Report by JAMES
BECKETT
Albuquerque racer JIM
GUTHRIE fulfilled a lifelong ambition on Sunday when
he won his maiden Indianapolis type car race, the
Phoenix 200 at the Phoenix International Raceway -
round four of the 1996-97 Indy Racing League.
Guthrie, a Phoenix
track specialist in his rookie IRL season, drove a
determined race on the one-mile oval from his
front-row grid slot in a Dallara-Oldsmobile Aurora to
record a victory for the Blueprint Racing Team by
just 0.854s from pole-sitter and IRL hotshot Tony
Stewart.
Guthrie and his
Blueprint team had been on the pace all weekend, and
the win came as no surprise to close watchers of IRL
action. Following his qualifying run on Saturday,
Guthrie had commented, " Today has been like
David and Goliath. I would like to slay the giant
both here and at Indianapolis."
His drive, in the
desert heat, won him many new supporters and he heads
to Indianapolis in May as the latest name to win an
IRL race. His unofficial payout for winning the two
hundred miler an impressive $170,000. A different
driver has appeared in 'Victory Lane' at each of the
seven races to-date. The IRL again proving that it
provides one of the closest forms of motor sport in
the world.
TONY STEWART, the
second place finisher, must be wondering just what he
has to do to win an Indy Racing League event. Back to
back pole-sitter, he also won the top spot at
January's Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, has led
every IRL race but has failed to cross the line
first. An awesome drive by the Indianapolis based
driver in the closing stages, following a non-routine
stop to change tyres, saw him close upon Guthrie in
the dying stages - his John Menard team car just a
fraction behind when the chequered flag fell.
His natural pace must
make him a favourite for round five of the season,
'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing' - the 81st running
of the Indy 500 on May 25th.
Davey Hamilton,
driving an AJ Foyt Enterprises/Power Team
G-Force-Olds, was the only other competitor to
complete the full race distance - claiming third
position and thirty-two championship points.
Brazilian Marco Greco
in a Team Scandia Dallara, Stephan Gregoire in a
Chastain Motorsports G-Force and Mike Groff in a
Jonathan Byrds' G-Force completed the top six.
Groff also recorded
the highest place finish for a Nissan Infiniti
powered car. Roberto Guerrero, Buzz Calkins and John
Paul Jnr. were the only other drivers to reach the
chequered flag.
The race had nine
caution flags for a period of ninety-six laps. Rookie
racers, Jeret Schroeder and Sam Schmidt, were both
transported to St.Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix for
evaluation following accidents. Schroeder had
evidence of a concussion and it was feared Schmidt,
who crashed late in the race in Turn 4, was showing
signs of a spinal fracture.
Groff's sixth place
finish allowed him to maintain the lead of the points
and money standings. His series lead of 125 points is
eleven points ahead of Davey Hamilton (114), with
Calkins, the 1996 co-champion, just one point further
back (113).
Marco Greco and
Roberto Guerrero (112) complete the top five.
RESULT
1. JIM GUTHRIE
Blueprint Racing Dallara/Olds. 200 laps
2. Tony Stewart
Glidden/Menard/Special 200
3. Davey Hamilton AJ
Foyt/Power Team 200
4. Marco Greco Team
Scandia Dallara 199
5. Stephan Gregoire
Chastain Motorsports 199
6. Mike Groff Jonathan
Byrds/Bryant Heating 195
7. Roberto Guerrero
Pennzoil Racing 194
8. Buzz Calkins
Bradley Foodmarts 187
9. John Paul Jnr. PDM
Racing Inc. 179
LEADING
RETIREMENTS
Sam Schmidt Accident
Turn 4 176
Kenny Brack Accident
Turn 4 176
Eddie Cheever
Overheating 120
Scott Sharp Engine 65
Jeret Schroeder
Accident Turn 1 51
Buddy Lazier Engine 31
POINTS
STANDINGS
1. Mike Groff 125
2. Davey Hamilton 114
3. Buzz Calkins 113
4. Marco Greco 112
5. Roberto Guerrero
112
Next Round. Indy 500,
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 25th 1997.
