IRL: Tony Elliott, Jay Drake Complete Tests

ELLIOTT, DRAKE COMPLETE TEXAS IRL TESTS NEWMAN FASTEST BUT RAIN INTERRUPTS HIS TEST

Stoops Freightliner/USAC Sprint Car Champion Tony Elliott of Kokomo, Ind., USAC National Midget runner-up Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. and third-place USAC Silver Crown Championship Series driver Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. participated in Indy Racing League testing December 3 at Texas Motor Speedway near Fort Worth. The testing was provided by the Pennzoil Panther Racing Team and came in a G-Force Aurora. Elliott and Drake completed the required phases of the program but rain interrupted Newman's test. Indy Racing League Director of Racing Operations Brian Barnhart, IRL Special Projects Coordinator Johnny Rutherford and driver Scott Goodyear supervised and observed the testing program on the 1.5-mile speedway. Although Newman was unable to complete the final phase of the program, he posted the fastest speed at 213.36 mph. and Barnhart indicated he would OK him for an IRL license if he completes the final 10 laps either privately or at an IRL race weekend. Elliott broke the 200 mph. barrier in just 34 laps and posted a fast lap of 210.3 mph. in his 64 laps, while Drake took only 55 laps to complete his test, breaking the 200 barrier on lap 16 and posting a fast lap of 213.16 mph. Newman, who broke the 200 barrier on only his 11th lap, completed 35 laps before a 35-minute downpour halted the sessions. All three drivers will be honored for the 1998 achievements during ceremonies at the "Coca-Cola Night of Champions" USAC National Awards Dinner January 8 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Ind.