Volume 2, Number 2 March 18, 1996
When A.J. Foyt nipped Roger McCluskey for the 1964 Governors Cup 100 victory at the brand-new Phoenix International Raceway, it signalled a new era for racing in the Valley of the Sun. At the time, the track was a sparkling replacement for the old Arizona State Fairgrounds dirt mile that had seen national championship racing since 1915.
On March 24, the Indianapolis-type cars make their 52nd appearance at the Desert Mile in the Dura-Lube 200, with a tentative entry list of 25 car/driver combinations set to vie for the lion's share of a $1 million-plus purse. The race will be aired live by ABC Sports and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.
The current crop of veterans and newcomers in the Indy Racing League will be following in the footsteps of the sport's legends of the past. Al Unser has six championship wins at Phoenix, followed by Gordon Johncock with five and five drivers -- Foyt, Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva and Mario Andretti -- each have four wins.
Arizona will be well - represented in IRL cockpits with 1990 Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, USAC midget and Silver Crown veteran Dan Drinan of Scottsdale, IMSA veteran Johnny O'Connell of Chandler and Phoenix native Eddie Cheever assigned to cars. Drinan will bid for his first start in the Indianapolis machines.
Buzz Calkins, the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World winner, takes a two-point lead over fellow rookie Tony Stewart into the Phoenix round of the inaugural IRL season. With the IRL point system "multiplier" in effect, Calkins' point lead can be challenged by many in the field.
Also on the card for the weekend are USAC's U.S. Formula Ford 2000 National Championship Series, the Sports Car Club of America's Shelby Pro Series and the STAR Formula Mazda Series.
The weekend starts with the Phoenix 200 Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, March 21 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.
The first day of ticket sales for the IRL's Las Vegas 500K on March 1 produced on overwhelming response. The flurry of virtually nonstop telephone activity produced 11,357 ticket orders from 47 states and three countries for the Sept. 15 inaugural event.
Many Las Vegas Motor Speedway executives, including president and owner Richie Clyne, manned phones for opening day.
"We can't be happier with the amount of interest that's been shown in our inaugural event in particular, and our Speedway in general," said Ray Wilkings, vice president / general manager of the facility. "Both Las Vegas Motor Speedway and major-league motorsports in Las Vegas are off to a healthy start."
On March 8, the track announced that former drag racer Gordie Bonin, 47, has been added to its sales and marketing staff. Bonin, a former marketing manager for the National Hot Rod Association, had nine national - event victories during his NHRA driving career.
It's our turn at Phoenix International Raceway!
The stage at our world's fastest one-mile oval is set, and we can't wait to host Round 2 of the inaugural Indy Racing League season March 22-24.
And, based on early-season testing and the recent three-day IRL "Test in the West" conducted at our track, I recommend we all tighten our safety belts!
No less than five drivers -- Arie Luyendyk, Tony Stewart, Roberto Guerrero, Richie Hearn and Buddy Lazier -- have topped the current track speed record, turning laps at an average speed as quick as 185,854 miles per hour.
We're excited about our upcoming Dura-Lube 200 and excited, too, to be a part of the Indy Racing League. As a one-mile oval with Indy-style racing roots that date to the track's opening in 1964, we treasure the rich history that has taken place over the years at Phoenix International Raceway, and we have placed a priority on playing a lead role in the preservation of this exciting form of motorsports.
So, what do we expect at the end of this week at Phoenix International Raceway? If history is an indication, we should expect the unexpected -- 12 different Indy car drivers have emerged victorious in our past 15 races, the track speed mark has been busted 11 times and three times we have witnessed a driver start at the back of the field and race all the way to the front to receive the checkers!
Expect the unexpected, but also count on a Phoenix International Raceway constant -- the racing will keep you on the edge of your seat, the weather and surrounding scenery will be perfect and we'll do everything in our power to make your visit a most memorable one.
See you at the Dura-Lube 200 in Phoenix!
"We're pleased with both the camaraderie and administration of this opportunity for new drivers."
Now that the "Test in the West" at Phoenix is over, we can reflect on what we learned from it and how it has provided an exciting preview of the League's second event March 24 at the Desert Mile.
First, Richie Hearn and Tony Stewart, both rookies, continued to shine. Both unofficially broke the track record, with Hearn running the fastest lap ever on a true one-mile oval.
Arie Luyendyk and Roberto Guerrero, both accomplished veterans, also broke the track mark. Pole Day at Phoenix should present a fine blend of competition between the newcomers and the "old guard".
Most importantly, though, the concept and opportunity of the IRL program took a giant leap as eight more rookies passed driver's tests, and did so in convincing fashion. Four of them -- Dan Drinan, Fermin Velez, Jim Guthrie and Michel Jourdain Jr. -- have rides at this writing for the Dura-Lube 200.
The latest crop of newcomers has come from a variety of backgrounds. Velez was successful in IMSA's World Sports Car ranks. Guthrie was a top-notch Atlantic driver. Jourdain Jr. raced everything from formula cars to semi-trucks in Mexico and is only 19 years old.
The PDM and Blueprint teams stayed after the three days of open testing to provide track time for others. Short-track veterans Billy Boat, Dan Drinan and Brian Gerster and Atlantic vets Gary Peterson and Billy Roe also passed.
The eight drivers who earned their "wings" at Phoenix continued to prove that a large pool of driving talent is available, and many drivers from both short tracks and road courses just need the chance to achieve the time - honored goal of reaching the Indianapolis 500. Through the IRL and the cooperative support of the teams, the first step for eight more promising drivers has now been taken.
We're pleased with both the camaraderie and administration of this opportunity for new drivers. USAC's Keith Ward has developed a solid rookie program for the mile tracks, and Johnny Rutherford's ability to communicate with the new drivers has helped immeasurably to pave their path.
On other fronts, progress is being made as well in the development of the series, in some cases much faster than any of us had hoped.
Both Oldsmobile and Nissan are hard at work on the Aurora and Infiniti Indy 4.0-liter engine programs for 1997. Meetings with car builders are taking place to define the 1997 chassis. The process is going smoothly and on schedule.
Entry invitations for the 80th running of the Indianapolis 500 have been mailed. The "500" is always special, but it will have the added dimension this year of the first IRL champion being crowned at its conclusion.
The IRL office is receiving a number of inquiries from potential entrants for both the remainder of this year and to start in 1997. The participation outlook continues to grow and brighten every day with both veteran and new auto racing people building IRL programs.
As we head toward Phoenix, it's important to remember where we have come from, and where we are going. The IRL has become a reality through the efforts of many, many people ... owners, drivers, promoters, crewmen, officials, staff, sponsors, suppliers, spectators and TV viewers.
Those efforts have changed from the launching mode to the development mode as we polish what we have started and look to the future.
PIT NOTES