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Stewart Takes IRL Points Lead with 2 Races Remaining

30 July 1997

For Immediate Release

INDIANAPOLIS, July 30,  1997 B  Tony Stewart  wrenched command of  the
1996-97 Indy Racing League season point lead  from Davey Hamilton as a
result of last Saturday's VisionAire 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
	
Stewart, who finished seventh, now has 233 points to Hamilton=s 226
with the Pennzoil 200 Aug. 17 at New Hampshire International Speedway
and the Las Vegas 500 Oct. 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway remaining on
the schedule.
	
Stewart's prize money of $83,150 from Charlotte made him the second
driver to exceed $1 million in season earnings, pushing his figure to
$1,011,450.  Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk continues to lead
the money standings at $1,970,650.
	
Eddie Cheever Jr., moved from sixth to third in the standings and
VisionAire 500 winner Buddy Lazier vaulted from ninth to sixth.
	
Hamilton took a five-point lead into the Charlotte event but was
involved in a tangle with Roberto Guerrero and finished 16th. He still
leads all drivers in number of races running at the finish with seven
and in laps completed with 1,478.
	
Stewart led 74 laps of the Charlotte event to boost his season total
to 812. Lazier took over second in that category, leading 58 laps to
raise his total to 122. Luyendyk is now third with 118.
		
With the win, Lazier joined 11 other drivers who have posted podium
(top three) finishes during the 1996-97 campaign.

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