IRL: Phoenix testing 97-02-24

For Immediate Release

STEWART FASTEST AT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY'S "TEST IN THE WEST"

PHOENIX, Monday, February 24, 1997 -- Tony Stewart turned a lap of 167.131, the fastest to date in the new IRL cars at Phoenix International Raceway. Stewart, testing a G Force/ Oldsmobile Aurora, bettered Kenny Brack's previous best lap of 165.975. The Menard driver's quick lap came at 4:48 p.m. on the first day of the Indy Racing League's "Test in the West". TONY STEWART: "This morning the car was way off balance. This afternoon we put it on the scales and made a lot of adjustments. This is the first time we're really seeing the difference from those changes. They've made a monumental difference in the car." *** Kenny Brack of Sweden breezed through all four phases of his USAC rookie test in only 49 minutes at Phoenix International Raceway today. Brack drove a G Force/Oldsmobile Aurora for Galles Racing International on the first day of the Indy Racing League's four-day "Test in the West". KENNY BRACK: "It's always harder to go under what you normally do. It's difficult to control the speed consistently lap after lap but we got through it OK. It's good that the rookie test is done now and we can get on with testing."

*** At 2:12 p.m. Davey Hamilton had an apparent engine failure, spun in his own oil and came to a stop against the wall in Turn 2. Hamilton was examined, released and cleared to drive by Dr. Henry Bock, IRL Medical Director. The car sustained chipped paint on the right front wing. DAVEY HAMILTON: "The motor blew up. I barely hit the wall. I kept it straight and slowed down, but right before the end it got around in its own oil and spun around." *** There are currently 22 cars on the grounds of the Phoenix International Raceway for the IRL's "Test in the West" in preparation for the March 21 - 23 Phoenix 200. Thirteen drivers were on the track today, running a total of 761 laps.

TOP UNOFFICIAL TIMES FROM USAC TIMING AND SCORING

CAR   DRIVER              C/E/T  LAPS TIME    SPEED
2T    Tony Stewart        G/A/F  50   21.54   167.131
4   R Kenny Brack         G/A/G  205  21.86   164.684
14    Davey Hamilton      D/A/G   25   21.99   163.710
51    Eddie Cheever, Jr.  G/A/G   93   22.12   162.748
12    Buzz Calkins        G/A/G   92   22.24   161.870
1     Scott Sharp         D/A/G   12   22.43   160.499
21    Roberto Guerrero    D/I/G   67   22.43   160.499
22    Marco Greco         D/A/G   64   22.50   160.000
33    Fermin Velez        D/A/G   75   22.68   158.730
18    John Paul, Jr.      D/A/G   10   22.84   157.618
91    Buddy Lazier        D/I/F   18   23.41   153.780
30  R Jeret Schroeder     G/A/G   41   25.39   141.788
10    Mike Groff          G/I/F   9    26.18   137.509

Chassis Legend: D-Dallara; G-G Force      Engine Legend: A-Oldsmobile
Aurora; I-Nissan Infiniti     Tire Legend:  F-Firestone; G-Goodyear    

...97TEST-27...

For ticket information to the March 21-23 Indy Racing League Phoenix 200 call 602/252-2227