Northern Light IRL: Indy Racing Drivers Prepare for IROC Showdown at Michigan
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 8, 2001BROOKLYN, Mich. - Indy Racing Northern Light Series competitors Eddie Cheever Jr., Mark Dismore and Buddy Lazier turned laps June 6 at Michigan International Speedway in preparation for the True Value IROC race there June 9.
Rain subsided just long enough for the drivers to turn laps on the 2-mile oval. After the session, the trio left for Texas Motor Speedway, where they begin practice today for the Casino Magic 500. The IROC race starts at noon (EDT) at Michigan.
Twelve of the best drivers in the world from the Indy Racing Northern Light Series, NASCAR and CART compete in identically prepared Pontiac Firebird Trans Am stock cars in the True Value IROC series. The final round of the series is Aug. 4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Lazier, a rookie in the True Value IROC series, took a few laps around the speedway in a street car with series test driver Jim Sauter, who talked Lazier through the racing groove.
"I've never driven a stock car here, and it is a very different experience than running at Daytona or Talladega," Lazier said. "I've got a decent feel for what I need to do this Saturday."
Defending Northern Light Series champion Lazier is sixth in the IROC standings after finishing a career-best second in the second round of the series April 21 at Talladega, Ala.
1998 Indianapolis 500 winner Cheever won the Michigan IROC round last year in the first victory by an open-wheel driver in the series since 1997. He thinks a repeat victory is possible.
"Everything feels good, the car feels great to me, and I'm ready to go."
Cheever is fifth in the series standings, 10 points behind leader Bobby Labonte. Dismore took his time getting up to speed but soon became acclimated to the Michigan oval. "I think maybe I was a little rusty those first few laps, but the car felt great through the turns and very comfortable," Dismore said.
Dismore is tied for seventh in the series standings.
Al Unser Jr. will join his three fellow Indy Racing drivers in the Michigan True Value IROC round as a replacement for the injured Scott Goodyear. Unser has 11 career IROC victories, with four at Michigan. He won the series championship in 1986 and 1988.
While Goodyear will miss driving in this round due to a fractured lower back suffered in the Indianapolis 500, he will join Dr. Jerry Punch and 1987 True Value IROC champion Geoffrey Bodine as a commentator during the ESPN telecast of the race. The broadcast starts at 5 p.m. (EDT) June 9.
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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