64 ENTRIES FILED FOR 81st INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS, April 21, 1997 - Former winner Arie Luyendyk and defending
victor Buddy Lazier head the list of drivers nominated on 64 entries filed
to vie for spots in the 33-car starting lineup for the 81st running of the
Indianapolis 500 on May 25, it was announced today by Indy Racing League
officials.
Opening day at the Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, with the
United States Auto Club's Rookie Orientation Program running through May 5.
Veteran drivers take the track starting May 6.
The month of May will start after thousands of miles of preseason testing by
Indy Racing League teams with the League's new car-engine combination at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 2 ½-mile oval.
The entry list shows 28 G Force and 29 Dallara chassis, with seven cars
unspecified. A total of 46 will be powered by Oldsmobile Aurora engines and
13 will have Nissan Infiniti Indy powerplants. Five engines are unspecified.
On-track coverage and special programming will be aired throughout May on
ESPN, ESPN2 and QVC. ESPN and ABC Sports will cover time trials, which are
scheduled for May 10-11 and May 17-18. The race will be broadcast live by
ABC Sports for the 12th straight year.
Luyendyk, 43, of Scottsdale, Ariz., set the race record of 185.981 miles an
hour when he won the 1990 edition of the "500." Last year, he set track
records of 237.498 miles an hour for one-lap and 236.986 for four- laps,
marks that are expected to stand with the new IRL formula in place to slow
the cars. He's listed on a Treadway Racing Wavephore Miller Lite G
Force/Aurora for Treadway Racing of Indianapolis.
Lazier, 29, of Vail, Colo., made history a year ago by charging to the front
in the late going, then holding off Davy Jones on a final-lap restart to
capture his first "500." Lazier returns to Hemelgarn Racing and is listed as
the driver on two cars, Delta Faucet-Montana-Hemelgarn Racing Dallaras with
Infiniti engines.
Team Menard, which captured the pole position for the last two "500s" with
the late Scott Brayton driving, has entered six G Forces with Aurora power,
including two each for 1996 pole starter Tony Stewart and 1996 third-place
IRL point finisher Robbie Buhl. Stewart, 25, of Indianapolis, is listed on
a pair of Glidden/Menards/Specials. Buhl, 33, of Grosse Pointe, Mich., was
named as driver of two Quaker State/Specials.
Team Scandia filed eight entries, six of them with the Dallara/Aurora
combination and two unspecified and named five drivers to its fleet. Eliseo
Salazar, 41, of Santiago, Chile and Alessandro Zampedri, 27, of Monte Carlo
are making comeback bids after suffering injuries in racing accidents.
Salazar is listed on two Copec/Cristal/Scandia entries and Zampedri is on a
pair of Mi-Jack Scandia Royal Purple machines. Both drivers tested at the
Speedway during the pre-May period.
Others named to Team Scandia rides are Fermin Velez, 38, of Barcelona, Spain
in an Old Navy Scandia Royal Purple Alta Xcel entry; Marco Greco, 33, of Sao
Paulo, Brazil, in a Side Play International Scandia Alta Xcel machine and
rookie Vincenzo Sospiri, 30, of Monte Carlo in a Scandia Royal Purple Alta
Xcel car.
Scott Goodyear, 37, of Toronto returns to the Speedway as a teammate to
Luyendyk with Treadway Racing. Goodyear is listed on a Treadway Racing
Nortel G Force/Aurora. Treadway entered a backup car with no driver listed.
Mike Groff, 34, the 1996-97 IRL driver point leader from Pasadena, Calif.,
is listed on a pair of Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria Bryant Heating & Cooling G
Forces with Infiniti power entered by Jonathan Byrd- Cunningham Racing.
Groff comes to the "500" with a11-point lead over his nearest challengers.
A.J. Foyt Enterprises of Houston, Texas, entered five cars, two each for
1996 IRL co-champion Scott Sharp and veteran Davey Hamilton. Sharp, 29, of
Danville, Calif., is listed on two Conseco AJ Foyt Racing entries with
Aurora power, one a Dallara and the other a G Force. Hamilton, 34, of Boise,
Idaho, is listed on a pair of AJ Foyt Power Team Racing entries, also a
Dallara and a G Force and both with Aurora power.
Buzz Calkins, 25, of Denver, Colo., who shared the 1996 IRL championship
with Sharp, is entered in two Bradley Food Marts G Forces with Aurora power
entered by Bradley Motorsports of Denver. Calkins made history by winning
the IRL's inaugural race, the 1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World.
Roberto Guerrero, 38, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was named to two
Pennzoil-Pagan Racing Dallara Infiniti entries by Pagan Racing. Guerrero
held the track record at the Speedway of 232.618 miles an hour from 1992
until Luyendyk broke it last year.
Eddie Cheever Jr., 39, of Tampa, Fla., and Jeff Ward, 35, of San Juan
Capistrano, Calif., each are listed on two FirstPlus Team Cheever G Forces
with Aurora power. Cheever won the 1997 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World in
January in his first win as a driver/owner. Ward, who substituted for the
injured Davy Jones at Disney World, will bid for his first "500" start.
Lyn St. James, 50, of Daytona Beach, Fla., is listed on two
Lifetime-TV-Cinergy entries, one a Dallara with an Infiniti engine on an
entry from LSJ Racing/Hemelgarn Racing and the other unspecified from
Hemelgarn Racing. St. James earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1992 when
she became the second female driver to make a "500" field.
Gary Bettenhausen, 55, a 21-time "500" veteran from Indianapolis, was named
to a Terhune-Barnets Racing Dallara/Aurora on an entry from Terhune-Barnets
Racing/LP Racing. Bettenhausen led 138 laps of the "500" in 1972 and bids
for his first appearance in the field since 1993.
Jim Guthrie, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., is listed on a pair of CRUISIN
AMERICA/Jacuzzi/Blueprint Racing Dallaras with Aurora engines entered by
Blueprint Racing. Guthrie won the IRL's most recent race in March at
Phoenix. Sam Schmidt, 29, of Las Vegas, Nev., a rookie who made his IRL
debut at Phoenix, is listed in a Blueprint Racing Dallara/Aurora.
John Paul Jr., 37, of West Palm Beach, Fla., is named on a Klipsch Tnemec
Overhead Door Pyle V- Line Earl's Dallara/Aurora entered by PDM Racing. Paul
Jr., won the 1983 Michigan 500 and led the IRL's 1996 race at Las Vegas.
Tyce Carlson, 26, of Indianapolis, a rookie who made two qualifying tries in
the final minutes of time trials a year ago only to barely miss the field,
was listed by PDM as driver of a Klipsch Tnemec V-Line Earl's Performance
Products entry with chassis and engine to be named.
Stephan Gregoire, 27, of Vittel, France, is named to drive a Chastain
Motorsports G Force/Aurora. Gregoire will bid for his third "500" start
after leading the race in his rookie year of 1993.
Rookie Kenny Brack, 31, of Karlstad, Sweden, is listed on a pair of Monsoon
Galles Racing G Forces with Aurora engines for Galles Racing International
of Albuquerque, N.M. Brack replaced the injured Davy Jones at Phoenix and
led in his first IRL race.
Jack Miller, 35, of Carmel, Ind., also a rookie, was named to two AMS/Crest
Racing entries, one a Dallara/Infiniti and the other unspecified. The cars
were entered by Arizona Motorsports of Indianapolis. Miller moved to the IRL
from the Indy Lights ranks.
Affonso Giaffone, 29, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, a rookie who also led at
Phoenix, was entered in a pair of General Motors of Brazil Chitwood Dallaras
on entries filed by Chitwood Motorsports of Tampa, Fla.
Other rookies entered are Billy Roe, 39, of Gilbert, Ariz., in two
Sega/Progressive Electronics/Eurointernational Dallaras with Aurora power by
Eurointernational and Greg Ray, 30, of Plano, Texas, in a Tobacco Free Kids
Dallara/Aurora for Thomas Knapp Motorsport.
Veteran Robby Gordon was previously announced when Team Sabco filed the
first two entries for the "500." Gordon, 28, of Cornelius, N.C., will be at
the wheel of two Coors Light G Forces with Aurora engines.
Four teams entered cars without drivers. They include Beck Motorsports of
Indianapolis with four entries, Alfa Laval/McCormack Motorsports of
Indianapolis with two and Johansson Motorsports, Sinden Racing Service and
Tempero-Giuffre Racing with one car each.
The entry deadline was April 11, although drivers may be named later.
81ST INDINAPOLIS 500
Sunday, May 25
Official Entry List
Car YR Driver Car Name Entrant
Hometown Chassis / Engine / Tire
1 3 Scott Sharp Conseco AJ Foyt Racing AJ Foyt Enterprises
Danville, CA G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
1T 3 Scott Sharp Conseco AJ Foyt Racing AJ Foyt Enterprises
Danville, CA Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
2 1 Tony Stewart Glidden/Menards/Special Team Menard, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
2T 1 Tony Stewart Glidden/Menards/Special Team Menard, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
3 1 Robbie Buhl Quaker State/Special Team Menard, Inc.
Grosse Pointe, MI G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
3T 1 Robbie Buhl Quaker State/Special Team Menard, Inc.
Grosse Pointe, MI G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
4 R Kenny Brack Monsoon Galles Racing Galles Racing International
Karlstad, Sweden G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Albuquerque, NM
4T R Kenny Brack Monsoon Galles Racing Galles Racing International
Karlstad, Sweden G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Albuquerque, NM
5 12 Arie Luyendyk Treadway Racing Wavephore Miller Lite Treadway Racing, LLC
Scottsdale, AZ G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
5T TBA Treadway Racing Treadway Racing, LLC
G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
6 6 Scott Goodyear Treadway Racing Nortel Treadway Racing, LLC
Toronto, Ontario, CAN G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
7 2 Eliseo Salazar Copec/Cristal/Scandia Team Scandia
Santiago, Chile Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
7T 2 Eliseo Salazar Copec/Cristal/Scandia Team Scandia
Santiago, Chile Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
8 R Vincenzo Sospiri Scandia Royal Purple Alta Xcel Team Scandia
Monte Carlo, Monaco TBA / TBA/ Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
9 5 Lyn St. James Lifetime TV-Cinergy Hemelgarn Racing, Inc.
Daytona Beach, FL TBA/ TBA/ TBA Indianapolis, IN
10 3 Mike Groff Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria Bryant Heating & Cooling
Pasadena, CA G Force / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Greenwood, IN
10T 3 Mike Groff Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria Bryant Heating & Cooling
Pasadena, CA G Force / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Greenwood, IN
11 TBA AJ Foyt Enterprises AJ Foyt Enterprises
TBA / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
12 1 Buzz Calkins Bradley Food Marts Bradley Motorsports
Denver, CO G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Denver, CO
12T 1 Buzz Calkins Bradley Food Marts Bradley Motorsports
Denver, CO G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Denver, CO
14 1 Davey Hamilton AJ Foyt PowerTeam Racing AJ Foyt Enterprises
Boise, ID G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
14T 1 Davey Hamilton AJ Foyt PowerTeam Racing AJ Foyt Enterprises
Boise, ID Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
15 TBA Tempero-Giuffre Racing Tempero-Giuffre Racing
G Force / Infiniti Indy V8 / Goodyear Ft. Collins, CO
16 R Sam Schmidt Blueprint Racing Blueprint Racing, Inc.
Las Vegas, NV Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone Hickory Hills, IL
17 R Affonso Giaffone General Motors of Brazil Chitwood Dallara
Sao Paulo, Brazil Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Tampa, FL
17T R Affonso Giaffone General Motors of Brazil Chitwood Dallara
Sao Paulo, Brazil Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Tampa, FL
18 6 John Paul, Jr. Klipsch Tnemec Overhead Door Pyle V-Line Earl's PDM Racing, Inc.
West Palm Beach, FL Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
20 TBA Menards/Special Team Menard, Inc.
G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
20T TBA Menards/Special Team Menard, Inc.
G Force / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
21 12 Roberto Guerrero Pennzoil-Pagan Racing Dallara Infiniti Pagan Racing
San Juan Capistrano, CA Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
21T 12 Roberto Guerrero Pennzoil-Pagan Racing Dallara Infiniti Pagan Racing
San Juan Capistrano, CA Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
22 2 Marco Greco Side Play Int'l Scandia Alta Xcel Team Scandia
Sao Paulo, Brazil Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
27 1 Jim Guthrie CRUISIN AMERICA/Jacuzzi/Blueprint Racing Dallara
Albuquerque, NM Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone Hickory Hills, IL
27T 1 Jim Guthrie CRUISIN AMERICA/Jacuzzi/Blueprint Racing Dallara
Albuquerque, NM Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone Hickory Hills, IL
28 0 Tyce Carlson Klipsch Tnemec V-Line Earl's Performance Products
Indianapolis, IN TBA / TBA / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
30 TBA Alfa Laval/McCormack Motorsports McCormack Motorsports, Inc.
G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Avon, IN
30T TBA Alfa Laval/McCormack Motorsports McCormack Motorsports, Inc.
G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Avon, IN
33 1 Fermin Velez Old Navy Scandia Royal Purple Alta Xcel Team Scandia
Barcelona, Spain Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
34 2 Alessandro Zampedri Mi-Jack Scandia Royal Purple Team Scandia
Monte Carlo, Monaco Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
34T 2 Alessandro Zampedri Mi-Jack Scandia Royal Purple Team Scandia
Monte Carlo, Monaco Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
36 TBA Johansson Motorsports Johansson Motorsports, Inc.
G Force / Aurora V8 / TBA Indianapolis, IN
40 R Jack Miller AMS/Crest Racing Arizona Motorsports
Carmel, IN Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
40T R Jack Miller AMS/Crest Racing Arizona Motorsports
Carmel, IN TBA / TBA / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
41 TBA AJ Foyt Enterprises AJ Foyt Enterprises
TBA / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Houston, TX
42 3 Robby Gordon Coors Light Team Sabco
Cornelius, NC G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Mooresville, NC
42T 3 Robby Gordon Coors Light Team Sabco
Cornelius, NC G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Mooresville, NC
43 TBA Scandia Royal Purple Alta Xcel Team Scandia
TBA / TBA / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
44 TBA Sinden Racing Service Sinden Racing
Dallara / Aurora V8 / TBA Indianapolis, IN
50 R Billy Roe Sega/Progressive Electronics/Eurointernational
Eurointernational Inc.
Gilbert, AZ Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
50T R Billy Roe Sega/Progressive Electronics/Eurointernational
Gilbert, AZ Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
51 7 Eddie Cheever, Jr. FirstPlus Team Cheeever FirstPlus Team Cheever
Tampa, FL G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
51T 7 Eddie Cheever, Jr. FirstPlus Team Cheeever FirstPlus Team Cheever
Tampa, FL G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
52 0 Jeff Ward FirstPlus Team Cheever FirstPlus Team Cheever
San Juan Capistrano, CA G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
52T 0 Jeff Ward FirstPlus Team Cheever FirstPlus Team Cheever
San Juan Capistrano, CA G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Indianapolis, IN
54 TBA Beck Motorsports Beck Motorsports
Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
54T TBA Beck Motorsports Beck Motorsports
Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
772 Stephan Gregoire Chastain Motorsports Chastain Motorsports
Vittel, France G Force / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Noblesville, IN
81 21 Gary Bettenhausen Terhune-Barnets Racing Terhune-Barnets Racing/LP Racing
Indianapolis, IN Dallara / Aurora V8 / Goodyear Middletown, OH
90 5 Lyn St. James Lifetime-TV-Cinergy LSJ Racing/Hemelgarn Racing, Inc.
Daytona Beach, FL Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / TBA Indianapolis, IN
91 4 Buddy Lazier Delta Faucet-Montana-Hemelgarn Racing Hemelgarn Racing, Inc.
Vail, CO Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
91T 4 Buddy Lazier Delta Faucet-Montana-Hemelgarn Racing Hemelgarn Racing, Inc.
Vail, CO Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
97 R Greg Ray Tobacco Free Kids Thomas Knapp Motorsport
Plano, TX Dallara / Aurora V8 / Firestone East Lansing, MI
98 TBA Beck Motorsports Beck Motorsports
Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
98T TBA Beck Motorsports Beck Motorsports
Dallara / Infiniti Indy V8 / Firestone Indianapolis, IN
Legend: R- Indianapolis 500 Rookie