When the IRL was began, they thought it was a good idea if the Indy 500 was the last race of the season - a great grand finale so to speak. They could not change the date of the Indy 500 which is in May, so they thought they would change the traditional racing season (spring to fall) so that it ended in May. This resulted in the inaugural season of the IRL, which got started in 1996, of being just 3 races. |
January | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
27 | 1pm | Disney World Speedway | 1-mile oval | ABC | Indy 200 | Buzz Calkins |
March | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
24 | 4pm | Phoenix | 1-mile oval | ABC | Dura Lube 200 | Arie Luyendyk |
May | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
30 | Noon | Indianapolis IN | 2.5 mile | ABC | Indy 500 | Buddy Lazier |
The second season for the IRL began in 1996 and ended in 1997.
1997 Indy Racing League Schedule
August 1996 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
18 | 1 pm | New Hampshire | 1 mile | ABC | TrueValue 200 | Scott Sharp |
September 1996 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
15 | Noon | Las Vegas | 1.5 mile | ABC | Las Vegas 500k | Richie Hearn |
January 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
25 | 12:30p | Disney World | 1-mile oval | ABC | Indy 200 | Eddie Cheever Jr |
March 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
23 | 3pm | Phoenix | 1-mile oval | ABC | Phoenix 200 | Jim Guthrie |
May 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
27 | Noon | Indianapolis IN | 2.5 mile | ABC | Indy 500 | Arie Luyendyk |
June 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
7 | 7:30pm | Fort Worth Tx | 1.5 mile | ABC | TruValue 500 | Arie Luyendyk |
29 | 1pm | Pikes Peak | 1 mile | ABC | Samsonite 200 | Tony Stewart |
July 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
26 | 7pm | Charlotte | 1.5 mile | ABC | Visionaire 500 | Buddy Lazier |
August 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
17 | 1 pm | New Hampshire | 1 mile | ABC | Pennsoil 200 | Robbie Buhl |
October 1997 | ||||||
Date | Time EST | City | Track Size | TV Channel | Race Name | Winner |
11 | 8pm | Las Vegas | 1.5 mile | ABC | Las Vegas 500k | Eliseo Salazar |