CART Denies Rumors that US 500 Will Not Run

02/26/96

The Associated Press said that Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) president and CEO Andrew Craig categorically denied rumors that the US 500 would not take place. CART decided to hold the US 500 in Michigan on the 26th of May after a feud developed between CART and the Indy Racing League (IRL).

The IRL is a new racing organization dedicated to maintaining some of the traditional features of Indy racecar racing--especially the oval track. Tony George, president of the Indianapolis Speedway, founded the IRL. 1996 is the first IRL season. The Indy 500 is the final race of the IRL's three race series and will run on May 26th this year.

CART started the US 500 to oppose IRL and in the hopes that IndyCar drivers would boycott the Indy 500. Many of the IndyCar teams racing in the PPG 16 race series (sanctioned by CART) have decided not to race in any IRL races.

Rumors that the IRL and CART were working out a deal to scrap the US 500 and bring the IndyCar racers back to the Indy 500 began when an Indiana based radio station reported that IRL's Tony George had met with Roger Penske, an IndyCar team owner and CART board member, to discuss the issue. CART acknowledged that informal discussions have taken place with Tony George, but both CART and IRL rejected the rumor that the US 500 would be scrapped.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel