The first season of Indy Racing League competition consisted of only 3 races. The original plan was that that every season would end with the Indianapolis 500 and the next season would begin immediately after. However, this went against the motorsports grain, and the idea was scrapped, making the 1996-1997 season inordinately long to bring the IRL back in sync with the rest of the motorsports world. The season was contested with 1995 and older CART chassis produced by Lola and Reynard Motorsport with a fixed limit on how much a team could spend on its combination. Despite the short season, only 15 drivers competed in all 3 races although all races were well attended by competitors as a legal chassis and engine combination could be acquired for well under $100,000 (U.S.). Indy Racing League Logo The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, is the sanctioning body of a predominantly American based open-wheel racing series. ... Indianapolis 500, 1994 An Indianapolis 500 racecar depicted on the Indiana state quarter The Indianapolis 500 or the Indy 500 is the ubiquitously shortened name for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, an American automobile race held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. ... A simple wooden cart in Australia A cart transporting watermelons in Harbin, China. ... Lola Racing Cars (also Lola Cars International) is a racing car engineering company founded in 1961 by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon, United Kingdom. ... Reynard Motorsport was at one time the worlds largest racing car manufacturer. ...

Race summaries

Indy 200 at Walt Disney World

The first race for the new Indy Racing League was held January 27 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Buddy Lazier won the pole. January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Walt Disney World Speedway is a racing facility located in Orlando, Florida and is part of the Disney World theme park. ... Buddy Lazier is an American open-wheel racecar driver born in Vail, Colorado on Oct 31, 1967. ...

Top ten results

1. Buzz Calkins
2. Tony Stewart
3. Robbie Buhl
4. Michele Alboreto
5. Roberto Guerrero
6. Mike Groff
7. Johnny O'Connell
8. Lyn St. James
9. John Paul, Jr.
10. Eddie Cheever

Buzz Calkins (born May 2, 1971 in Denver) was a former Indy Racing League driver. ... Anthony Wayne Tony Stewart (born May 20, 1971), is an auto racing driver who has won championships in sprint cars, Indy cars, and stock cars. ... Robbie Buhl (born September 2, 1963 in Detroit) is a former IndyCar Series competitor. ... Michele Alboreto (December 23, 1956 - April 25, 2001) was a Formula One driver who participated during seasons 1981 to 1994 in Tyrrell, Ferrari, Larrousse, Arrows, BMS Scuderia Italia and Minardi. ... Roberto Guerrero was a Formula One driver from Colombia. ... Mike Groff (born November 16, 1961 in Van Nuys, California) is a former race car driver in CART and the Indy Racing League and the 1989 Indy Lights champion. ... Lyn St. ... John Paul, Jr. ... Eddie McKay Cheever, Jr. ...

Dura Lube 200

This race was held March 17 at Phoenix International Raceway. Arie Luyendyk won the pole. March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... Phoenix International Raceway is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, AZ. It opened in 1964, but wasnt used by NASCAR until 1988, with the first race won by the late Alan Kulwicki. ... Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk (born September 21, 1953) is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indy 500. ...

Top ten results

1. Arie Luyendyk
2. Scott Sharp
3. Mike Groff
4. Richie Hearn
5. Johnny O'Connell
6. Buzz Calkins
7. Stephan Gregoire
8. Michele Alboreto
9. Johnny Unser
10. David Kudrave

Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk (born September 21, 1953) is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indy 500. ... Scott Sharp (born February 14, 1968 in Norwalk, Connecticut) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League. ... Mike Groff (born November 16, 1961 in Van Nuys, California) is a former race car driver in CART and the Indy Racing League and the 1989 Indy Lights champion. ... Richie Hearn is an American auto racing driver born January 4, 1971 in Glendale, California. ... Buzz Calkins (born May 2, 1971 in Denver) was a former Indy Racing League driver. ... Stephan Gregoire (born May 14, 1969 in Neufchâteau, Vosges, France) is a race car driver. ... Michele Alboreto (December 23, 1956 - April 25, 2001) was a Formula One driver who participated during seasons 1981 to 1994 in Tyrrell, Ferrari, Larrousse, Arrows, BMS Scuderia Italia and Minardi. ... Johnny Unser (born October 22, 1958 in Long Beach, California) is a former race car driver the son of open wheel driver Jerry Unser, cousin of Al Unser, Jr. ...

Indianapolis 500

The first Indy 500 of the Indy Racing League era was held May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Scott Brayton won the pole but was fatally injured in a practice crash and replaced by Danny Ongais. Tony Stewart started the race from the pole. Arie Luyendyk set the fastest qualifying lap on the second day of qualifying with track 1 and 4 lap records that still stand. Indianapolis 500, 1994 An Indianapolis 500 racecar depicted on the Indiana state quarter The Indianapolis 500 or the Indy 500 is the ubiquitously shortened name for the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, an American automobile race held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wing and Wheel Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate city completely surrounded by Indianapolis) in the United States, is the second-oldest surviving automobile racing track in the world (after the Milwaukee Mile), having existed since 1909, and the original Speedway, the first racing... Scott Brayton Scott Brayton (20 February 1959 - 17 May 1996) was a race car driver in the American open-wheel circuit. ... Danny Ongais (born May 21, 1942) was a racecar driver from the United States. ... Anthony Wayne Tony Stewart (born May 20, 1971), is an auto racing driver who has won championships in sprint cars, Indy cars, and stock cars. ... Arie Luyendyk, originally Arie Luijendijk (born September 21, 1953) is a Dutch auto racing driver, twice winner of the Indy 500. ...

Top ten results

1. Buddy Lazier
2. Davy Jones
3. Richie Hearn
4. Alessandro Zampedri
5. Roberto Guerrero
6. Eliseo Salazar
7. Danny Ongais
8. Hideshi Matsuda
9. Robbie Buhl
10. Scott Sharp

Buddy Lazier is an American open-wheel racecar driver born in Vail, Colorado on Oct 31, 1967. ... Davy Jones (born June 1, 1964 in Chicago) won the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Manuel Reuter and Alexander Wurz on a TWR-Porsche. ... Richie Hearn is an American auto racing driver born January 4, 1971 in Glendale, California. ... Roberto Guerrero was a Formula One driver from Colombia. ... Eliseo Salazar was a Formula One driver from Chile. ... Danny Ongais (born May 21, 1942) was a racecar driver from the United States. ... Robbie Buhl (born September 2, 1963 in Detroit) is a former IndyCar Series competitor. ... Scott Sharp (born February 14, 1968 in Norwalk, Connecticut) is an American race car driver in the Indy Racing League. ...

Final point standings

Driver

1. Buzz Calkins - 82 pts (co-champion)
2. Scott Sharp - 82 pts (co-champion)
3. Robbie Buhl - 80 pts
4. Richie Hearn - 79 pts
5. Roberto Guerrero - 79 pts
6. Mike Groff - 76 pts
7. Arie Luyendyk - 75 pts
8. Tony Stewart - 68 pts
9. Johnny O'Connell - 65 pts
10. Davey Hamilton - 65 pts
11. Michele Alboreto
12. Lyn St. James
13. Stephan Gregoire
14. Buddy Lazier
15. John Paul, Jr.
16. Eddie Cheever
17. Johnny Parsons
18. David Kudrave
19. Michel Jourdain, Jr.
20. Scott Brayton
21. Jim Guthrie
22. Davy Jones
23. Alessandro Zampedri
24. Fermin Velez
25. Eliseo Salazar
26. Danny Ongais
27. Johnny Unser
28. Hideshi Matsuda
29. Stan Wattles
30. Scott Harrington
31. Mark Dismore
32. Paul Durant
33. Joe Gosek
34. Brad Murphey
35. Racin Gardner
36. Marco Greco