INDY LIGHTS SERIES

When the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights championship series takes to the streets of Long Beach next Sunday at 10;30am for a 47 lap blast around the 1.6 mile circuit many Indy car team owners will be watching intently. That's due to the fact that this series is considered the stepping stone to the big leagues...Indy cars, either CART or IRL. During its first decade of V-6 competition Indy Lights sent an impressive list of drivers to the "big show" including

Paul Tracy,
Andre Ribeiro,
Bryan Herta,
Adrian Fernandez,
Mike Grff
and Eric Bachelart.

Now comes their stellar graduate from 1995, Canadian ace, Greg Moore who chalked up 10 wins in 12 races..at 21 years of age. He also picked up a $100,00 bonus from Firestone and a full time mega buck ride in Indy Cars for 1996. Indy Lights drivers pilot identical flat bottomed Lola GS race cars powered by normally aspirated V-6 (Buick this year) engines. Thus far David Empringham is the man to beat thanks to a season opener win in Miami worth $20,000. Also keep your eye on:

Chris Simmons, New Jersey
Mark Hotchkiss, Pasadena, Ca.
David DeSilva, Pleasanton, Ca.
Robby Unser, Albuquerque
Gaullter Salles, Brazil
Greg Ray, Plano, Tx
Alex Padilla, San Jose, Ca

See Long Beach Grand Prix weekend schedule for practice and qualifying times.

Bill Maloney TACH