The 1997 Samsonite 200 (also referred to as the Colorado 200 on ABC's TV coverage) was the seventh round of the 1996–1997 Indy Racing League. The race was held on June 29, 1997, at the Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado.
Qualifying Results Key Meaning R Rookie W Past winner
Pos No. Name Lap 1 Lap 2 Best (in mph) 1 1 Scott Sharp 20.441 20.485 176.117 2 2 Tony Stewart 20.584 20.569 175.021 3 6 Scott Goodyear 20.663 20.671 174.224 4 14 Davey Hamilton 20.704 20.783 173.879 5 21 Roberto Guerrero 21.039 20.717 173.770 6 4 Kenny Bräck R 20.743 20.773 173.553 7 12 Buzz Calkins 20.870 20.892 172.496 8 5 Arie Luyendyk 21.006 20.886 172.364 9 33 Jimmy Kite R 20.977 20.963 171.731 10 17 Affonso Giaffone R 20.978 21.115 171.608 11 77 Stéphan Grégoire 21.068 20.978 171.608 12 91 Buddy Lazier 21.009 20.985 171.551 13 51 Eddie Cheever 21.018 21.041 171.282 14 7 Eliseo Salazar 21.018 21.219 171.282 15 18 Billy Boat R 21.057 21.040 171.103 16 30 Robbie Groff R 21.122 21.511 170.438 17 97 Greg Ray R 21.178 21.323 169.988 18 22 Vincenzo Sospiri R 21.592 21.257 169.356 19 10 Johnny Unser 21.754 21.813 165.487 20 40 Jack Miller R 21.785 21.776 165.320 21 28 Mark Dismore 22.140 22.145 162.602 22 70 Marco Greco Did not qualify No speed
Couldn't qualify after his chassis had been damaged in a practice crash. He was allowed to start the race at the back of the field.
Failed to qualify or withdrew Jim Guthrie R for Blueprint Racing - crashed during Friday's first practice session and was hospitalised with a fractured vertebra. Robbie Buhl for Team Menard - suffered a concussion during testing on June 13 and was unable to compete. Mike Groff for Byrd-Cunningham Racing - entered for the race, but not cleared to drive because of the injuries suffered at Texas. Replaced by Johnny Unser John Paul Jr. for PDM Racing - entered for the race, but not cleared to drive because of the injuries suffered at Indianapolis. Replaced by Billy Boat R Alessandro Zampedri for Team Scandia - Although not officially withdrawn for the weekend, he didn't appear at the track, as Team Scandia downgraded its operation from five to three cars following an engine shortage at Texas and a reshuffle of the team's lineup,
Race Report
Tony Stewart came into this race having just missed victory in the past three IRL races, but he put the issue beyond doubt by dominating this race, leading all but seven of the 200 laps. The race started off with polesitter Scott Sharp wrecking on the first lap. He suffered a non-contact brain injury, despite relatively minor damage to the car. The accident (following a similar accident 2 weeks before which forced Stewart's teammate Robbie Buhl to miss the race) revived concern about the cars' inability to absorb energy in a rear-end accident, leading to changes in the gearbox case and bellhousing. Sharp would miss the rest of the season as the result of the injury. Turns 2 and 4 were treacherous all day, and several early crashes resulted in lengthy cleanups and many laps under caution.
Eddie Cheever dogged Stewart all day long, and Stéphan Grégoire led his first-ever laps in an IRL race. In the end neither of them had enough for Stewart, but after a late caution Cheever, Davey Hamilton, and Grégoire dueled three-wide for second. Grégoire broke out and attempted to slingshot Stewart at the finish line, missing by about a car length. Cheever and Hamilton finished side-by-side with Hamilton taking third. The win was Stewart's first in his Indy car career, and the first win for team owner John Menard Jr. after 18 years of Indy car competition. Seven cars finished the race on the lead lap, an IRL record.
Race results Box Score Key Meaning R Rookie W Past winner Pos No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid LapsLed Points 12 Tony StewartTeam Menard2001:59:50.787219336 277 Stéphan GrégoireChastain Motorsports200+ 0.222 sec11533 314 Davey HamiltonA. J. Foyt Enterprises200Running4032 451 Eddie CheeverTeam Cheever200Running13031 512 Buzz CalkinsBradley Motorsports200Running7030 622 Vincenzo Sospiri R Team Scandia200Running18029 76 Scott GoodyearTreadway Racing200Running3128 891 Buddy LazierHemelgarn Racing198+ 2 laps12027 917 Affonso Giaffone RChitwood Motorsports196+ 4 laps10026 1030 Robbie Groff RMcCormack Motorsports193Spin BS16025 1128 Mark DismoreKelley Racing-PDM192+ 8 laps21024 127 Eliseo SalazarTeam Scandia190+ 10 laps14023 1370 Marco GrecoGalles Racing190+ 10 laps22022 144 Kenny Bräck RGalles Racing179Accident T46021 155 Arie LuyendykTreadway Racing163Accident T28120 1640 Jack Miller RArizona Motorsports141Accident T420019 1797 Greg Ray RKnapp Motorsports108Accident T417018 1821 Roberto GuerreroPagan Racing85Accident T45017 1918 Billy Boat RPDM Racing83Accident T415016 2033 Jimmy Kite RTeam Scandia39Accident T49015 2110 Johnny UnserByrd-Cunningham Racing23Accident T219014 221 Scott SharpA. J. Foyt Enterprises0Accident T21015
Race Statistics Lead changes: 5 among 4 drivers
Lap Leaders Laps Leader1-89 Tony Stewart90 Arie Luyendyk91-95 Stéphan Grégoire96-148 Tony Stewart149 Scott Goodyear150-200 Tony Stewart
Cautions: 9 for 82 laps Laps Reason1-10Scott Sharp crash25-36Johnny Unser crash41-56Jimmy Kite crash87-97Roberto Guerrero and Billy Boat crash113-118Greg Ray crash146-155Jack Miller crash164-170Arie Luyendyk crash181-186Kenny Bräck crash194-197Robbie Groff crash
Standings after the race Drivers' Championship standings Pos Driver Points 1 Davey Hamilton 207 2 Tony Stewart 202 3 Buzz Calkins 183 4 Arie Luyendyk 167 5 Marco Greco 162
Note: Only the top five positions are included for the standings.
References
External links IndyCar official website