IRL: Stewart Leads Big List of Entries for Dura-Lube 200
10 March 1998
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Stewart entered this season as the driver to beat, as he won the 1996-97 IRL championship in the Team Menard G Force/Aurora/Firestone. He became an even bigger target after dominating and winning the season-opening Indy 200 Presented by Aurora at Walt Disney World Speedway on Jan. 24 near Orlando, Fla.
Stewart, from Indianapolis, is no stranger to success on the fast 1-mile oval at Phoenix. He became the first driver to win two features in one day at the Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic on Feb. 1, capturing the USAC Silver Crown and midget features.
That successful history is just part of the reason Stewart must be considered a favorite for victory this year. He'll also have plenty of motivation from memories of last year's race.
Stewart just missed his first career IRL victory at this event last year, stalking surprise race winner Jim Guthrie over the last few laps of the race and falling just .854 seconds short at the finish line. Stewart was the No. 1 qualifier last year, setting a track record for the new IRL cars of 170.012 mph.
Twenty-eight cars will start the 200-lap, 200-mile event at 2 p.m. (MST) March 22. This is the second straight Pep Boys IRL event in which entries exceed available starting positions, creating tense moments during qualifying for drivers competing for the final spots. Oldsmobile pole qualifying starts at noon March 21, with practice beginning at 10:30 a..m. March 20.
"Our growth in both the teams and cars is very pleasing," IRL Executive Director Leo Mehl said. "I'm sure it's a result of our policy which guarantees that last year's cars could be updated. However, it's tough to send good drivers home."
While Stewart may be the favorite, he's one of many drivers in the loaded field capable of victory.
The leading challenger might be Scott Sharp, who was the fastest driver during both days of the "Test in the West" on Feb. 25-26. Sharp set an unofficial track record for the new IRL cars of 174.893 mph on Feb. 26 in the Kelley Racing Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear.
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Regardless of who emerges, competition should be tighter than ever. Less than one second separated the top 17 drivers during the "Test in the West." Two promising rookies recently promoted from USAC, J.J. Yeley and Dave Steele, will make their Pep Boys IRL debuts at this event. Yeley, from Phoenix, is driving as a teammate to Dr. Jack Miller for SRS, and Steele is behind the wheel for the new rsm Marko team.
The potential for a surprise, first-time winner also looms large at PIR, where pit strategy and a driver's ability to weave through traffic often is as important as raw horsepower. Guthrie's gamble on pit strategy last year paid off, and drivers like Stan Wattles, Tyce Carlson, Dr. Jack Miller, Greg Ray, Sam Schmidt and Stephan Gregoire will try to recapture Guthrie's magic this year.
DURA-LUBE 200 NOTEBOOK
Broadcast schedule: The Dura-Lube 200 will be televised live on ABC at 4 p.m. (EST) March 22. Oldsmobile Pole Day will be televised live on Speedvision at 2 p.m. (EST) March 21.
The IMS Radio Network will broadcast the race live at 4 p.m. (EST) March 22, with a pre-race show starting at 3:30. The IMS Radio Network will broadcast a 30-minute show from Oldsmobile Pole Day at 5:30 p.m. (EST) March 21.
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For the fans: Fans will have many chances to meet their favorite Pep Boys IRL drivers during Dura-Lube 200 race week.
.An autograph session featuring all IRL drivers will take place from 5:15-6:15 p.m. March 21 in the garage area at PIR.
.An autograph party featuring top Pep Boys IRL drivers will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Toolies Country, a country-and-western club located on the southeast corner of 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix. IRL race cars also will be on display.
.Pep Boys IRL drivers Billy Boat, Davey Hamilton and Jimmy Kite will make various appearances with the Oldsmobile Aurora Pace Car Display at Pep Boys stores in the Phoenix area. The schedule:
March 16 - 2754 E. Bell Road, Phoenix: Pace car display, 2-8 p.m.; Boat signs autographs, 6-8 p.m.
March 17 - 1233 S. Country Club Drive, Mesa: Pace car display, 2-8 p.m; Boat signs autographs, 6-8 p.m.
March 18 - 2424 E. McDowell, Phoenix: Pace car display, 2-8 p.m.; Boat and Kite sign autographs, 6-8 p.m.
March 19 - 7440 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria: Pace car display, 2-8 p.m.; Hamilton and Kite sign autographs, 6-8 p.m.
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For the media: A Video News Release of Oldsmobile Pole Day and race highlights from the Dura-Lube 200 will be provided March 21-22. Satellite coordinates will be supplied when available.
Daily audio reports from the IMS Radio Network will be available for recording March 20-21. New reports will be filed at 10:30 a.m. (EST), 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. both days. Call (800) 891-2183 to record the report.
The Dura-Lube 200 Media Day will take place at 11 a.m. (MST) March 19 at the Wigwam Golf Resort in Litchfield Park.
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Tickets: Tickets for the Dura-Lube 200 are available by calling Phoenix International Raceway at (602) 252-2227.
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