Tracks: Indy Lights returns to Mid-Ohio for open test
17 May 2000
LEXINGTON, Ohio (May 17, 2000) - The Dayton Indy Lights Championship returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, for the first time since 1994, when CART's top development series conducts a two-day open test, May 17-18. Indy Lights teams will use the test to prepare for their return to racing at Mid-Ohio, when they compete in support of the Miller Lite 200, August 10-13. All teams will be present at the test. Designed primarily to develop talent for the CART FedEx Championship Series, the Dayton Indy Lights Championship is recognized as one of the most competitive top-tier open-wheel training series in the world. Current CART drivers to pass through the series include 2000 CART All-Star Paul Tracy, Helio Castro-Neves, Cristiano da Matta, Adrian Fernandez, Tony Kanaan, Gualter Salles, and rookie Oriol Servia. The Indy Lights series places emphasis on driver skills and team preparation through the use of "spec," or identical, equipment. Indy Lights cars are about 25 percent smaller than the CART Champ Cars, and are capable of reaching speeds in excess of 190 mph. Similar to the tracks on which CART competes, the Indy Lights series races on short ovals, superspeedways, permanent road courses and temporary road courses. Races are 75 miles in length on road courses and 100 miles in duration on the ovals. Current notable names in the series include Andy and Geoff Boss of Dublin, Ohio-based Lucas Motorsports and Casey Mears, son of former CART driver Roger Mears and nephew of three-time CART series champion Rick Mears. Jonny Kane, the 1999 Rookie of the Year, returns this season as does two-time Barber Dodge champion Jeff Simmons. The series comes to Mid-Ohio for Round Seven of 12 events on the 2000 schedule. Some notable Mid-Ohio race winners include P.J. Jones in 1989, Paul Tracy in 1990 and Bryan Herta in 1993. Andre Ribeiro won the most recent race in 1994. Current drivers will take aim at the track record, set in 1993 by Bryan Herta with a speed of 108.033 mph. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a 2.4-mile, 15-turn permanent road course located in Lexington, Ohio, 60 miles north of Columbus and 75 miles south of Cleveland. Commonly referred to as the "Most Competitive in the U.S.," Mid-Ohio hosts six major motorsports events in 2000, including amateur, professional and international racing of the two- and four-wheel variety. Mid-Ohio is also home to The Mid-Ohio School, featuring 10 different driving programs. For event information or to order tickets, call 1-800-MID-OHIO or (419) 884-4000, or visit Mid-Ohio online at www.midohio.com.