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IRL: Scott Goodyear Posts Record-Breaking Speeds at Texas

12 September 1998

FORT WORTH-DALLAS - Scott Goodyear is hoping history repeats itself. The Pep Boys Indy Racing League driver rocketed around Texas Motor Speedway Thursday at 225.9 mph, a mile-and-a-half faster than the official Indy Car qualifying record during a practice session for his Pennzoil Panther Racing Team.

Goodyear wheeled the Pennzoil G Force/Olds Aurora around the 1.5-mile superspeedway at over 222 mph Wednesday during the first of two days of testing. He returned Thursday to post what would be a record speed should he be able to repeat it in qualifying for the Lone Star 500.

Team officials reported the slightly cooler Texas temperatures, 89 degrees at the time of the lap, aided Goodyear in reaching the elevated speed. Tony Stewart holds the official Pep Boys IRL qualifying mark at Texas Motor Speedway of 224.448 mph set during the True Value 500 in June. Stewart then returned during the race to post the fastest lap in the "new formula" history of the IRL, 228.012 mph.

Joining Goodyear during the test session was IRL rookie David Steele who will be making his debut in a team Pennzoil Panther Racing G Force during the Lone Star 500. Steele posted a top speed of 222.0 mph during his Texas tests and was declared race ready by IRL official Johnny Rutherford who aids Al Unser in the rookie driver program for the League.

Goodyear will be shooting for the official Texas track record during The Dallas Morning News Pole Day on Friday, Sept. 18. He will then turn his sights to victory lane in the Sunday afternoon, Sept. 20 Lone Star 500.

Tickets for the Lone Star 500 are available at the Speedway?s ticket office, by calling (817) 215-8500 or at all area TicketMaster locations.