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Luyendyk Nets $1,553,650 Purse at Indy

30 May 1997

LUYENDYK CLAIMS RECORD $1,553,650 FOR "500" WIN
For Immediate Release        			


INDIANAPOLIS, May 30, 1997 -- Arie Luyendyk's victory in the 81st running of
the Indianapolis 500 was worth a record $1,568,150, according to final prize
figures released today.

Luyendyk's win by .57 of a second over Treadway Racing teammate Scott
Goodyear, coupled with taking the PPG Pole Award and other prizes, produced
the record payoff.

Goodyear got $513,300 for second, giving the Treadway team a payday of
$2,081,450 in the second "500" presented by the Indy Racing League.

The winner's share was part of a record total purse of $8,612,450 for the
world's richest auto race, up nearly $500,000 from the previous record of
$8,114,600 set in 1996.

The check to Luyendyk  for his second "500" victory bettered the previous
winning mark of $1,373,813 claimed by Al Unser Jr., in 1994. It also enabled
the popular Dutchman, who also won in 1990, to become the all-time
Indianapolis 500 money leader, vaulting past Emerson Fittipaldi, Unser Jr.,
and Rick Mears to the top spot.

Luyendyk and the teams for which he has driven have now collected $5,027,329
in 13 Indianapolis 500s. The retired Mears, one of three four-time "500"
winners, is now second on the all-time list at $4,299,392.

The prize checks ranged from Luyendyk's to the $139,500 received by Robby
Gordon and Team Sabco for 29th place.

Bank One Rookie of the Year Jeff Ward and FirstPlus Team Cheever picked up
$414,250 for third and Buddy Lazier and Hemelgarn Racing got $279,250 for
fourth. Tony Stewart and Team Menard got $345,050 for fifth, including
$28,800 in lap prizes.

Checks for 13 drivers and teams topped the $200,000 mark. Kenny Brack and
Galles Racing, with a 33rd-place finish, got $202,250, including the $40,000
top prize in the Coors Indy Pit Stop Challenge.

The date for the 82nd running of the Indianapolis 500 is May 24, 1998.

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