1996-1997 in IRL

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The 1996-1997 Indy Racing League season was a result of the league abandoning the concept of ending each season with the Indianapolis 500. Following the races at Loudon and Las Vegas, on October 9, 1996, the Indy Racing League announced that the league would revert to a calendar-based schedule for 1998. The 1996-97 season was originally scheduled to begin at Loudon in August 1996 and end with the Indianapolis 500 in May 1997. To prevent awarding two championships in less than six months, the last two races in 1996 were added to a complete 1997 season to create a single championship awarded in October 1997.

The two remaining races in 1996 were contested with the same outdated equipment as the 1996 season. All races that took place in 1997, starting with the race at Walt Disney World Speedway, were contested with all new purpose-built oval chassis from G-Force and Dallara with stock block naturally aspirated 4.0 liter V8's from Oldsmobile and Infiniti. Only seven drivers competed in all ten races of this seventeen month long marathon schedule.

1 Race summaries
2 Final point standings
- 2.1 Driver

[edit] Race summaries

[edit] True Value 200

This race took place August 18, 1996 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Richie Hearn won the pole.

Top ten results

[edit] 1996 Las Vegas 500K

This race took place September 15, 1996 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Arie Luyendyk won the pole.

Top ten results

[edit] Indy 200

This race took place January 25, 1997 at Walt Disney World Speedway. It was the first race with the new chassis and naturally aspirated engines. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results

[edit] Phoenix 200

This race took place March 23, 1997 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony Stewart won the pole.

Top ten results

[edit] 81st Indianapolis 500

The Indy 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 sat on pole.

Top ten results

[edit] True Value 500

This race took place June 7, 1997 at Texas Motor Speedway. It marked the first American open-wheel superspeedway night race. Tony Stewart won the pole. Race officials had presented the checkered flag to Billy Boat as winner of the race, but Arie Luyendyk stormed to victory lane claiming he had won the race. Boat's owner A.J. Foyt slapped Luyendyk and told him to leave. The race tape was reviewed and it was determined that laps where Luyendyk, and in fact some other drivers, passed through pit road were not properly counted by the scoring system. Officially Luyendyk was declared the winner the following day. Foyt, however refused to return the trophy and retains the original to this day. A duplicate was awarded to Luyendyk.

Top ten results