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Indy Lights: Dayton Indy Lights Championship race purse gets record boost

8 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
DETROIT - The biggest race purse increase in the history of the Dayton Indy Lights Championship was announced today by CART and Indy Lights officials.

The overall per-race purse has jumped $10,000 to $74,200 while each race winner will now earn $25,000, a %25 increase over the previous amount. The total race purse increase is %16.

"We have wanted to increase our race purse for years and only now under CART's ownership has it been possible," said Indy Lights President Roger Bailey. "Andrew Craig and everyone at CART have made it clear that Indy Lights is an important part of CART's Ladder System and this certainly proves their commitment. I know I speak for all of our competitors in stating our sincere thanks to CART for this generous increase."

In addition to the $5,000 jump for race winners, second place has been increased $2,500 to $12,500 while third place ($7,500) and ($5,500) have been bumped by $500. Position five has been increased by $300 ($43,000), places six through 10 are now $200 richer and positions 11 and 12 have been given $100 boosts.

With the increased race purse, the total Dayton Indy Lights Championship prize fund - including year-end championship awards - is now $1,328,800.

Entering its 15th year of competition in 2000, the Dayton Indy Lights Championship is the final stop for aspiring drivers and teams bound for the FedEx Championship Series. Drivers competing in CART's top-level Champ Car division who raced and won in Indy Lights include Paul Tracy (1990 Indy Lights champion), Adrian Fernandez (1992 Indy Lights Rookie of the Year), Bryan Herta (1993 Indy Lights champion), Tony Kanaan (1997 Indy Lights champion), Cristiano da Matta (1998 Indy Lights champion) and Helio Castro-Neves. Additionally, the late Greg Moore (1995 Indy Lights champion) holds the all-time Indy Lights career victory record with 13.

2000 DAYTON INDY LIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE PURSE

1st $25,000
2nd $12,500
3rd $ 7,500
4th $ 5,500
5th $ 4,300
6th $ 3,400
7th $ 3,200
8th $ 3,000
9th $ 2,800
10th $ 2,600
11th $ 2,300
12th $ 2,100

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.