it?
Oct 11 - Kenny Brack and A.J. Foyt's Power Team win the
Pep Boys IRL 1998 Championship. Robby Unser wins the
Rookie of the Year honors.
Oct 12 - Coors Brewing Company and the Pep Boys Indy
Racing League announced today a new sponsorship
agreement for racing events beginning with the 1999
season. Coors Light will become the first-ever Official
Beer of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League and the Official
Beer of the Indianapolis 500.
Oct 19 - Two new teams to join the IRL for the 1999
season: Scott Harrington will be driving for his fathers
team, rookie Greg Gordon will drive for Truscelli Team
Racing.
Oct 21, 1998 - Gordon Johncock, two-time Indy 500
winner, is named to the International Motorsports Hall of
Fame. Gordo won 23 IndyCar races in his career and was
the series champion in 1976.
Nov 21 - 1998 - 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League
champion Kenny Brack and car owner A.J. Foyt were the
biggest winners Saturday night at the league's annual
awards banquet, as points fund bonuses totaling $2.7
million were presented to drivers and teams at the Murat
Theatre. Brack and Foyt shared the evening's biggest
award, the Pep Boys Million, a $1 million bonus for winning
the season championship.
and collects 1.4 million in prize money! (Over 8 million in
total prize money for this year's event.) Steve Knapp wins
rookie of the year.
1998 - Tony Stewart is running alot of the Busch series
races in anticipation of running NASCAR in 1999.
June 15, 1998 - Speedway President, Tony George,
proposes plan to FIA for holding an American Formula One
race at the speedway for the year 2000. If they decide to
go for it, Tony will build a road course to run thru the
middle of the speedway's huge infield. It will include the
main straightaway and the first turn, although they will run
the opposite direction that normal. Tony says he has the
cash to do this, but needs to get started on it now if its to
be completed in time. He also said that this would be the
largest attendance of any F1 race in the world. (Come on
Bernie!!)
July 31, 1998 - Mark Martin wins the Inaugraul IROC @
INDY race and the 1998 IROC Championship. He pocketed
$225,000 for winning the 4-race series. A new
energy-absorbing wall buffer was tested by Arie Luyendyk
after he spun head on into it at 160 mph after being hit by
Tom Kendall. He suffered a minor concussion. Someday,
these wall buffers may be placed on all the walls.
August 1, 1998 - Jeff Gordon wins the Brickyard 400.
The first person to do it twice. Not only did he collect
$637,625 for the race, he also wins the Winston No-Bull
$1 million bonus prize . This gives him a total of
$1,637,625 - THE LARGEST PAY OUT IN AUTO-RACING
HISTORY!
September - It appears that with the loss of New
Hampshire, the IRL will be running a second race at Pikes
Peak in 1999. Also, the Charlotte race has been moved to
May 1!
Sep 24, 1998 - A rumor of a oral agreement between
IMS and Formula One to bring an F1 race here for
September 2000 was announced today in the Indianapolis
Star. The Speedway denies that any agreement has been
reached. However, it has been determined that
Indianapolis' main competition for an F1 race, Las Vegas,
dropped out of contention. Does IMS want to spend the 15
million to add the roadcourse to the existing track?
Evidently so. However are they willing to pay the F1 ransom
(rumored to be between 10 & 26 million)? And if they do,
can they sell enough tickets to pay for it?
Oct 11 - Kenny Brack and A.J. Foyt's Power Team win the
Pep Boys IRL 1998 Championship. Robby Unser wins the
Rookie of the Year honors.
Oct 12 - Coors Brewing Company and the Pep Boys Indy
Racing League announced today a new sponsorship
agreement for racing events beginning with the 1999
season. Coors Light will become the first-ever Official
Beer of the Pep Boys Indy Racing League and the Official
Beer of the Indianapolis 500.
Oct 19 - Two new teams to join the IRL for the 1999
season: Scott Harrington will be driving for his fathers
team, rookie Greg Gordon will drive for Truscelli Team
Racing.
Oct 21, 1998 - Gordon Johncock, two-time Indy 500
winner, is named to the International Motorsports Hall of
Fame. Gordo won 23 IndyCar races in his career and was
the series champion in 1976.
Nov 21 - 1998 - 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League
champion Kenny Brack and car owner A.J. Foyt were the
biggest winners Saturday night at the league's annual
awards banquet, as points fund bonuses totaling $2.7
million were presented to drivers and teams at the Murat
Theatre. Brack and Foyt shared the evening's biggest
award, the Pep Boys Million, a $1 million bonus for winning
the season championship.
May 1998 - The Pace Car for this year's 500:
| 1998 Chevrolet Corvette |
April 10, 1998 - Sad news. Mrs. Mary Fendrich Hulman,
the matriarch of IMS, died at age 93 today. Tony,
president of IMS, is her grandson. She was the person who
would state the famous words, "Gentleman, start your
engines" at the beginning of races up until last year when
she became too ill. Now her daughter, Mari Hulman
George, starts the races.
the matriarch of IMS, died at age 93 today. Tony,
president of IMS, is her grandson. She was the person who
would state the famous words, "Gentleman, start your
engines" at the beginning of races up until last year when
she became too ill. Now her daughter, Mari Hulman
George, starts the races.
Jan 1998 - The IRL now has a Title Sponsor; Pep Boys!
They will be bringing a lot of money and advertising to the
series including a million dollar prize for the series
championship. They are also sponsoring a car. Reebok, who
also is sponsoring a team, was competing with Pep Boys to
be the series sponsor. As a side note, CART has replaced
their PPG series sponsorship with FedEx.
Pep Boys is the nation's leading automotive aftermarket
retail and service chain with 698 stores in 33 states and
DC. The company employs more than 24,000 people
nationwide, with total annual sales in excess of $1.8 billion.
"This is a landmark day in the history of the Indy Racing
League," said Tony George. "Pep Boys was founded in 1921,
just 10 years after the first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Both Pep Boys and the Indy Racing League are rapidly
expanding companies, building on our heritage. We are proud
to be associated with Pep Boys," he said.
And with this comes a new IRL logo:
1998 - Tony Stewart and Arie Luyendyk are running in
the 4 race IROC series.
Jan 24, 1998 - Tony Stewart won the Indy 200 in
Orlando. There were quite a few yellows in the first half
of the race, but no one was injured. The track seemed to
be especially slippery after the morning rain. There was
some excellent racing in the second half, especially by
Buddy Lazier who looked like he was riding the razors
edge... and apparently went over it as he lost control and
the lead and hit the inside wall backwards.
Feb 98 - Arie Luyendyk's GT1 team won the 24 hours of
Daytona in his Ferrari.
March 22, 1998 - Scott Sharp wins the Phoenix 200 in a
competitive field. This was about the most exciting race
you could ever see! We're talking FIVE wide!!, Ari sliding
along UPSIDE DOWN!!, and an entire wheel assembly flying
throught the air and right towards Scott Goodyear's face!
It missed him by a fraction. Ari was ok, his helmet deeply
scarred but he did hurt his hand when he instinctively
reached out to protect his head. Although it looked
terrifying, Ari just said "It was cool!" Unfortunately, due
to the "Provisional Qualifying", last years champion, Jim
Guthrie, didn't get to compete once again this year.
They will be bringing a lot of money and advertising to the
series including a million dollar prize for the series
championship. They are also sponsoring a car. Reebok, who
also is sponsoring a team, was competing with Pep Boys to
be the series sponsor. As a side note, CART has replaced
their PPG series sponsorship with FedEx.
Pep Boys is the nation's leading automotive aftermarket
retail and service chain with 698 stores in 33 states and
DC. The company employs more than 24,000 people
nationwide, with total annual sales in excess of $1.8 billion.
"This is a landmark day in the history of the Indy Racing
League," said Tony George. "Pep Boys was founded in 1921,
just 10 years after the first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Both Pep Boys and the Indy Racing League are rapidly
expanding companies, building on our heritage. We are proud
to be associated with Pep Boys," he said.
And with this comes a new IRL logo:
1998 - Tony Stewart and Arie Luyendyk are running in
the 4 race IROC series.
Jan 24, 1998 - Tony Stewart won the Indy 200 in
Orlando. There were quite a few yellows in the first half
of the race, but no one was injured. The track seemed to
be especially slippery after the morning rain. There was
some excellent racing in the second half, especially by
Buddy Lazier who looked like he was riding the razors
edge... and apparently went over it as he lost control and
the lead and hit the inside wall backwards.
Feb 98 - Arie Luyendyk's GT1 team won the 24 hours of
Daytona in his Ferrari.
March 22, 1998 - Scott Sharp wins the Phoenix 200 in a
competitive field. This was about the most exciting race
you could ever see! We're talking FIVE wide!!, Ari sliding
along UPSIDE DOWN!!, and an entire wheel assembly flying
throught the air and right towards Scott Goodyear's face!
It missed him by a fraction. Ari was ok, his helmet deeply
scarred but he did hurt his hand when he instinctively
reached out to protect his head. Although it looked
terrifying, Ari just said "It was cool!" Unfortunately, due
to the "Provisional Qualifying", last years champion, Jim
Guthrie, didn't get to compete once again this year.
Jan 1998 - They are always spending big bucks to improve the
speedway. This new annoucement is especially cool. The main
control tower at the start/finish line is being replaced after
40 years. The pagoda style returns! The new one is going to be
90 feet taller than the current one and the square footage is
almost 13 times more! Construction is to begin late in 98 and be
finished in time for the 2000 Indy 500.
speedway. This new annoucement is especially cool. The main
control tower at the start/finish line is being replaced after
40 years. The pagoda style returns! The new one is going to be
90 feet taller than the current one and the square footage is
almost 13 times more! Construction is to begin late in 98 and be
finished in time for the 2000 Indy 500.
Old Pagoda Tower
Current Tower
| Artists rendering of new tower. |
May 6, 1998 - Longtime USAC standout Jack Hewitt will
drive for PDM Racing in the 1998 Indianapolis 500, team
owner Paul Diatlovich announced today. Said Hewitt: "I've
got the opportunity because (IMS president) Tony George
has brought Indy-style racing back to America. Right now
there are more boys-next-door than there's been in a long
time."
Hewitt, from Troy, Ohio, won the USAC Silver Crown
national championship in 1986 and 1987. He is the
winningest Silver Crown driver in USAC history, with 20
victories. He also has 42 career USAC sprint-car victories,
tied for third (with Pancho Carter) on the all-time list. He
is one of the winningest drivers ever with the All Star
Circuit of Champions winged sprint car series, with 58 wins.
He is also one of the most popular drivers in all of
short-track racing, a man who has scores of adoring fans
that follow his every step. He says "I don't know if I'll be
the fastest guy at Indy, but I can guarantee you that no
driver will make a greater effort to reach out to the fans."
May 6, 1998 - IMS has received permission to broadcast
a weak tv signal of live coverage. This will allow people
sitting within IMS to view the coverage on their portable
tv's!!
May 16, 1998 - Billy Boat wins the Indy 500 pole!
May 21, 1998 - Scott Goodyear and his Panther Racing
Team win the Indy 500 Carb Day Pit Stop competition and
collects $40,000 in prize money.
drive for PDM Racing in the 1998 Indianapolis 500, team
owner Paul Diatlovich announced today. Said Hewitt: "I've
got the opportunity because (IMS president) Tony George
has brought Indy-style racing back to America. Right now
there are more boys-next-door than there's been in a long
time."
Hewitt, from Troy, Ohio, won the USAC Silver Crown
national championship in 1986 and 1987. He is the
winningest Silver Crown driver in USAC history, with 20
victories. He also has 42 career USAC sprint-car victories,
tied for third (with Pancho Carter) on the all-time list. He
is one of the winningest drivers ever with the All Star
Circuit of Champions winged sprint car series, with 58 wins.
He is also one of the most popular drivers in all of
short-track racing, a man who has scores of adoring fans
that follow his every step. He says "I don't know if I'll be
the fastest guy at Indy, but I can guarantee you that no
driver will make a greater effort to reach out to the fans."
May 6, 1998 - IMS has received permission to broadcast
a weak tv signal of live coverage. This will allow people
sitting within IMS to view the coverage on their portable
tv's!!
May 16, 1998 - Billy Boat wins the Indy 500 pole!
May 21, 1998 - Scott Goodyear and his Panther Racing
Team win the Indy 500 Carb Day Pit Stop competition and
collects $40,000 in prize money.
| The Big Race News from 1998 |
IRL REBOUNDING FROM TWO BIG HITS
By Brian Hilderbrand
Las Vegas Sun
LAS VEGAS (Scripps Howard News Service 08-07-1998
18:38 EDT) -- The Indy Racing League lost one of its
original tracks this week and faces losing one of its
brightest stars at the conclusion of this season.
New Hampshire International Speedway on Tuesday
declined to renew its contract with the IRL and
27-year-old Tony Stewart is leaving the series after
this season for a full-time ride in NASCAR's Winston Cup
Series.
Neither move, Stewart said, will hurt the fledgling
open-wheel series.
"That race is always poorly promoted, it wasn't the
(fault of the) IRL," Stewart said during a break in tire
testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"I don't think you can say it's bad for the IRL when
we're running at Atlanta and Texas and Charlotte and
Dover and Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Las Vegas.
We're running at some really, really nice facilities now
so I don't think it's going to hurt us."
Stewart, a former USAC midget, sprint and Silver
Crown champion, will make his final regular IRL start on
Oct. 10 at LVMS. Beginning next year, Stewart will limit
his Indy-car racing to the Indianapolis 500.
Despite being one of the only stars to be created by the
IRL and certainly its most recognizable driver, Stewart
said his departure won't have a devastating effect on
the series.
"It's not going to hurt it a bit," he said. "They've got a
lot of talent in this series and there are a lot of
talented guys that will be coming into the series so I'll
be an afterthought shortly."
By Brian Hilderbrand
Las Vegas Sun
LAS VEGAS (Scripps Howard News Service 08-07-1998
18:38 EDT) -- The Indy Racing League lost one of its
original tracks this week and faces losing one of its
brightest stars at the conclusion of this season.
New Hampshire International Speedway on Tuesday
declined to renew its contract with the IRL and
27-year-old Tony Stewart is leaving the series after
this season for a full-time ride in NASCAR's Winston Cup
Series.
Neither move, Stewart said, will hurt the fledgling
open-wheel series.
"That race is always poorly promoted, it wasn't the
(fault of the) IRL," Stewart said during a break in tire
testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"I don't think you can say it's bad for the IRL when
we're running at Atlanta and Texas and Charlotte and
Dover and Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Las Vegas.
We're running at some really, really nice facilities now
so I don't think it's going to hurt us."
Stewart, a former USAC midget, sprint and Silver
Crown champion, will make his final regular IRL start on
Oct. 10 at LVMS. Beginning next year, Stewart will limit
his Indy-car racing to the Indianapolis 500.
Despite being one of the only stars to be created by the
IRL and certainly its most recognizable driver, Stewart
said his departure won't have a devastating effect on
the series.
"It's not going to hurt it a bit," he said. "They've got a
lot of talent in this series and there are a lot of
talented guys that will be coming into the series so I'll
be an afterthought shortly."
About the only thing that is hurting the series, according to
Stewart, is what he feels is unwarranted criticism
directed at the series by many open-wheel racing fans.
"The criticism, you've got to take with a grain of salt," he
said. "You ask 10 different people the same question and
you'll get 10 different answers and they're all opinions.
"In my opinion, the IRL has been a success from day one. All
you've got to do is look at the facts: the series is in its
third year now and look at the venues that we're going to,
we've got a title sponsor and we're running for a
million-dollar point championship.
"I don't know how you can't call it a successful series
already. People who say it's not a successful series really
don't know what they're talking about."
Drivers in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART)
Series have been shut out of the Indianapolis 500 for the
past three years as a result of IMS president and IRL
founder Tony George's formation of the new league. But
the upstart IRL still suffers from a lack of recognition --
and fan support -- despite annually competing in the world's
premier open-wheel race.
That, Stewart said, will change in time.
"There are a lot of people who aren't very open-minded
about the IRL," he said. "A lot of people are scared of
change and don't like change and it's going to take time.
But the IRL is not going to go away, it's going to survive.
"People have got to realize that and quit arguing and griping
about (the split) and realize they've got two good Indy-car
series to watch on TV. I don't know what people are
whining about."
Stewart, is what he feels is unwarranted criticism
directed at the series by many open-wheel racing fans.
"The criticism, you've got to take with a grain of salt," he
said. "You ask 10 different people the same question and
you'll get 10 different answers and they're all opinions.
"In my opinion, the IRL has been a success from day one. All
you've got to do is look at the facts: the series is in its
third year now and look at the venues that we're going to,
we've got a title sponsor and we're running for a
million-dollar point championship.
"I don't know how you can't call it a successful series
already. People who say it's not a successful series really
don't know what they're talking about."
Drivers in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART)
Series have been shut out of the Indianapolis 500 for the
past three years as a result of IMS president and IRL
founder Tony George's formation of the new league. But
the upstart IRL still suffers from a lack of recognition --
and fan support -- despite annually competing in the world's
premier open-wheel race.
That, Stewart said, will change in time.
"There are a lot of people who aren't very open-minded
about the IRL," he said. "A lot of people are scared of
change and don't like change and it's going to take time.
But the IRL is not going to go away, it's going to survive.
"People have got to realize that and quit arguing and griping
about (the split) and realize they've got two good Indy-car
series to watch on TV. I don't know what people are
whining about."
| 1998 RACE NEWS |
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