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| FAST FACTS |
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Event |
Delphi Indy 200 |
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When |
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (ABC) |
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Where |
Walt Disney World Speedway, Orlando, Fla. |
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Distance |
200 miles (200 laps) |
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Defending champ |
Eddie Cheever |
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Qualifying |
Friday, 12:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, tape-delay) |
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Track Records |
Qualifying record: Scott Sharp, 171.371 mph (1999)
Race record: Eddie Cheever, 132.970 mph (1997)
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On the Track
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Wednesday, Jan. 26
When it comes to the Indy Racing League, everything is
geared toward Indy. And when it comes to Saturday's
season opener in Orlando, the Delphi Indy 200 is the first
chance for teams to really see where they stand for
2000.
Teams will need to make a decision coming out of this
race as to what they are going to do the rest of the
season. They may think they have the right package, but
then find out they don't. And if they don't change it by
Phoenix, then they are in trouble for Indy.
Even though there is such a long time between
Saturday's race and the second race in Phoenix (March
19), this is the race where everyone is working the bugs
out. Because when you get to Phoenix, that's when the
guys really start to use the race as a test for Indy. This
first race is really the only one to work the kinks out.
So many things have changed during the offseason.
Teams have new chief mechanics and teams have new
drivers. Orlando is kind of the first chance for these
teams to see if they've put together the right packages
for the rest of the season. If not, they still have time to
get things right before Phoenix.
One driver who really must be anxious to see where he
stands is defending champion Eddie Cheever. He's
turned everything upside down this year. I think it'll be
an interesting race for Cheever to see where the Riley &
Scott chassis stands going into the season. Not to
mention his Nissan Infiniti engine. Remember, Cheever is the only driver with the Infiniti powerplant; the
only other driver using the Riley & Scott chassis is Buddy
Lazier.
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The green flag officially drops on the 2000 auto racing season Saturday when the Indy Racing League begins its 11-race schedule in Orlando, Fla.
While the defending race champion is Eddie Cheever, the defending series champion is Greg Ray. And in all, 22 other drivers will be on hand and all eyes will be on a "rookie" with impeccable credentials.
The Delphi Indy 200 marks the debut of Al Unser Jr., in the IRL. The two-time Indy 500 champion has been reunited with Rick Galles this season. Unser and Galles broke into open-wheel racing together in 1983 and teamed up to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1992.
Unser, however, is just another driver who figures to be chasing Ray. The 1999 IRL champion won the title in his first full season with Team Menard. Ray is gunning to become the only driver to win more than one IRL title.
If Ray is going to pull off the feat, he'll have to do so in a new race package. The IRL has switched to 3.5-liter engines produced by Oldsmobile Aurora or Nissan
Infiniti, smaller than the 4-liter powerplants used since 1997.
No driver, however, has changed his race-day ride more than Cheever. The Orlando resident won this event twice with an Oldsmobile Aurora powerplant under him. But since switching to the Nissan Infiniti prior to the '99 Indy 500, Cheever has been winless. Cheever also is switching from the race-winning Dallara chassis to the new Riley & Scott chassis this year.
Drivers to Watch
Eddie Cheever: Two of his three career IRL wins have come in Orlando. But after switching to Infiniti, he has not won a pole or race and ended a modest seventh in the points standings last year.
Greg Ray: Served notice to the rest of the field with fastest times at the open testing at Walt Disney Speedway in December and January. Finished 21st in this race last year, but won three times and captured five poles in championship season of '99.
Scott Goodyear: Started strong last season with two wins and a second to Cheever in this race last year. But he didn't finish higher than 12th the rest of '99 and wound up ninth in points.
Scott Sharp: Finished fourth in Orlando last year, but an inconsistent season led to an eighth-place finish in the final points standings. Won the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta and has captured four races in his four years in the series. Will become the IRL's all-time victory leader with his next win.
Al Unser Jr.: The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner (1992, 1994) is making his IRL debut after spending 16 seasons racing open-wheel cars. Rejoins Rick Galles with ECR Racing, with whom he won the 1990 CART championship and the 1992 Indy 500.
Mark Dismore: Comes into 2000 off a season-ending win in Texas -- his only win in four IRL seasons. Won two poles last year and finished third in the overall points standings.
Buzz Calkins: Ironman of IRL holds the record for the most consecutive races running at the finish, a streak which stands at 11 and dates to the 1998 season.
Davey Hamilton: Finished sixth last year in Orlando and second twice during the 1999 season. Still looking for first IRL win. Wound up fourth overall in '99 points standings after finishing second the previous two years.
Ron Buck is ESPN.com's auto racing editor.
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ALSO SEE
Unser happy to be a 'rookie' again
Klain: Will Unser finally boost IRL into spotlight?
Little Al's Diary: Ready for IRL debut
Arute: Another IRL season begins at Disney
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