Salazar Hurt in Indy 200 Practice
01/29/96
The Associated Press reported that Chilean driver Eliseo Salazar was
hurt while practicing for last weekend's Indy 200. Salazar bumped the
outside wall of the 1 mile oval track, slid across the track into the
pit wall and then back across the track, colliding with the track's
outside wall again.
It took emergency crews 15 minutes to extract Salazar from the
wreck. He was hospitalized for surgery so that doctors could remove a
piece of steel rod that fractured and penetrated the femur in his
right leg.
A later AP report on Friday said that the Orlando hospital where
Salazar was being treated listed him in serious but stable condition
in intensive care after surgery. Salazar will undergo additional
surgery in the coming days.
Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel
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Saturn Dealers To Sell Used Cars
01/29/96
Over the weekend Reuters reported that GM plans to introduce used cars
into its Saturn show rooms. The used Saturns will go through a 150
point inspection and will come with a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty
and a three-day money-back guarantee.
Saturn will use their new-car sales strategies for selling the used
vehicles: sales prices will be fixed based on condition and mileage,
and each buyer will be applauded by Saturn staff.
Reuters reported that Saturn isn't the sole company attempting to
restructure used car sales. The report points out that Circuit City's
CarMax and other used-car superstores have built outlets with
500-1,000 cars, use no-haggle pricing schemes, and try to foster a
friendly atmosphere.
Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel
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GM Won't Sell Electric Cars Until Fall 1997
01/29/96
The Associated Press reported that in spite of the fact that GM won't
sell electric cars until next fall, prospective buyers are already
lining up. Early in January GM announced that Saturn dealers would
begin selling the GM EV1 later this year.
Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel
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Summary of Final Practice Day for the Indy 200
01/29/96
The Associated Press published a summary of events during the final
day of practice for the Indy 200. Here's are last Friday's highlights:
Buddy Lazier (Hemelgarn Racing) qualified first with a speed of
181.388 mph.
Richie Hearn and Eddie Cheever crashed, damaging both of their
cars beyond racing condition. Cheever had a backup car, Hearn did
not. Hearn ultimately raced using one of Pagan Racing's 1995
Reynards.
Eliseo Salazar crashed and was flown to a hospital in Orlando for
Surgery. He's in stable condition with a fractured femur. He is facing
the prospect of more surgery and missed the race.
Roberto Guerrero qualified at 178.130. He replaced Hearn in the
front row, as Hearn and his new car moved into the back of the field.
Arie Luyendyk (177.296) shared the second row with Scott Sharp (176.211).
Speed separation for the starting field was 35.035 Mph (Buddy
Lazier was fastest, David Kudrave was slowest).
Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel
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Buzz Calkins Wins Indy 200
01/29/96
The Associated Press reported that Buzz Calkins won the Indy 200 at
Walt Disney World on Saturday. In the 66th lap of the race Calkins passed
Tony Stewart and led for the rest of the race.
The Indy 200 sold out with over 50,000 race fans attending. Only 9 of
20 qualified drivers finished the race. Here are the races highlights:
Yellow Flag on lap 18: Richie Hearns tapped a wall. The accident
was blamed on a broken sway bar adjuster.
Lap 147: Stan Wattles crashed
Lap 189: Eddie Cheever and Scott Sharp wrecked. Tony Stewart hit
the wall trying to avoid the a safetytruck. Stewart finished the race,
but couldn't catch Buzz Calkins.
Calkins placed first, Stewart second, Robbie Buhl third, Michele
Alboreto fourth, and Roberto Guerrero fifth.
Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel
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