INDY 200 1997 - WALT DISNEY WORLD

RACE REPORT

Cheever Wins Indy 200 After Stewart Crashes Out and Rain Falls

Rain called a halt to the Indy 200 at the Walt Disney World Speedway, Florida, on Sunday - the opening race for the new look Indy Racing League - Round 3 of the 1996/97 season, writes James Beckett.

Although Tony Stewart had dominated practically the entire race, leading 131 laps, it was Grand Prix veteran Eddie Cheever who was leading the race when the rain fell and the race stopped.

Cheever, driving his own FirstPlus Team Cheever G-Force-Aurora, picked up the lead of the race only four laps prior to the stoppage after Tony Stewart's team Menard Glidden/Menard Special G-Force-Aurora crashed in Turn 3 due to an oil leak.

The win was Cheever's first single seat victory since 1979 and he was obviously delighted. "I saw Tony come out of the pits and when I saw him come out of Turn 2 there was smoke coming off his tyres. He then skidded sidewards and I went past into the lead."

Cheever continued, "This was one of the most enjoyable races I've ever had - not worrying about the turbo was great. Because these cars are easier to drive, it's a lot more fun out there."

Mike Groff, the IRL points leader, was classified second in his Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria Bryant Heating & Cooling G-Force-Nissan-Infiniti, while League debutant Scott Goodyear took third in his Treadway NORTEL-G-Force-Aurora.

Groff was pleased with his second place spot despite the limited test mileage of Nissan's Infiniti Indy V-8 engine. "We went into the race really conservative, not knowing what we were up against. We just didn't want to go up in flames."

The series moves to its fourth race, the Phoenix 200, at the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway on March 23rd.

Result of Indy 200 - Walt Disney World Speedway

1.	Eddie Cheever	149 Laps
2.	Mike Groff	149
3.	Scott Goodyear	149
4.	Scott Sharp	149
5.	Buddy Lazier	149
6.	Jim Guthrie	148
7.	Davey Hamilton	148
8.	Marco Greco	147
9.	Fermin Velez	147
10.	Tony Stewart	146 Accident Turn 3
11.	Buzz Calkins	144 Engine
12.	Arie Luyendyk	97 Accident
13.	Danny Ongais	94 Suspension
14.	Jeret Schroeder	93 Accident Turn 1
15.	Jack Miller	85 Suspension
16.	Jeff Ward	63 Gearbox
17.	Roberto Guerrero	56 Fuel Pump
18.	John Paul Jnr.	46 Oil Pump
19.	Stephan Gregoire	2 Fuel Pump

Lap Leaders

1-130	No. 2	Tony Stewart
131-144	No. 12	Buzz Calkins
145	No. 2	Tony Stewart
146-149	No. 51	Eddie Cheever

Caution Flags

99-106	No. 30 Schroeder and No. 5 Luyendyk T1
146-149	No. 2 Stewart Accident T3
150	Rain, red flag

 

1996-1997 IRL Points Standings After Indy 200

1.	Mike Groff	96
2.	Buzz Calkins	86
3.	Scott Sharp	85
4.	Davey Hamilton	82
5.	Marco Greco	81
6.	Roberto Guerrero	78
7.	Tony Stewart	66
8.	Eddie Cheever	65
9.	Jim Guthrie	63
10.	Arie Luyendyk	62

James Beckett.