Coca-Cola 100 Results, Simpson Super Seven Announcement
23 May 1999
News from INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Potts, Communications Manager (317) 387-7338 RYAN NEWMAN LEADS ALL THE WAY TO WIN COCA-COLA 100 PRESENTED BY ARBY’S INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 22) - Leading every lap of the way, Ryan Newman opened the 1999 season on the Indianapolis Raceway Park oval on Saturday night by winning the Coca-Cola 100 presented by Arby's on Saturday night. Newman, who is just completing his junior year at Purdue University, put his M&L Plumbing No. 14 on the pole of the 30-car lineup for the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet event with the fast qualifying time of 20.791 seconds or 118.782 mph, and took the lead at the drop of the green flag with Gary Hieber, Dave Darland, and Tracy Hines in hot pursuit. The first yellow flew on the 21st lap when Darland spun in the first turn while trying to pass Hieber and collected Jimmy Sills' car. When the went back to green flag racing it was Newman, Hieber, Hines, and Doug Didero in the top four spots. Hines got past Hieber for second after 48 laps, and at the halfway point Newman had a lead of over six seconds. With Newman getting into traffic, Hines cut the lead slightly, to 5.3 seconds, before the next yellow came when Paul White's engine blew on the 58th lap. Newman pulled back out to a three-second lead over Hines until the last yellow, when Didero got loose in the second turn, Brad Noffsinger spun to avoid him and was hit by Jason Leffler, and then Jay Drake also spun to avoid. That set up an 11-lap sprint to the finish with Hines making a couple of tries at Newman but then falling back to a final gap of 2.1 seconds. Brian Tyler finished third, with Russ Gamester fourth. After climbing out of the car in the IRP Winner’s Circle, Newman commented, “It’s great to start on the pole and be out in front all the way, but there’s always doubt in your mind, because there are so many competitive cars and drivers here.” He added, “This was the first time I’ve ever started on the pole, and to lead every lap proves that we’re doing our homework. This is the biggest win of my career, no doubt about that part of it.” Asked about being pressured by Hines after the last caution, he said, “Tracy is kind of like me. Both of us work on our race cars, and I knew he was going to be tough. We both have fun with our racing, and it’s fun racing with him.” The win had particular significance for Newman in a couple of ways. He’s the first winner for 1999 of the Arby’s Racing Series bonus, meaning another $750, and took the Featherlite Trailers Fast Qualifier Award of $200, which puts his winnings for the night over $10,000 when contingencies are considered. Also, since he uses the required Simpson Race Products safety equipment, he’s the first qualifier for the Simpson Super Seven program which was announced at IRP on Saturday. That program qualifies the highest finishing driver using Simpson equipment in each of IRP’s first six USAC open wheel races for a unique bonus. If any of the qualified drivers wins both the Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car Series feature and MCI WorldCom USAC Midget Car Series feature on the program of the Arby’s Season Finale on Saturday, September 18, the bonus will be a total of $50,000. In the preliminary 25-lap feature for the EVTC University Spec Series electric formula cars, Larry Crosser drove the Bowling Green State entry to a win over Chris Shultz in the IUPUI car on the strength of a quick pit stop, with Warren White and Ohio State placing third. SUMMARY: EVTC University Spec Series Electric Formula Cars Fast Qualifier: Tom Bagley/Kettering University; 27.701 seconds (89.152 mph) Feature (25 Laps): Larry Crosser/Bowling Green State; Chris Shultz/IUPUI; Warren White/Ohio State; Chet Fillip/Wright State; Tom Bedell/West Virginia; Bagley. Lap Leaders: Crosser 1-4, Shultz 5-6, White 7-14, Crosser 15-25. Coors Light USAC Silver Bullet Series Fast Qualifier: Ryan Newman, 20.791 seconds (118.782 mph). First Qualifying Race (15 Laps): Jack Hewitt, Dane Carter, Billy Puterbaugh Jr.; Paul White, J.J. Yeley, John Heydenreich, Rebel Jackson Jr., Rich Tobias Jr., Brian Paulus, Robin Bank, Steve Surniak, Rick Treadway, Bill Rose. Second Qualifying Race (15 Laps): Jimmy McCune, Bill Baue, Mike Ordway, Bill Tyler, Tim Cox, Keith Butler, Tom Capie, Daryl Daughery, Randy Bateman, Lorne Banks, Craig Dor, Todd Kane. Feature (100 Laps): Newman, Tracy Hines, Brian Tyler, Russ Gamester, Pat Abold, Robby Flock, Jason McCord, Tony Elliott, Doug Didero, Derek Davidson, Chet Fillip, Hewitt, Puterbaugh, Bentley Warren, Yeley, Gary Hieber, Kipp Beard, Kenny Hamilton, McCune, Carter, Ordway, Bill Tyler, Cox, Jay Drake, Brad Noffsinger, Jason Leffler, White, Dave Darland, Jimmy Sills, Baue. -30- News from INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Potts, Communications Manager (317) 387-7338 NEW ‘SIMPSON SUPER SEVEN’ PROGRAM MAKES $50,000 BONUS AVAILABLE FOR USAC OPEN WHEEL DRIVERS AT IRP INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (May 22) - Simpson Race Products and Indianapolis Raceway Park are excited to announce a new program for the 1999 USAC season on the IRP oval. In the “Simpson Super Seven,” a $50,000 bonus could be awarded to a USAC driver who wins both features at the Arby’s Season Finale on Saturday, September 18. “We wanted to do something special for the drivers who support us by using our products,” explains Bill Simpson of Simpson Race Products. “This is by far our most creative way of awarding those drivers who have supported us throughout their careers by using our products, as well as offering an incentive to up and coming drivers.” The driver finishing in the highest position while wearing Simpson Race Products in the feature race at each USAC event held at IRP prior to Sept. 18 will be eligible to participate in the “Simpson Super Seven” program. The qualifiers for the event will have the opportunity to be awarded the $50,000 bonus if they win both the MCI WorldCom USAC Midget Car Series and the Stoops Freightliner USAC Sprint Car Series doubleheader at IRP’s final oval event in September. “Simpson Race Products has been a strong supporter of our USAC open wheel events for a number of years,” commented Tom Weisenbach, Director of Sales and Development for Indianapolis Raceway Park. “Simpson has remained an innovative leader in the development of racing safety products as well. Together, we have created a program that allows us to reward drivers who use Simpson Race Products with a $50,000 bonus. -30-