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IRL Announces Return of Open Wheel Racers to Atlanta

12 August 1997

Calling it the Atlanta 500 Classic, the Indy Racing League has scheduled an event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for August 29, 1998. It will be the first time single seat open wheel cars have ben on the 1.5 mile banked oval, a configuration similar to the Las Vegas track. Racing/track owner Bruton Smith owns the Charlotte Raceway where 73,000 fans cheered open wheel racing a few weeks ago, prompting him to secure a date for his Atlanta facility. This brings the 1998 IRL schedule to ten events. CART has 19 for next season.

Bill Maloney TACH