bob jennings' WORLD O' RACING
IRL drivers: Arie versus Tony in the 97 "500"
(completed 06/28/98)
Winner Arie Luyendyk and Tony Stewart in the 1997 "Indianapolis 500"
Bob Jennings
The list of drivers who have been regular competitors, in the Indy Racing League, is diverse. That list has been criticized in different circles, some people calling the IRL drivers "wannabes" and "never weres." Frankly, I think the IRL detractors are basically misled. With most of us, our own opinion counts highest. I like the drivers who have participated in the 17 IRL races run to date. It's too bad, however, that it took the formation of the IRL to give many of these drivers an opportunity to compete in Indy car racing and this form of motorsport has suffered for it.
The trend in drivers of choice, in CART, is one of the primary reasons, in my mind, that Indy car racing has declined in popularity so drastically in comparison to the favor that NASCAR enjoys. I don't think the average American fan gives a damn about drivers like Gil de Ferran, Andre Ribeiro, Max Papis, Helio Castro Neves, Dario Franchitti, Mark Blundell, Christian Fittipaldi, Mauricio Gugelmin and Tony Kanaan.
Alex Zanardi is probably one of the top driving talents in the world. Beyond Zanardi, however, I don't see any great mix of racing talent running in CART; certainly not of the quality that CART supporters claim. There are fading stars, Formula One refugees, drivers with heavy Brazilian corporate support and perhaps some future stars. I've been watching racing drivers closely, for more than 40 years, and I'm comfortable with my ability to assess racing talent. There is some talent, in CART, but it's not at the same level it was in the early years of the series and it's not overwhelming or particularly dynamic. The current group of CART drivers evolved from the foundation and structure that Roger Penske and his associates built as CART matured. That's another story, though, which I've touched on in another offering.
The IRL had to create a group of driving personalities from nothing and it's been a good effort, especially when you consider how quickly it has taken place.
Among the drivers who have competed in the IRL are a number of CART refugees. Arie Luyendyk, Roberto Guerrero, the late Scott Brayton, Eddie Cheever and Eliseo Salazar came from CART competition, at the start of the IRL. Scott Goodyear and Raul Boesel have come in the meantime.
Buddy Lazier, Stephan Gregoire, Marco Greco, Lyn St. James, Alessandro Zampedri, Mark Dismore, Davey Hamilton and Jeff Ward had limited Indy car experience and were sort of hanging around the fringes before the IRL.
Scott Sharp, Mike Groff, John Paul Jr., Davy Jones and Robbie Buhl had CART opportunities, but weren't able to make those opportunities stick.
Other drivers have come into the IRL from several directions. Buzz Calkins, Greg Ray, Jack Miller, Affonse Giaffone and Robby Unser did Indy Lights. Fermin Velez and Johnny O' Connell were veterans of IMSA competition. Richie Hearn was the 1995 Toyota Atlantic champion. I wish he was still running in the IRL. Kenny Brack came from the European Formula 3000 series. Vincenzo Sospiri also did F3000 and began the 1996 season with the ill fated Lola Formula One team. Jim Guthrie and Sam Schmidt had Formula 2000 experience.
Admittedly, there have been some IRL drivers who I would have a hard time categorizing. So what. CART has Arnd Meier and Dennis Vitolo and there have been countless Hiro Matsushitas and Guido Daccos over the years.
One of the original missions, of the Indy Racing League, was to restore opportunities to run the "Indianapolis 500" for America's "grass roots" open wheel oval drivers; the Foyts, Unsers, Rutherfords and Johncocks of today. CART had completely shut the door on the traditional Indy car racer. Do you think A.J. Foyt, either Al or Bobby Unser, Rick Mears, Johnny Rutherford, Gordon Johncock or Tom Sneva would find a ride in today's CART environment?
Tony Stewart led the way for the "old style" Indy driver to return to the "Indianapolis 500." He's been the pioneer who opened the door for the guys who have followed, just as Tony George intended with the IRL concept.
Following Stewart into the IRL were some of Tony's USAC competitors; Billy Boat, Tyce Carlson, Jimmy Kite, Brian Tyler, J.J. Yeley, Donnie Beechler, Andy Michner and Jack Hewitt. Even Steve Kinser, the all time World of Outlaws king, finally made it into the "Indianapolis 500," in 1997.
In the short life of the Indy Racing League, two drivers have established themselves as the key performers. Arie Luyendyk and Tony Stewart are the "top guns" of the IRL after 2 1/2 seasons of competition.
Arie was the only "Indianapolis 500" winner to come to the IRL. Tony has been the number one star product developed from the IRL; the unofficial "IRL poster boy," as he is called.
Luyendyk and Stewart are at the top of most of the Indy Racing League statistical categories, as the tables linked to this page show. Yet the competitive nature of the IRL, after 17 races, has kept both Luyendyk and Stewart from dominating the series, as one might've expected.
The definitive Luyendyk - Stewart contest came in the 1997 "Indianapolis 500."
Luyendyk set the standard, in May 1997, at the Speedway, with a 220 mph lap, early in the first week of practice.
Stewart struggled through the first three days of practice, after the Menard team switched from Firestone to Goodyear tires, the opening weekend of "500" activity. By the Thursday, before Pole day, the Menard guys determined that Goodyear wasn't the way to go and they switched again.
Stewart gained four miles per hour, from the switch, but Luyendyk's G Force - Aurora was faster, at 218.263 mph, on Pole day, to add the 97 "500" pole to the one he won in 1993, driving a Lola - Ford for the Target Chip Ganassi team.
Tony's G Force - Aurora had a run, at 218.021 mph, for second grid position; one of the closest competitions, in history, for the "Indianapolis 500" Pole.
A majority of the pre-race speculation, on who would win the "500," focused on Luyendyk and Stewart.
The 1997 "500" was completely rained out on Sunday May 25, 1997.
I took this photo, from inside turn four,on Monday the 26th, as Luyendyk and Stewart rushed by, in anticipation of the green flag and the start of the race. This was the the actual restart, after the mishap between the entire fifth row of the grid had been cleared. Arie and Tony were impatient to do battle.
The first lap was intense!
Stewart pushed Luyendyk to the inside of the track, as the green flag waved, but Arie led into the first turn. Tony was able to sneak inside, however, to get across the line as the leader of lap one for the second consecutive year.
While Stewart took off in first place, Luyendyk came under attack from Robbie Buhl. On lap 11, however, rain began to fall and the race was stopped after 15 laps.
The "500" resumed action the following day. Stewart continued his lead, although he had to fight to keep Arie behind on a lap 29 restart.
After falling behind Buhl, into third place, Luyendyk beat Robbie out of the pits, to return to second place. Stewart pitted on lap 50, and after pit stops, Tony still led Arie.
On a lap 62 restart, however, Luyendyk caught Stewart on a restart, and for my mind, that was when the momentum of the race shifted from Tony to Arie.
Stewart would lead again, but his yellow Menard G Force wasn't running with as much authority as it had earlier in the race.
With Jeff Ward leading for many laps, during the final third of the race, due to pitting out of sequence, Stewart, Luyendyk and Scott Goodyear fought for second place. On lap 187, Arie went inside Tony, trying to get second, at the end of the backstretch. Stewart blocked Luyendyk and Arie had to put two wheels into the grass to avoid Tony's car. If you saw Arie's in car shot, you remember that action.
Stewart and Ward had to pit, under caution, within the final ten laps. Those stops set up the final showdown for the Treadway teammates Luyendyk and Goodyear.
The manner in which Tony Stewart and Arie Luyendyk battled for much of the 1997 "Indianapolis 500" represents one of the Indy Racing League's classic moments to me.
Neither Stewart, nor Luyendyk were able to finish this year's "Indianapolis 500," and the spotlight fell on winner Eddie Cheever.
Arie has indicated he will race in the IRL for a couple more seasons, at the least. Stewart leaves the IRL, after this season to go to a full NASCAR schedule in 1999. His only scheduled Indy car appearance will come at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Obviously Tony Stewart's departure is going to be a huge loss for the Indy Racing League.