IndyCar
IRL: Sharp Fastest at WDW Tests
For Immediate Release SHARP'S FAST LAP HOLDS UP AS IRL TESTING ENDS LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Jan. 14, 1998 - If preseason testing is any indication, Scott Sharp could be the favorite for victory in the Indy 200 Presented by Aurora on Jan.
Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:32 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
For Immediate Release
SHARP'S FAST LAP HOLDS UP AS IRL TESTING ENDS
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Jan. 14, 1998 - If preseason testing is any indication, Scott Sharp could be the favorite for victory in the Indy 200 Presented by Aurora on Jan. 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway, the Indy Racing League season opener.
Sharp's unofficial fast lap Jan. 9 of 20.967 seconds, 171.698 mph - an unofficial track record for the new IRL cars - remained the best performance as testing ended Wednesday on the 1-mile oval. Sharp turned the quick lap in just his second day with his new team, Kelley Racing. Sharp finished fourth in the Indy 200 Presented by Aurora last year in a car owned by A.J. Foyt.
IRL testing was conducted Dec. 9-10 and resumed Jan. 6-10, 12-14.
A full field of 31 IRL entrants will return to Walt Disney World Speedway next week for the race. Practice starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 22, with qualifying starting at noon Jan. 23. The third annual Indy 200 Presented by Aurora will take the green flag at 12:40 p.m. Jan. 24.
***
At 10:43 a.m., Stan Wattles was unhurt when his Metro Racing Systems Riley & Scott/Aurora did a half-spin entering Turn 1 and backed into the outside retaining wall, causing moderate damage to the car. Wattles was examined in the Infield Care Center, transported to Sand Lake Hospital for precautionary X-rays and released Thursday afternoon. IRL Medical Director Dr. Hank Bock cleared Wattles to drive.
STAN WATTLES: "The car was just fine. We made a change, so I was being careful about it. I came into the corner and started to squeeze the power back on. The car was balanced, but it just came right around. I said: 'Ah, sugar. Not again.' I didn't want to be the first one to test the new (Riley & Scott) bellhousing."
***
UNOFFICIAL TOP TIMES, SPEEDS OF THE DAY Driver Team Car/Engine/Tire Time Speed Davey Hamilton Nienhouse Motorsports G Force/Aurora/Goodyear 21.7 165.899 Eliseo Salazar R&S Cars, Inc. R&S/Aurora/Goodyear 22.28 161.580 Dr. Jack Miller Crest Racing Dallara/Infiniti/F 22.6 159.292 Note: Times, speeds unavailable for Mike Groff, Stan Wattles
*** Indy 200 tickets: Tickets for the Jan. 24 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway Presented by Aurora are available by calling Ticketmaster, (407) 839-3900 (Orlando) or (813) 287-8844 (Tampa).
***
On the airwaves: The live television and radio broadcast schedule for the Indy 200 Presented by Aurora, Chevy Trucks Challenge and USAC Silver Crown Championship races:
Jan. 17 (2:30 p.m., ESPN2): USAC Silver Crown qualifying race and main feature race, Chevy Trucks Challenge qualifying race.
Jan. 18 (noon, ESPN2, MRN Radio): Chevy Trucks Challenge race.
Jan. 23 (noon, Speedvision): Indy 200 Presented by Aurora qualifying.
Jan. 24 (noon, IMS Radio Network; 12:30 p.m., ABC): Indy 200 Presented by Aurora race. The Orlando-area IMS Radio Network affiliate is WQTM, 540 AM.
***
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article IRL: Phoenix Race Report
Next article IRL: Pep Boys IRL Weekly Notes 98-02-10
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jack Miller
Tyre drama at Motegi: Jack Miller can “almost guarantee” untested hard will be mandatory
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Tyre drama at Motegi: Jack Miller can “almost guarantee” untested hard will be mandatory
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
Jack Miller “embarrassed” after Austrian GP pace drops to ‘Bagger Cup times’
MotoGP
MotoGP
Austrian GP
Jack Miller “embarrassed” after Austrian GP pace drops to ‘Bagger Cup times’
Latest news
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
1 min
Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
7 min
Tristan McKee joins JR Motorsports in 2027 with future plans for full-time ride
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
FIA F2
F2 FIA F2 19 min
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
Why Max Verstappen escaped harsher penalty after FP1 collision in Portimao
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 38 min
Why Max Verstappen escaped harsher penalty after FP1 collision in Portimao
Feature
Discover prime content
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe