Indy 500 Overview

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Posted: Monday May 24, 1999 07:09 PM

The status of all 33 drivers can be tracked on the Speedway's scoring tower. Matthew Stockman/Allsport

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Facts and figures of the 83rd Indianapolis 500-mile race Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

EVENT -- The 83rd annual Indianapolis 500.

DISTANCE -- 500 miles; 200 laps around the 2 1/2-mile, asphalt-on-brick Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.

SANCTIONING BODY -- Indy Racing League; also open to USAC, CART, NASCAR, SCCA, Formula One and other drivers through international FIA listing.

RACE CARS -- Open-cockpit, open-wheel and single-seat, with 4-liter normally-aspirated V8 engines producing a maximum of 10,500 rpm and about 700 horsepower.

PACE CAR -- Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by comedian Jay Leno.

START -- 11 a.m. EST from a flying start, following warmup, parade and pace laps.

FINISH -- Standings are unofficial until posted by the IRL, expected six hours after the end of the race.

NUMBER OF STARTERS -- 33.

POLE POSITION -- Arie Luyendyk, 45, who qualified a G Force-Aurora at a four-lap average of 225.179 mph.

DEFENDING CHAMPION -- Eddie Cheever, who averaged 145.155 mph for his first victory in nine starts at Indy.

FORMER WINNERS IN RACE -- Arie Luyendyk (1990, 1997); Buddy Lazier (1996); Eddie Cheever (1998).

ROOKIES IN RACE -- John Hollansworth Jr., Jeret Schroeder, Robby McGehee, Wim Eyckmans.

OLDEST IN RACE -- Arie Luyendyk, 45.

YOUNGEST IN RACE -- Jimmy Kite, 23.

FIELD AVERAGE IN QUALIFICATIONS -- 221.558 mph (Record 227.807 mph, 1996)

QUALIFICATION RECORD -- 236.986 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1996.

RACE RECORD -- 185.981 mph, Arie Luyendyk, 1990.

PURSE -- Depends on attendance and accessory awards; 1998 payoff was a record $8,722,150, of which Team Cheever and winner Eddie Cheever received $1,433,000

CROWD -- Estimated at about 400,000. Speedway never discloses attendance but admits to at least 275,000 reserved seats in permanent stands and room for 100,000 or more in the infield.

TELEVISION -- Televised live by the American Broadcasting Co., with Al Michaels, host; Bob Jenkins, anchor announcer and play by play; former winner Tom Sneva, analyst; and Gary Gerould, Jerry Punch and Jon Beekhuis, pit reporters (Indianapolis area blacked out except for local feed to fans at the Speedway).

RADIO -- Speedway network live to 1,200 stations in the United States and Canada, plus worldwide coverage on American Forces Radio and special Spanish language broadcast, with Mike King, anchor; former winner Johnny Rutherford, analyst; Donald Davidson, statistician; and Howdy Bell, Jerry Baker, Ken Double, Kevin O'Neal, Bob Lamey, Chris Economacki, Chuck Marlow, Mark Jaynes, Vince Welch and Chris Denari, reporters.

MORTALITY -- There have been 66 deaths at the Speedway, including pre-500 races of 1909-10. Last death was on May 17, 1996, when pole-winner Scott Brayton was killed in a crash during practice.

THE TROPHY -- Sterling silver Borg-Warner Trophy, which carries a bas-relief bust of each winner; 92 pounds; 4 feet, 4 inches tall; insured for $1 million. Winner takes home a smaller replica.

 

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