Spring Training for IndyCar

02/09/96

The Associated Press reported that IndyCar racers had their first week of "spring training" this week. The IndyCar season doesn't officially open until March 1 when the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami will occur. The pre-season event occurred for the first time this year, as the new oval track at the Homestead Motorsports Complex has just been completed. The new track at Homestead will host the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami. Most of the top teams IndyCar teams showed up for the practice runs.

In other CART/IndyCar news, the Associated Press reported on the reactions of CART president and some IndyCar drivers to the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World and the division between CART and the Indy 200 sponsor, the Indy Racing League.

IRL president Tony George started the Indy Racing League because he saw CART moving away from the traditional and particularly American IndyCar roots such as the oval track. In order to encourage participation in the new IRL, George reserved some IRL spots in the Indy 500 starting field. CART's response was to take their cars and go home. CART decided to hold their own race on the same day as the Indy 500 and call it the U.S. 500. CART has encouraged as many drivers to race in their race as possible, and as a result predictions are that competition at the Indy 500 this year will be low.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel