IRL VisionAire 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway -- Preview
16 July 1997
INDY RACING LEAGUE HEADS SOUTH FOR INAUGURAL VISIONAIRE 500 For Immediate Release INDIANAPOLIS, July 15, 1997 -- The Indy Racing League is on its way to Charlotte on July 22 - 26 for the inaugural VisionAire 500, which will be only the second time in recent history that Indy-style cars have run at night. The entry list of 26 drivers hoping to collect a share of the $1-million plus purse includes 1997 Indianapolis 500 and True Value 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, and Tony Stewart, who won the IRL's most recent race at the Pikes Peak Samsonite 200. IRL points leader Davey Hamilton is listed on an entry, as are 1996 IRL co-champion Buzz Calkins, Eddie Cheever, Jr. winner of the 1997 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, Marco Greco, Roberto Guerrero, Mike Groff, Buddy Lazier and Scott Goodyear, rounding out the League's top 10 drivers in the points standings. The VisionAire 500 entry list also includes drivers Stephan Gregoire, Robbie Buhl, Eliseo Salazar, John Paul, Jr., and Mark Dismore. Indy Racing League rookies who will race for their first win under the lights in Charlotte include Jim Guthrie, winner of the Phoenix 200, Billy Boat, Kenny Brack, Affonso Giaffone, Vincenzo Sospiri, Robbie Groff, Jimmy Kite, Jack Miller, Jeff Ward, Greg Ray and Sam Schmidt. Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile oval track and is the largest outdoor sports stadium in the southeast, hosting two NASCAR Winston Cup events each year. The speedway is set on 2000 acres and includes more than 115,000 permanent seats which are surrounded by a $1.7-million lighting system. Race Week starts with IRL practice on Tuesday, July 22, followed by PPG Pole qualifying on July 23, which will be broadcast live on Speedvision. Final practice will be July 25, followed by the race on Saturday, July 26 at 8 p.m. The race will be broadcast live on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. The VisionAire 500 will be broadcast on CBS (tape-delayed) at 1 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, July 27. Also on the race schedule in Charlotte during the IRL's race weekend are the NASCAR Goody's Dash series, U.S. Formula Ford 2000 series, and Legends cars. VisionAire 500 race tickets are available by calling 704/455-3200. ..IRL97-19..
