1996–97 Indy Racing League

Confirmed entries

Schedule

All races were run on oval speedways.[[File:TonyStewartIRL9697.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Tony Stewart]]'s championship car.]]

After the 1996 prologue-style, 3-race season that ended at the 80th Indianapolis 500, the 1996–97 season had just two further races in calendar year 1996, at New Hampshire International Speedway, a former CART venue, and a barely inaugurated Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On 9 October 1996, the IRL decided to revert to a calendar-based format for 1998, moving the intended end of the 1996–97 season at Indianapolis in May to Las Vegas in October.

For calendar year 1997, all five races from 1996 were held again, alongside three further races, contested consecutively in the summer months after the Indianapolis 500. Two new venues, Texas Motor Speedway and Pikes Peak International Raceway, was followed by IRL's first incursion in a NASCAR foothold, the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Texas and Charlotte held the first night races in Indy-car history, and became the first 1.5 mile banked oval racetracks in an Indy-car schedule since Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1983.

Results

Race summaries

True Value 200

The True Value 200 was held on August 18, 1996, at New Hampshire International Speedway. Richie Hearn qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 1 – Scott Sharp
2. 12 – Buzz Calkins
3. 33 – Michele Alboreto
4. 10 – Mike Groff
5. 14 – Davey Hamilton
6. 21 – Roberto Guerrero
7. 40 – Marco Greco
8. 22 – Stéphan Grégoire
9. 7 – Eliseo Salazar
10. 18 – John Paul Jr.

Failed to qualify: 24-Randy Tolsma, 25-Jon Field, 64-Johnny Unser, 75-Johnny O'Connell and 96-Mike Orday

• This was Sharp's first IndyCar win.
• The win was also the first for A. J. Foyt Enterprises since A. J. Foyt won the 1981 Van Scoy Diamond Mines 500 at Pocono International Raceway.
• Tony Stewart was the class of the field leading for 165 of 200 laps, accruing a nearly 3 lap lead over second place. However, he suffered complete electrical failure after 182 laps and finished 12th.

Las Vegas 500K (1996)

The Las Vegas 500K was held on September 15, 1996, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Arie Luyendyk qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 4 – Richie Hearn
2. 22 – Michel Jourdain Jr.
3. 10 – Mike Groff
4. 21 – Roberto Guerrero
5. 33 – Michele Alboreto
6. 12 – Buzz Calkins
7. 7 – Eliseo Salazar
8. 54 – Robbie Buhl
9. 40 – Marco Greco
10. 34 – Affonso Giaffone Failed to qualify: 96-Dave Steele

• This was the final IRL race contested with the turbocharged machines.
• Hearn's only IndyCar win. Because he and his team, Della Penna Motorsports, were switching to CART for 1997, he would not compete in any more IRL races for the remainder of the season.
• The slow pace of the race, consisting of nine cautions, caused ABC to leave just past the halfway point.
• Johnny O'Connell had a violent crash on lap 185 that resulted in him sliding upside down on the main straightaway resulting in a short red flag period.
• Johnny Parsons' final IndyCar race. He had started IndyCar races since 1969. In this race, he crashed on lap nine and finished 28th (last).

Indy 200

The Indy 200 was held on January 25, 1997, at Walt Disney World Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 51 – Eddie Cheever
2. 10 – Mike Groff
3. 6 – Scott Goodyear
4. 1 – Scott Sharp
5. 91 – Buddy Lazier
6. 27 – Jim Guthrie
7. 14 – Davey Hamilton
8. 22 – Marco Greco
9. 33 – Fermin Velez
10. 2 – Tony Stewart (DNF, crash) Failed to qualify: 4-Davy Jones

• The race was shortened from 200 laps to 149 laps due to rain.
• This was the first IRL race contested with the normally aspirated engines and new chassis.
• This was Eddie Cheever's first Indy car win.
• Buzz Calkins was leading when his engine failed on lap 145. Stewart took the lead, but crashed on the following lap. Cheever inherited the lead and the race was stopped three laps later when a downpour ensued.
• Danny Ongais' final IndyCar race. He finished 13th due to a crash after 94 laps.

Phoenix 200

The Phoenix 200 was held on March 23, 1997, at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 27 – Jim Guthrie
2. 2 – Tony Stewart
3. 14 – Davey Hamilton
4. 22 – Marco Greco
5. 77 – Stéphan Grégoire
6. 10 – Mike Groff
7. 21 – Roberto Guerrero
8. 12 – Buzz Calkins
9. 18 – John Paul Jr.
10. 16 – Sam Schmidt Failed to qualify: 17-Danny Ongais and 54-Robbie Buhl

• Guthrie's only IndyCar win. He stretched his fuel over the final 82 laps and the $170,100 payout allowed him to settle off his debts from getting a second mortgage.
• Kenny Bräck and Sam Schmidt made their IndyCar debuts in this race. Bräck led 24 laps, but crashed on lap 146 and finished 11th. Schmidt crashed on lap 176, but finished 10th.

Indianapolis 500

The Indianapolis 500 was scheduled for May 25, 1997. Rain postponed the start until the following day: Monday, May 26. After 15 laps were run on Monday, rain fell again, halting the race, and postponing it for another day. It was resumed and run to conclusion Tuesday, May 27. Arie Luyendyk qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 5 – Arie Luyendyk
2. 6 – Scott Goodyear
3. 52 – Jeff Ward
4. 91 – Buddy Lazier
5. 2 – Tony Stewart
6. 14 – Davey Hamilton
7. 11 – Billy Boat
8. 3 – Robbie Buhl
9. 30 – Robbie Groff
10. 33 – Fermin Velez Failed to qualify: 1-Scott Sharp, 1-Johnny O'Connell, 18-John Paul Jr. and 36-Scott Harrington

• On lap 199, the caution came when Stewart brushed the wall and it was expected that the race would end under caution. However, the green flag and the white flag came out simultaneously without warning to start the final lap and caution lights were still displayed around the track, causing confusion if the race was really restarted.
• Treadway Racing's cars finished 1st and 2nd, making it the first time since 1962 with Leader Card Racing that a team finished 1st and 2nd.
• The starting grid was expanded from 33 to 35 cars due to the 25/8 rule (which guaranteed the top 25 cars in the IRL standings a starting position, provided they meet a minimum speed) causing cars outside the fastest 33 to qualify. As a result, Lyn St. James and Johnny Unser were added to the rear of the field.
• A crash during the pace lap on Monday caused all of row 5 (Stéphan Grégoire, Affonso Giaffone and Kenny Bräck) to retire.
• Sharp was injured in a practice crash and replaced by O'Connell, who then was injured in practice. Paul Durant successfully qualified via the 25/8 rule (see above) and finished 21st.

True Value 500

The inaugural True Value 500 was held June 7, 1997, at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 5 – Arie Luyendyk
2. 1 – Billy Boat
3. 14 – Davey Hamilton
4. 6 – Scott Goodyear
5. 2 – Tony Stewart
6. 51 – Eddie Cheever
7. 7 – Eliseo Salazar
8. 97 – Greg Ray
9. 8 – Vincenzo Sospiri
10. 10 – Johnny Unser Failed to qualify: 10-Mike Groff, 36-Scott Harrington, 50-Billy Roe, 77-Stéphan Grégoire and 90-Lyn St. James

• Boat was initially declared the winner due to a scoring error. Luyendyk came into victory lane to protest, but was slapped by A. J. Foyt. The error was eventually realized and Luyendyk was declared the winner. Foyt still has the original trophy.
• Stewart appeared to be on his way to his first win when his engine blew, causing him to then crash, on lap 207.
• Points leader Groff was injured in practice. Unser drove in his place to a 10th-place finish.
• In the aftermath of the scoring error, USAC was removed as sanctioning body and the IRL went in-house.

Samsonite 200

The inaugural Samsonite 200 was held on June 29, 1997, at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Scott Sharp qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 2 – Tony Stewart
2. 77 – Stéphan Grégoire
3. 14 – Davey Hamilton
4. 51 – Eddie Cheever
5. 12 – Buzz Calkins
6. 22 – Vincenzo Sospiri
7. 6 – Scott Goodyear
8. 91 – Buddy Lazier
9. 17 – Affonso Giaffone
10. 30 – Robbie Groff Failed to qualify: 3-Robbie Buhl and 27-Jim Guthrie

• This was Stewart's first IndyCar win.
• Scott Sharp returned in this race and qualified on the pole position. However, he crashed on the first lap and re-injured himself, missing the rest of the season.
• This was the first race for the IRL as the sole sanctioning body and sole operator of race control

VisionAire 500

The inaugural VisionAire 500 was held on July 26, 1997, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 91 – Buddy Lazier
2. 1 – Billy Boat
3. 6 – Scott Goodyear
4. 17 – Affonso Giaffone
5. 4 – Kenny Bräck
6. 51 – Eddie Cheever
7. 2 – Tony Stewart
8. 77 – Stéphan Grégoire
9. 70 – Marco Greco
10. 7 – Eliseo Salazar

• Greg Ray's car was run in conjunction with Richard Childress Racing for this race.

Pennzoil 200

The Pennzoil 200 was held August 17, 1997, at New Hampshire International Speedway. Marco Greco qualified on the pole position.

Top 10 results

1. 3 – Robbie Buhl
2. 22 – Vincenzo Sospiri
3. 5 – Arie Luyendyk
4. 7 – Eliseo Salazar
5. 4 – Kenny Bräck
6. 21 – Roberto Guerrero
7. 18 – John Paul Jr.
8. 1 – Billy Boat
9. 51 – Eddie Cheever
10. 30 – Robbie Groff Failed to qualify: 10-Mike Groff and 97-Greg Ray

• This was Buhl's first IndyCar win.
• Mike Groff was injured once again in practice and missed the remainder of the season.
• Entering the season finale at Las Vegas, Tony Stewart led Davey Hamilton by 10 points.

Las Vegas 500K (1997)

The Las Vegas 500K was held on October 11, 1997, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole.

Top 10 results

1. 7 – Eliseo Salazar
2. 6 – Scott Goodyear
3. 3 – Robbie Buhl
4. 27 – Jim Guthrie
5. 28 – Mark Dismore
6. 33 – Jimmy Kite
7. 14 – Davey Hamilton
8. 19 – Stan Wattles
9. 77 – Stéphan Grégoire
10. 70 – Marco Greco

• This was Salazar's first and only IndyCar win.
• Tony Stewart won the championship by six points over Hamilton by virtue of finishing 11th to Hamilton's 7th.
• On lap 201, Roberto Guerrero lost control on the back straightway and flipped through the grass.
• By virtue of Arie Luyendyk finishing 25th due to engine failure and Scott Goodyear finishing 2nd, Goodyear was able to leapfrog from 9th in the season standings to 5th for the final season standings.

Points standings