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Northern Light IRL: Lazier and Olds Win IRL Titles

16 October 2000

FORT WORTH, Texas - Buddy Lazier finished fourth in the Excite 500 at
Texas Motor Speedway today, but he finished first in the race for the $1
million Indy Racing Northern Light Series championship with Hemelgarn
Racing's Oldsmobile-powered Dallara. Scott Goodyear made his last drive in
Pennzoil Panther Racing's Oldsmobile Dallara a memorable one, scoring his
first victory of the season and securing second place in the championship
points. And for the fourth consecutive season, Oldsmobile engines swept the
IRL Manufacturer, Driver, Team, and Rookie championships.

    Lazier parlayed two victories and six Top Four finishes into his
first championship. He raced with his characteristic intensity in Texas,
running wheel-to-wheel with title rivals Goodyear and Eddie Cheever Jr.
Lazier led 38 laps before a late-race pit stop took him out of contention
for the victory.

    "I had a car that was capable of winning," said Lazier. "We didn't
take any huge chances until we knew we had the championship."

    The race pace was fast and furious. The first 67 laps were run under
green flag conditions, and only four caution periods slowed the action. The
175.276 mph average speed for the 208-lap race was the fastest in IRL
history.

    Lazier's team owner Ron Hemelgarn credited Speedway Engine Development
for providing the power to win the title. "Rick Long and his crew build an
engine that will last," said Hemelgarn. "After he gets the reliability he
pours on the horsepower. We're getting more power out of the Oldsmobile
engine, and that's helped us step up our program."

    Goodyear led a total of 39 laps, taking the lead for the final time on
the last lap when he passed Cheever in Turn 3. "My guys gave me a good car
and I just kept my foot on the pedal and went racing," said Goodyear after
his third career IRL victory.

    Billy Boat started 22nd and finished third using an Oldsmobile
engine provided by Panther Racing. Airton Dare won the Rookie of the Year
award with a 12th place finish.

    The 2001 IRL season will begin March 18 in Phoenix.

RACE SUMMARY:
Track: Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile oval
Winner: Scott Goodyear, Pennzoil Panther Racing Oldsmobile Dallara
Margin of Victory: 0.140 seconds
Average Speed: 175.276 mph

Top Five Finishers:
Pos./Driver/Engine              Laps
1. Scott Goodyear/Oldsmobile     208
2. Eddie Cheever Jr./Infiniti    208
3. Billy Boat/Oldsmobile         208
4. Buddy Lazier/Oldsmobile       208
5. Eliseo Salazar/Oldsmobile     207

Pole: Greg Ray/Oldsmobile, 215.352 mph
Fastest Lap: Jaques Lazier/Oldsmobile, 216.205 mph

Manufacturer Results:
            Oldsmobile    Infiniti
Laps Led       180           28
Starters        25            2
Running
at Finish       14            1

POINT STANDINGS:
(After 9 of 9 events)
Driver/Engine              Wins    Points
1. Buddy Lazier/Olds         2      290
2. Scott Goodyear/Olds       1      272
3. Eddie Cheever/Infiniti    1      257
4. Eliseo Salazar/Olds       0      210
5. Mark Dismore/Olds         0      202
(tie) Donnie Beechler        0      202

Manufacturer               Wins    Points
1. Oldsmobile                8       94
2. Nissan                    1       66

NEXT RACE:
Phoenix International Raceway, Phoenix, March 18, 2001