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IRL: Record Purse Expected for 83rd Indy 500

13 May 1999

INDIANAPOLIS - The 33 participants in the 83rd Indianapolis 500 can get ready to break the bank in record fashion again this year. A record purse is expected for the 83rd Indianapolis 500 on May 30, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation officials announced today.

While the purse traditionally isn't revealed until the day after the race, Speedway officials expect the sum of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Pep Boys Indy Racing League awards, and designated and other awards, to exceed the record of $8,722,150 set last year.

Eddie Cheever Jr. earned $1,433,000 of the record purse last year for his first Indianapolis 500 victory.

Practice for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing starts May 15. Pole Day is May 22, Bubble Day is May 23 and Coors Carburetion Day is May 27.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.