IRL: TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 Fast Facts

TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway FAST FACTS

WHAT: TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway First of 11 races on the 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League schedule WHERE: Walt Disney World Speedway, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 1-mile tri-oval WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, 1 p.m. (EST) DISTANCE: 200 miles (200 laps) POSTED AWARDS: More than $1 million CARS: Dallara, G Force and Riley & Scott chassis; Oldsmobile Aurora V8 and Nissan Infiniti Indy V8 engines; Firestone and Goodyear tires FIELD: 28-car field 1998 RACE WINNER: Tony Stewart, Team Menard, Glidden-Menards-Special G Force/Aurora/Firestone 1998 SEASON CHAMPION: Kenny Brack, A.J. Foyt Power Team Racing Dallara/Aurora/Goodyear

TV: (Race) ABC Sports (live), 1 p.m. (EST), Sunday, Jan. 24 Announcers: Paul Page, TBA Pit reporters: Jack Arute, Gary Gerould (Qualifying) SpeedVision (live), noon (EST), Saturday, Jan. 23 Announcer: Derek Daly Analysts: Calvin Fish, Jeremy Dale

RADIO: (Race) IMS Radio Network (live), 1 p.m. (EST), Sunday, Jan. 24, pre-race show starts at 12:30 p.m. Area affiliate is WQTM, 540 AM, Orlando Announcers: Mike King, Gary Lee Pit reporters: Mark Jaynes, Vince Welch Backstretch reporter: Doug Rice (Qualifying) IMS Radio Network, 4:30 p.m. (EST), Saturday, Jan. 23 Area affiliate is WQTM, 540 AM, Orlando Hosts: Mike King, Gary Lee

SCHEDULE (all times local): (Jan. 22 - Practice Day) 8 a.m.: Gates open 9 - 10 a.m.: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series practice 10:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League practice 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series practice 1:45 - 3:15 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League practice 3:30 - 5 p.m.: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series qualifying

(Jan. 23 - Qualifying Day) 8 a.m.: Gates open 9 - 9:30 a.m.: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series practice 9:45 - 11:15 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League practice 11:30 a.m. - Noon: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series Last Chance Race 12:30 - 2 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League qualifications 2:30 - 4 p.m.: USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series race 4:30 - 5 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League final practice 5 - 5:45 p.m.: Pep Boys IRL autograph session (midway)

(Jan. 24 - Race Day) 8 a.m.: Gates open Noon: Pep Boys Indy Racing League cars to grid 12:30 p.m.: Pep Boys Indy Racing League driver introductions by famed announcer Michael Buffer 1 p.m.: TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200

TRACK RECORDS: (Normally aspirated formula) (Qualifying, one lap) Tony Stewart, 21.685 seconds, 166.013 mph, Jan. 24, 1997 (Race, average) Tony Stewart, 2 hours, 6 minutes, 7 seconds, Jan. 24, 1998, 95.14 mph (Race, one lap) Kenny Brack, 164.903 mph, Lap 57, Jan. 24, 1998

THE TRACK: 1-mile tri-oval, with three turns banked from 7 to 10 degrees Front straight is 910 feet, mid-straight 1,023 feet, back straight 572 feet. Opened in 1996, the track is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and promoted by IMS Events.

THE RACE: The 1996 Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway presented by Aurora was the first-ever Pep Boys Indy Racing League event, taking place Saturday, Jan. 27, and won by Buzz Calkins. The race was also the first-ever Pep Boys Indy Racing League event to feature the new-formula, normally-aspirated Pep Boys Indy Racing League cars, on Jan. 25, 1997, won by Eddie Cheever Jr.

RACE NOTES: Pep Boys Indy Racing League teams participated in two open test sessions, one in December and one Jan. 7-8. Scott Sharp recorded the fastest speed of the two sessions, with a lap of 21.039 seconds, 171.111mph lap on Dec. 12. Scott Goodyear was second fastest, with a 21.199, 169.819 lap on Jan. 8.

Several Pep Boys Indy Racing League drivers, teams and sponsors have Florida connections. TransWorld Diversified Services, Inc., title sponsor for the race, is based in Tampa, Fla., while Raul Boesel, driver of the TransWorld Racing-McCormack Motorsports car, lives in Key Biscayne. Team owner/driver Stan Wattles lives in Sewall's Point, Fla., and his Metro Racing team is based in Stuart. Defending Indianapolis 500 winner and 1997 Indy 200 winner Eddie Cheever Jr., and Pennzoil Panther Racing and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh are both Orlando residents. Drivers John Paul and Eliseo Salazar live in West Palm Beach and Hollywood, respectively.

Announcer Michael Buffer, known worldwide for his "let's get ready to rumble!" signature phrase, will perform driver introductions before the race.

SERIES NOTES: 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League champion Kenny Brack begins his title defense at the TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Despite the custom that the champion takes the car #1 for the season, Brack has decided to retain the legendary #14, made famous by his Power Team Racing car owner, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt.

Several new teams officially join the Pep Boys Indy Racing League at the TransWorld Diversified Services Indy 200. Notable new teams include Truscelli Team Racing with rookie driver Greg Gorden, Team Xtreme with rookie driver John Hollansworth Jr., Harrington Racing with rookie driver Scott Harrington, and Brant Motorsports with driver Andy Michner.

Car owner Dick Simon, and his Dick Simon Racing team returns to Indy-style racing after a two-year hiatus. Veteran Stephan Gregoire will drive, and Mexmil will serve as the team's primary sponsor.

Robbie Buhl, winner of the 1997 New England 200, will compete at this race with Sinden Racing Service, driving the Sit Down Connection Dallara/Infiniti/Firestone.

Defending USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series and national midget series champion Jason Leffler will make his Indy Racing League debut at this event, driving for Treadway Racing.

Sam Schmidt will make his debut for Treadway as well, driving the Sprint PCS car formerly driven by two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk. Luyendyk will compete for Treadway only at the Indianapolis 500 this year, and will retire from Indy-style competition after that race.

Source: IRL/IMS