$1,078,500 PAID TO DISNEY FIELD; CALKINS NETS $122,500

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 1, 1996 -- Winner Buzz Calkins netted $122,500 of the total prize fund of $1,078,500 for the Indy Racing League's inaugural event last Saturday, the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Presented by Aurora at the new one-mile Walt Disney World Speedway.

The prize payout was announced today by Jack Long, executive director of the Indy Racing League headquartered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500. The Indy 200 at Walt Disney World is the first of five IRL races scheduled for 1996 that is expected to have a series purse payout exceeding $12 million.

The next stop on the IRL schedule is the Phoenix 200 March 24, which will also pay more than $1 million in prize money. Then comes the 80th running of the Indianapolis 500 May 26, with an expected payout of more than $8 million as auto racing's richest event. Other million-dollar IRL events in 1996 will be the True Value 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway Aug. 18 and the Las Vegas 500K at the new Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sept. 15.

Calkins, 24, of Denver, Colo., won the $78,000 IRL first place prize and received the $22,000 IRL qualifying bonus that goes to each of the top 20 qualifiers in each IRL event. In addition to that $100,000 total, $25,000 of the $78,500 total designated (accessory) prize fund went to the winner. His top designated awards included $10,000 from Raybestos as the highest finishing rookie; $3,000 from Delco Battery, and $2,500 from Earl's Performance Products.

"This prize money will contribute to the team in a meaningful way," Calkins said. "That's an intriguing thing about the IRL purse structure. The prize money is at a level where it will actually help a team's budget. Most racing isn't that way."

Tony Stewart, 24, of Rushville, Ind., was runner up and won $85,250 -- $60,000 for second place, $22,000 in IRL qualifying bonus, and $3,250 in designated prize money. Third place finisher Robbie Buhl actually earned more than Stewart at $87,250. Buhl, 32, of Grosse Pointe, Mich., won $47,000 for third, the $22,000 top-20 IRL qualifying bonus, and $18,250 in designated prizes highlighted by $8,000 from Valvoline, Inc., $5,000 from Miller Electric Manufacturing (lowest qualifier to lead race), and $2,500 from Delco Battery.

Fourth place finisher Michele Alboreto won $65,000, and Indy 500 veteran Roberto Guerrero was fifth with $59,500. Polesitter Buddy Lazier, who finished 17th, won $46,000 which included the $10,000 Pole Winner Chief Mechanic Award from True Value. David Kudrave, in 20th and last place, won $33,000. Money for positions 21-24 -- $10,000 for each position -- was split among five entered drivers and teams who did not make the race.