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IRL: Pennzoil Panther/Scott Goodyear Final Notes, Texas

19 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

OCTOBER 18: Rain delayed the start of yesterday's Mall.com 500 at Texas Motor Speedway but it didn't slow down the Pennzoil Panther Pack. The race was delayed almost 4 hours due to rain in the Ft. Worth area but the green flag was dropped at approximately 5:00 p.m. and Goodyear began his charge to the front. Goodyear took the lead on lap 31 and dominated the first half of the race, capturing the MBNA lap leader award with 65 laps led. On lap #91 Goodyear turned the fastest lap of the day at 217.579 miles per hour and looked as though he was on his way to capturing his second victory of the season at Texas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately a victory was not on tap for Goodyear and the Pennzoil Panther Pack. On lap 115 Goodyear was exiting turn 4 and went into a half spin hitting the outside retaining wall and coming to rest in the infield grass area. "At this point we're not sure what happened. Scott was turning great laps and the car seemed to be handling really well. We'll have to take a look at the car and race tapes and see if we can figure out what went wrong. We all just feel very blessed that Scott is ok." Said Team Co-owner and manager John Barnes. Goodyear was taken to the infield medical center and due to complaints of leg pain and his injury from the Las Vegas race he was transported to a Dallas area hospital where he will be held overnight for observation.

Mark Dismore captured his first victory of his career tonite in the season finale.

The Pennzoil Panther Pack had been in the championship hunt, and lead, for the majority of the season. Today's 23rd place finish left them in 9th position for the year. Greg Ray, who finished 3rd in today's race, won the series championship.

The Pennzoil Panther Pack will be at Texas Motor Speedway on Monday to provide a rookie test to Indy Lights driver Airton Dare. Dare currently competes in the Indy Lights series and will attempt to pass his IRL rookie test under the watchful eyes of Pennzoil Panther Team Co-owner and manager John Barnes and IRL Director Brian Barnhart.

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.