IRL: Stan Wattles/Metro Racing Systems Update
15 July 1998
Metro Racing Systems will undertake an intense development testing program for the second half of the 1998 Indy Racing League (IRL) season, with plans to compete in two additional IRL races this year. The Florida-based team is competing with the "all-American" car combination of the Riley & Scott MK V chassis, IRL Aurora V8 engines and Goodyear Eagle tires.Metro Racing and team owner/driver Stan Wattles will focus their testing efforts on one-mile oval tracks. The team hopes to compete in the Atlanta 500 Classic at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug. 29 and the Las Vegas 500K at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 11.
The rookie IRL team has achieved top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, and posted an impressive run from 29th to eighth during the first 45 laps of the Indianapolis 500 at the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But the team has struggled with its car setup for one-mile tracks. "From the team's point of view, the one-mile tracks are where the chassis needs more specific development," Wattles explained.
"Our budget is limited for the balance of '98 and we feel that our R&S chassis needs a lot more development work. We are not up in the [IRL] points and we believe we can better utilize our resources to prepare for a full season in '99 by sorting the car out more thoroughly. We will participate in two more events this year, most likely Atlanta and Las Vegas."
making a difference
Wattles will continue to help children who are affected by learning disabilities through the Racing to Make a Difference program he initiated in co-operation with the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD). He plans to host school groups at several tracks this year, to share his experience in overcoming the challenges of learning disabilities and to give the students an inside view of Indy car racing.
Kids Campaign
Stan and Jill Wattles are actively involved in supporting the Kids Campaign developed by Teresa Howatt to provide trackside child-care services for race participants.
"I would like to urge all of those IRL participants who use Kids Campaign to take a more active role in its support. I thank those who are helping Kids Campaign already, and I hope that they continue to do so," Stan Wattles said.
"This wonderful service is a not-for-profit entity staffed by experienced teachers who do a great job and care about our children. If we do not support Kids Campaign, we will lose it and it will be more difficult to make our races a family experience."
