IRL DRAMATIS PERSONAE (or, Who the Heck Are These Guys)?

Updated October 23, 2001

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This is a brief guide to the regular participants in the IRL. Many of these names are not familiar to new fans who are coming in from other forms of racing, so the intent of this is to present an introduction to the various personalities. More info about drivers and teams can be found on the IRL web site, and some drivers and teams have their own Web sites, some of which can be found here.


Drivers

Didier Andre: Born - September 3, 1974. From - Lyon, France; now resides in Indianapolis. Background - Karting; won four French national championships as a teenager (1990-93). French Formula 3 (1995-96). Indy Lights (1997-2000); posted a series-record 8 wins in 1998. IRL Experience: First race in 2001; started every race that season except Indy. Seeking an IRL ride for 2002. Best finish to date - 4th, Rchmond 2001. Current team - not signed.

Donnie Beechler: Born - May 18, 1961. From - Springfield, Illinois USA. Background - USAC Midgets beginnning in 1982, and and Silver Crown beginning in 1988. Finished second in Silver Crown championship in 1997; continues to race Silver Crown when not in conflict with IRL races. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1998; full time through 2000; eight starts in 2001. Best finish to date - 3rd, twice (most recently Kansas City 2001). Current team - not signed, but rumored to be returning to Foyt for 2002.

Billy Boat: Born - February 2, 1966. From - Scottsdale, Arizona USA. Background - USAC Midgets and Silver Crown. Holds USAC record with 11 consecutive Western States feature wins, in 1995; also won Midget championship that year. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1997, as a substitute for injured Scott Sharp; continued as a sub in 1997, full time since 1998. Best finish to date - 1st, Texas (1st) 1998. Current team - not signed.

Raul Boesel: Born - December 4, 1957. From - Curitiba, Brazil. Background - Started in karting and Formula Ford. Ran Formula 1 1982-83. Best known as veteran of Indycar racing, in CART. Three front-row starts in Indy 500, and five career 2nd-place finishes in CART racing. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1998; full-time through Atlanta 1999; one start at Indy (2000) since then. (Qualified for Indy 2001 but was substituted for.) Best finish to date - 5th, Disney World 1999. Current team - not signed.

Robbie Buhl: Born - September 2, 1963. From - Detroit, Michigan USA. Background - Formula Ford and 2000. Barber Dodge; won championship and set series record for most wins in 1989. Toyota Atlantic and Indy Lights, won Lights championship in 1992. Part time CART driver 1993-94. IRL Experience: Has been in the series full time since the beginning. Best finish to date - 1st, twice (most recently Disney World 2000). Current team - Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, car #24.

Buzz Calkins: Born - May 2, 1971. From - Denver, Colorado USA. Holds a double-major degree from University of Colorado in economics and history, and a master's in business administration from Northwestern; has competed in marathons including the Boston and New York Marathons. Background - SCCA various classes 1989-90; won regional Formula Ford championship in 1990. Hooters Formula Cup, Toyota Atlantic, and Indy Lights 1992-95. IRL Experience: Has been in the series full time since the beginning. Buzz won the first IRL race ever, the Disney World 200 in 1996, and was co-champion of the 1996 season. Best finish to date - 1st, Disney World 1996. Current team - Bradley Motorsports, car #12.

Tyce Carlson: Born - Sept. 23, 1970. From - Indianpolis, Indiana USA. Background - USAC and All-American Midgets, USAC Sprint and Silver Crown. IRL Experience: First race New Hampshire 1996. Served mainly as a substitute driver until landing a full-time ride in 1999. Best finish to date - 8th, Las Vegas 2000. Current team - signed with Immke, car #20, but team not currently running.

Eddie Cheever: Born - January 10, 1958. From - Phoenix, Arizona USA, but was raised in Italy. Now resides in Orlando, Florida USA. Speaks five languages fluently. Background - Well-versed veteran with years of experience in Indycars, sports cars, and Formula 1. Won Italian karting championships as a teenager. Raced Formula 1, making 133 starts, from 1979-89; also raced IMSA GTP and European prototypes 1986-89 with seven victories. Ran CART 1990-95; was Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1990. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning. Winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1998. Eddie has been the most successful of the IRL's owner-drivers to date. He scored the first IRNLS wins for both the Aurora and Infiniti engines. Best finish to date - 1st, five times (most recently Kansas City 2001). Current team - Cheever Indy Racing, car #51.

Airton Dare: Born - February 9, 1978. From - Sao Paulo, Brazil. Now resides in Miami. Airton's given name is pronounced like it is spelled (only two syllables; not like Ayrton Senna), and his surname is pronounced "dahr-AY". Background - Water racing (boat and jet-ski) in Brazil, 1991-1997. South American formula-car racing 1995-96. Indy Lights 1997-99, with two wins. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 2000; full time since then. 2000 Rookie of the Year. Best finish to date - 2nd, Pikes Peak 2000. Current team - Team Xtreme, car #88.

Doug Didero: Born - August 18, 1960. From - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Now lives in North Carolina. Doug's surname is pronounced "did-DARE-oh". Cousin David Didero is a co-owner of the Mid-American Motorsports team. Background - Supermodifieds; three-time track champion at the famed Oswego (NY) Speedway. Experience in several NASCAR divisions. IRL Experience: First race Texas [2nd] 1999; five starts in 2000. Best finish to date - 14th, Disney World 2000. Current team - not signed.

Mark Dismore: Born - Oct. 12, 1956. From - Greenfield, Indiana USA. Owns a company which is one of America's largest distributors of karts. His son Mark Jr. competes in F2000 and in ASA stock cars. Background - Was a karter from the age of 22; won 3 division championships in 1982. Super Vee, USAC Midgets. Toyota Atlantic; won Pacific division championship in 1990 with six consecutive race wins. One CART start in 1989. Was seriously injured in practice crash at Indy in 1991 and raced only sporadically over the next two years. IMSA (1993-95); 24 Hours of Daytona win in '93. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning; has driven full time since then. Dismore was the first driver ever to drive a Riley & Scott IRL car at speed. Best finish to date - 1st, Texas [2nd] 1999. Current team - not signed.

Sarah Fisher: Born - October 4, 1980. From - Commercial Point, Ohio USA. National Honor Society student currently pursuing an engineering degree at Ohio State University. Background - USAC Sprints and Midgets; Ran quarter-midgets as a child; three WKA Grand National championships. USAC, NAMARS, and other Midget series (mostly pavement) 1997-present; also some WoO experience. In 1999 she became the first ever female driver to win a feature at Winchester. IRL Experience: First start at Texas [2nd] 1999; full time since then. Fisher holds the record for best ever finish in an Indy race by a woman. Best finish to date - 2nd, Miami 2001. Current team - Walker Racing, car #15.

Taylor Fletcher: Born - February 26, 1957. From - Pasadena, California USA. Background - Karting as a child. Barber Dodge in 1995; regional SCCA racing with FM class championship in 1998. Championship runner-up in Formula Atlantic in 1999. In 2000-2001, SCCA FM-Pro, USAC racing, American Indycar Series, and Indy Lights experience. IRL Experience: Tentatively scheduled to run the 2002 season. Best finish - not yet raced. Current team - Tentatively signed with Team California, car # TBD.

Scott Goodyear: Born - Dec. 20, 1959. From - Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Background - Formula Ford; Toyota Atlantic, won championship in 1986. Various sports-car circuits. Full time CART driver in 1991-94 with two wins. Goodyear has a history at Indy which precedes his IRL experience: he finished second in closest Indy 500 finish in history in 1992, and was disqualified while leading in 1995. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1997; full time through 2000. Injured at Indy in 2001 and missed rest of season. Best finish - 1st, three times (most recently Texas [2nd] 2000). Current team - not signed.

Robby Gordon: Born - January 2, 1969. From - Orange, California USA. (Robby is not related to NASCAR's Jeff Gordon.) Background - Motocross as a teenager. Off-road and rallying (mostly 1987-1991, although he still occasionally runs an off-road event). CART (1992-1996 and 1998-1999), NASCAR Winston Cup (1997, 2000-present). IRL Experience: 6 starts, most recently Indy 2001. Best finish to date - 4th, Indianapolis 1999. Current team - not signed.

Stephan Gregoire: Born - May 14, 1969. From - Neufchateau, France. (Stephan's surname is pronounced "greg-WAH".) Background - karting (French national champion in 1987), European sports cars, Formula 3. Raced at Indy in 1993, but did not start a race in an Indy car again until joining the IRL in 1996. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning. Best finish - 4th, four times (most recently Texas [1st] 1999). Current team - not signed.

Roberto Guerrero: Born - November 16, 1958. From - Medellin, Colombia. Attended college in England; now a U.S. citizen residing in California. Background - karting (1970-74), won two national championships in Colombia. Formula Ford/3/2 in Europe; part time Formula 1 (1980-81). CART beginning in 1984, with two wins. Was severely injured in testing crash at Indy in September 1987; competed part time in CART after that. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning; full time until losing ride in mid-1999. One start in 2000. Roberto was the first driver ever to lead an IRL race with an Infiniti engine. Best finish to date - 4th, twice (most recently Texas [2nd] 1998). Current team - not signed.

Jim Guthrie: Born - Sept. 13, 1961. From - Gadsden, Alabama USA. Now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA. Background - Motocross and road racing motorcycles, beginning at age 12. SCCA regional sports cars, Formula Ford, Jim Russell Pro Series. IKF Speedway karts. A little bit of experience in Stock cars. Hooters Formula Cup, Toyota Atlantic. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1996; full-time 1996-1997, raced sporidacally in 1998; has not raced in the IRNLS since then. IRL Rookie of the Year in 1997. Won the Phoenix race in 1997 with an unsponsored car, becoming the first driver in recent history to win a major Indy car race without a sponsor. Best finish to date - 1st, Phoenix 1997. Current team - not signed.

Davey Hamilton: Born - June 13, 1962. From - Boise, Idaho USA. Background - Supermodifieds, won NSRA championship three consecutive years 1987-89; won both IFF and NSRA championships in 1991. USAC Silver Crown and Midgets; was the driver who broke Billy Boat's Midget win streak in 1995. Holds track records at Phoenix for electric cars and turbine-powered cars. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning; full time IRL driver until being severely injured at Texas I in 2002. Best finish to date - 2nd, three times (most recently Texas [2nd] 1999). Current team - not signed.

Shigeaki Hattori: Born - November 3, 1963. From - Okayama, Japan. (His first name is pronounced "shig-ee-AH-kee and his surname aah-TORE-ee.) Background - Karting and Formula Junior,1990-91. Formula Toyota, 1992-94; won championship in '94. Atlantics, 1995; Indy Lights, 1996-98, with two wins. CART, 1999, lost license. IRNLS Experience: First race Texas [1st] 2000; five races that year. Started every race except Indy in 2001. Best finish to date - 7th, three times (most recently Kentucky 2001). Current team - not signed.

Scott Harrington: Born - December 24, 1953. From - Louisville, Kentucky USA. Now resides in Indianapolis. Background - Toyota Atlantic and Indy Lights (1987-90), one CART start in 1990. Injured in an IMSA car in crash at Sebring in 1990; did not race again until 1992. SCCA Can Am (1992-95), won championship in 1993. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1996, but did not start another IRL race (other than a one-lap substitute run at Dover in 1998) until 1999. Ran full season in 1999; Rookie of the Year that year. Two starts in 2000. Currently not racing as a result of legal problems stemming from a DUI arrest in August 2000. Best finish to date - 5th, Phoenix 1999. Current team - not signed.

John Hollansworth: Born - September 18, 1963. From - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA; now resides in Dallas. A second-generation racer; his father, John Sr., was an SCCA champion and ran a few Indy car races in 1966-67. Hollansworth once pursued a career as a professional tennis player before switching to racing; he now holds a law degree and is a practicing lawyer. Background - AMA Motocross (1985-90), SCCA Spec Racer (1995-97), American Indycar Series (1997-98). IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1999; full time until losing ride after Disney World 2000. Best finish to date - 5th, Texas [2nd] 1999. Current team - not signed.

Sam Hornish: Born - July 2, 1979. From - Defiance, Ohio USA. Background - Karting 1995-95, won U.S. and Canadian national championships. U.S. F2000 1996-98. Toyota Atlantics 1999; won one race and Rookie of the Year title (driving for former IRL competitor Mike Shank). IRL Experience: First start at Disney World 2000; full time since then. In 2001 Hornish became the second-youngest driver ever to win a race in the entire history of Indy racing. Also won championship in 2001, becoming youngest champion ever. Best finish to date - 1st, three times (most recently Texas [2nd] 2001). Current team - Panther Racing, car #4.

Ronnie Johncox: Born - Feb. 13, 1969. From - Jackson, Michigan USA. Background - Karting, 1989-91. NAMARS and USAC Midgets, part time 1992-97 and also some ARCA Stock car racing 1995-96. Full time Midgets starting 1998. IRL Experience: First race Texas [1st] 1999; raced most of second half of 1999 season, three starts in 2000. Best finish to date - 11th, Texas [1st] 1999. Current team - not signed.

Niclas (Nic) Jonsson: Born - August 4, 1967. From - Bankeryd, Sweden; now resides in California. Background - Karting 1977-88, with three Swedish national championships. Scandinavian F3, 1989-90; won championship in 1990 and 1991. European F3000 1992-93. Formula Asia 1994-96. Indy Lights 1997; European touring car series 1998. IRL Experience: Four starts to date, two in 1999 and two in 2000. Best finish to date - 12th, Disney World 2000. Current team - not signed.

Jimmy Kite: Born - Feb. 18, 1976. From - Effingham, Illinois USA. Moved with family to Georgia as a child and now considers Stockbridge, GA, his home. Background - Quarter midgets, won regional titles in 1985, '86, '89, and '90. Budweiser National mini-sprints (1991, 93), won championship both years. AWOL winged Sprints and USAC Silver Crown. IRL Experience: First race Pikes Peak 1997; raced full time through Indy in 1998 when team folded. Raced sporadically until landing a ride in 1999; full time in 1999 and 2000. Did not race in the series in 2001. Best finish to date- 6th, Las Vegas 1997. Current team - not signed.

Steve Knapp: Born - April 17, 1974. From - Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. Now resides in Salem, Wisconsin. An accomplished driver/engineer, Steve is a cousin to ex-Menard team manager Thomas Knapp. Background - Best known as test team coordinator for Newman-Haas Racing in CART, as well as engine builder for SCCA teams and owner of his own engine shop. Raced in various SCCA classes in late '80s, but did not race again until 1996 when he competed in F2000 and won the championship. Ran Toyota Atlantic in 1997. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1998; finished third and won the race Rookie of the Year award that year. Full time until suffering neck injuries at Atlanta 1999; one start since then at Indy 2000. Best finish to date- 3rd, Indianapolis 1998. Current team - not signed.

Buddy Lazier: Born - October 31, 1967. From - Vail, Colorado USA. Attended school in Boston. Son of former Indy car driver Bob Lazier, and older brother of current IRL rookie Jacques Lazier. Former downhill skiing champion; tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in 1984. Background - Motocross; Formula Ford; Canadian/American Thundercar stock cars. Valvoline/Machinists (American Indycar Series); won championship in '88. Part time CART driver in 1989-95. IRL Experience: Has been with the series since the beginning. Won the first IRL-sanctioned Indianapolis 500 in 1996. Won IRNLS championship in 2000. Best finish to date - 1st, 8 times (most recently Kentucky 2001). Current team - Hemelgarn Racing, car #91.

Jacques Lazier: Born - January 25, 1971. From - Vail, Colorado USA. Son of former Indy car driver Bob Lazier and younger brother of IRL driver Buddy Lazier. Background - IKF karting 1983-87. SCCA Formula Ford 1600 1989-97; American Indycar Series 1996-97; won championship of both series in '96. Indy Lights 1997. IRL Experience: Made his first start at Phoenix 1999; landed full-time rade at first Texas race that year; full time since then. Best finish to date - 1st, Chicago 2001. Current team - Team Menard, car #2.

Arie Luyendyk: Born - Sept. 21, 1953. From - Rosmalen, Holland. Now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona USA. (Arie's surname is pronounced "LIE-un-dike". The way to remember the spelling is that the first two vowels are the exact opposite of the pronounciation, to an English speaker.) Background - Formula Vee/Super Vee/Ford, beginning age 20. Formula 3. Full time CART driver 1984-91 and 93, with three series wins. Part time CART, mainly Indy only, in 1994-95. IRL Experience: Was with the series since the beginning; full time through the 1998 season. Won the Indy 500 twice, including an IRL-sanctioned 500 in 1997, and holds the Indy record for the fastest average winning speed, set in 1990. Believed to be the only driver ever to have won Indy car races under three different sanctioning bodies (CART, USAC, and IRL). Retired after the 1999 Indy 500, but came out of retirement to run Indy in 2001 and plans to continue running selected races. Best finish - 1st, four times (most recently Las Vegas 1998). Current team - Treadway Racing, car #5 (Indy only).

Robby McGehee: Born - July 20, 1973. From - St. Louis, Missouri USA. Holds a degree in computer sciece from the University of Mississippi. His surname is pronounced "McGee" with the 'h' silent. Background - Club racing (1991), where he raced against his mother (!). Barber Dodge (1995), Formula 2000 (1996-98); in 1998 won two races and was runner-up in the Oval Crown standings. Holds the all-time F2000 lap speed record, set at Atlanta in 1998. Has run a handful of sports car races including the Daytona 24 Hours. IRL Experience: First start Indy 1999; full time since then. Best finish to date - 2nd, Texas [1st] 2000. Current team - Cahill Racing, car #10.

Casey Mears: Born - March 12, 1978. From - Bakersfield, California USA. Son of former Indy car driver Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears. Background - SuperLite off-road racing (1992-96), simultaneously appeared in Jim Russell formula-car series (1993-96), winning championship in 1995. Indy Lights (1997-2000); holds record for fastest lap in series history, set in 1999. Also set a record by finishing in the lead lap in every race in 1999. One CART race in 2000. IRL Experience: Three races in 2001. Best finish to date - 11th, Miami 2001. Current team - not signed.

Andy Michner: Born - October 27, 1968. From - Ann Arbor, Michigan USA. Now resides in Indianapolis. (Note the spelling of his last name; there is only one 'n'.) Background - USAC Midgets beginning in 1990; Silver Crown beginning in 1994. Has tested in a NASCAR BGN car. IRL Experience: First race Indianpolis 1998; five starts that season and two in 1999. Best finish to date - 8th, Indianapolis 1998. Current team - not signed.

Greg Ray: Born - Aug. 3, 1966. From - Plano, Texas USA. Owns and operates a large boat dealership chain in Texas. Background - Formula Ford, won championship in '92. Toyota Atlantic, won championship in '93. One year of Indy Lights in 1996. IRL Experience: First race Indianpolis 1997; full time since then. Long associated with team owner/manager Thomas Knapp, he is known for qualifying a car sponsored by spectators on the front row at Indy in 1997. In 1999 he became the first IRL driver to win three short-track races in one year; he also won the championship that year. Best finish to date - 1st, five times (most recently Atlanta 2001). Current team - not signed.

Stevie Reeves: Born - May 16, 1967. From - Indianapolis, Indiana USA. Background - Raced quarter-midgets at age of 7. Began racing Midgets around 1982. USAC Midget/Sprint/Silver Crown 1990-1993; won two national Midget titles 1992-93. Switched to Stock cars along with many other Sprint car drivers in early '90s; ran NASCAR Busch division 1994-98. IRL Experience: First race Charlotte 1998; didn't run IRL again until 2000 when he made three starts. Might be full time in 2001 if sponsorship permits. Best finish to date - 10th, Charlotte 1998. Current team - not signed.

Bobby Regester: Born - 1956. From - Boulder, Colorado USA. Background - Ten-time champion of Pikes Peak Hillclimb; off-road racing 1985-current. American Indycar Series 1997-1998. IRL Experience: Made a one-off start with Truscelli Team Racing at Pikes Peak in 1999, and another with the same team at Phoenix 2000. Best finish to date - 18th, Pikes Peak [2nd] 1999. Current team - not signed.

Eliseo Salazar: Born - November 18, 1955. From - Santiago, Chile. (His first name is pronounced "ell-uh-SAY-oh".) One of Chile's most well-known and popular sports stars; also holds a degree in mechanical engineering. Background - Chilean stock cars, won championship in 1984. Formula 3; Formula 1 (drove for Arrows) in 1981-83. After F1, drove Chilean off-road; Formula 3000; European sports cars. Did not race 1991-93. Begin competing in IMSA in 1994 and continues to do so today, in addition to his IRL racing. One year with CART in 1995. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1996; was to have started at inaugural IRL race in 1996, but was injured in practice and unable to race. Full time since then, but missed most of 1998 after suffering season-ending injuries in crash at Dover that year. Best finish to date - 1st, Las Vegas 1997. Current team - Foyt Enterprises, car #14.

Jaret Schroeder: Born - November 13, 1969. From - Vineland, New Jersey USA. (Jaret is not related to sports-car driver Dorsey Schroeder nor to NASCAR driver Ken Schrader. However, his surname is pronounced the same as those two drivers.) Background - F2000 (1993-95), won championship in 1995. Hooters Formula Cup (1995); Toyota Atlantics (1996). Sports car racing in USRRC and ALMS (1997-present). IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1997, ran two races that year. Didn't race again in IRL until Indy 1999. Full time in 2000; seven starts in 2001. Best finish to date - 4th, Las Vegas 2000. Current team - not signed.

Scott Sharp: Born - Feb. 14, 1968. From - Norwalk, Conneticut USA. Background - Sports cars; SCCA GT; Trans-Am, won championship in 1991. Two years in CART in 1993-94. Currently competes in ALMS and USRRC sports car racing in between IRL events; one of his teammates is fellow IRL driver John Paul Jr. IRL Experience: Has been with series since the beginning. Full time since then, but missed most of 1997 season with injuries. IRL co-champion (with Buzz Calkins) in 1996. Best finish to date - 1st, 6 times (most recently Texas [1st] 2001). Current team - Kelley Racing, car #8.

David Steele: Born - May 7, 1974. From - Tampa, Florida USA. Background - Sprint cars, Florida Pro Sprint and Southeast American Outlaw series, 1991-95. USAC Sprint and Silver Crown, 1996-98. NASCAR Busch Series, part time 1999-2000. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1998; three races that year. Steele actually signed with an IRL team in 1996, but the team folded without making a race. Best finish to date - 23rd, Phoenix 1998. Current team - not signed.

Brian Tyler: Born - October 27, 1967. From - Parma, Michican USA. Background - Raced motorcycles as a child; USAC Sprints beginning in 1990, and Silver Crown beginning in 1995. Defending USAC National Sprint car champion, which he has won two straight years 1996-97. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1998; full time that season; one start in 1999. Best finish to date - 6th, Las Vegas 1998. Current team - not signed.

Al Unser Jr.: Born - April 19, 1963. From - Albequerque, New Mexico USA. Al is the son of four-time Indy 500 winner, and now the IRL's driving coach, Al Unser Sr. He is a cousin to current IRL drivers Robby and Johnny Unser. Background - WoO Sprints 1973-80. SCCA Super Vee 1981; won championship. SCCA Can-Am 1982; won championship. One CART start in 1982; full-time CART beginning in 1983 in which year he competed against his father. Competed full time in CART 1983-1999 with 27 series wins including Indianapolis 500 wins in 1992 and 1994. Also competed in IMSA sports cars 1985-87 with two 24 Hours of Daytona victories. Competed in NASCAR Daytona 500 in 1993. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 2000; full time IRL starting that year. Best finish to date - 1st, twice (most recently St. Louis 2001). Current team - Galles/ECR Racing, car #3.

Johnny Unser: Born - October 22, 1958. From - Sun Valley, Idaho USA. Johnny is the son of the late Indy car driver Jerry Unser, and a cousin to IRL drivers Robby Unser and Al Unser Jr. Background - IMSA and endurance racing beginning in 1987. American Indycar Series 1990-92, with four wins. Ran four CART races in 1993. Johnny also does stunt and promotional driving for television. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1996; drove mainly as a substitute in 1996-97; ran only Indy in 1998. Full time ride in 1999, but lost ride midseason. One start since then, Indy 2000 Best finish to date - 8th, Texas 1997. Current team - not signed.

Robby Unser: Born - January 12, 1968. From - Albequerque, New Mexico USA. Robby is the son of the three-time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser, and a cousin to IRL drivers Johnny Unser and Al Unser Jr. Background - Karting as a teenager; won IKF regional titles in 1981. Raced stock cars 1983-83, then a mix of Sprint and SCCA formula cars in 1985-86. However, prior to his IRL entry he was best known as an off-road racer, with six Pikes Peak Hillclimb titles. He also won the AIS series championship in 1989. IRL Experience: First race Indianapolis 1998 (he finished in top five); full time since then. 1998 IRL Rookie of the Year. Best finish to date - 2nd, twice (most recently Atlanta 1999). Current team - not signed.

Jeff Ward: Born - June 22, 1961. From - Glasgow, Scotland. Emigrated to USA with family as a teenager; now resides in San Juan Capistrano, California. Background - Motocross, won AMA national titles in '85, '87, '88, '89, and '90. Indy Lights in 1992-96. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1997 as substitute for injured Davy Jones. Part time in 1997; full time starting in 1998. Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1997. Best finish to date - 2nd, four times (most recently Indianapolis 1999). Current team - Heritage Motorsports, car #35.

Cory Witherill: Born - December 17, 1971. From - Los Angeles, California USA. A Native American of the Navajo tribe. Background - Off-road/supercross (1987-1999), with USORC class championships in 1998 and 1999. Various road-racing series including Can-Am and Jim Russell. Indy Lights (1998-2000). IRL Experience: Two starts in 2001. Best finish to date - 22nd, Atlanta 2001. Current team - Indy Regency, car #16.

J.J. Yeley: Born - October 5, 1976. From - Phoenix, Arizona USA. (His surname is pronounced "YAY-lee".) Background - Midgets beginning in 1991; SCRA sprints beginning in 1994; USAC sprints beginning in 1997. Has run a few Silver Crown races. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1998; 5 starts that year, three starts in 2000. Best finish to date - 9th, Indianapolis 1998. Current team - not signed.

Drivers No Longer Participating in the IRL

Kenny Brack: Born - March 21, 1966. From - Arvika, Sweden. (The correct pronounciation of Kenny's surname is "breck", like the shampoo.) Background - Formula 3 and 3000; Formula 1 test driver. Second in F3000 championship in 1996. Raced in Barber Dodge in 1993 and won the championship. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1997 as a substitute for injured Davy Jones; full time through the 1999 season. IRL champion in 1998; Indianapolis 500 winner in 1999. Only IRL driver to date to win three consecutive races. Best finish - 1st, four times (last Indianapolis 1999). Last IRL start - Texas [2nd] 2000. Total IRL starts - 28. Current status - Signed to drive for Team Rahal in CART.

Scott Brayton: Born - February 20, 1959. Died - May 17, 1996. From - Coldwater, Michigan USA. Background - ???. A veteran of 14 Indianapolis 500 starts. IRL Experience: Was with the series from the beginning. Best finish - 15th, Disney World 1996. Total IRL starts - 2. Last IRL start - Phoenix 1996. Current status - Died in practice crash at Indianapolis in 1996.

Paul Durant: Born - September 26, 1959. From - Ames, Iowa USA. Now resides in California. Background - Supermodifieds; won Super Modified Racing Association championships in 1985, 1991, and 1992. Ran NARC Sprints 1988-89, USAC Silver Crown beginning in 1994. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1996; drove intermittently mostly as a a substitute drive through 1998. Best finish - 21st, twice (most recently Phoenix 1998). Total IRL starts - 5. Last IRL start - Phoenix 1998. Current status - Driving Supermodifieds; continues to pursue an IRL ride.

Marco Greco: Born - Dec. 1, 1963. From - Sao Paulo, Brazil. Background - Track motorcycles beginning at age 13, won several national championships in Brazil. Formula 3000; Formula 1 test driver. Ran CART on and off 1993-96. IRL Experience: First ran IRL at Indy in 1996; full time through 1998; one start in 1999. Greco is known for having competed as an owner-driver for a full season in 1998 on a budget of less than $1 million. Best finish - 3rd, Dover 1998. Total IRNLS starts - 23. Last IRNLS start - Phoenix 1999. Current status - unknown.

Mike Groff: Born - November 16, 1961. From - Van Nuys, California USA. Mike and Robbie Groff were the first pair of racing brothers in the IRL. Background - Started out in quarter-midgets and karts as a teenager. Ran Indy Lights (1987-89); won championship in 1989. Began in Indycars in 1990, first with CART and then joined the IRL. IRL Experience: Was with the series since the beginning; raced full time until losing ride in mid-1998. His 2nd-place finish at Disney World in 1997 was the best finish ever for an Infiniti-powered car. Best finish - 2nd, Disney World 1997. Total IRL starts - 13. Last IRL start - Indianapolis 1998. Current status - Doing some off-road racing; continues to pursue an IRL ride. Was entered at Indy in 1999 but failed to qualify.

Robbie Groff: Born - January 31, 1966. From - Van Nuys, California USA. Now resides in Atlanta. Mike and Robbie Groff were the first pair of racing brothers in IRL. Background - SCCA Super Vee 1987-89; Indy Lights 1990-93. Three CART starts in 1993. Did not race 1994-96. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1997; held full-time ride in 1997 but has not raced in IRL since 1998. Best finish - 9th, Indianapolis 1997. Total IRL starts - 7. Last IRL start - Disney World 1998. Current status - unknown.

Jack Miller: Born - June 14, 1961. From - Indianapolis, Indiana USA. Holds a degree in dentistry and is a practicing dentist in the Indianapolis area. Background - Formula Ford; Toyota Atlantic. Indy Lights, won class championship in '93. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1997; full time through 1999; two starts in 2000 and one in 2001. Dr. Jack has been known for being an Infiniti stalwart; he was the only driver to compete with that engine in late 1997 and early 1998 when every other team chose the Aurora. Best finish - 9th, Charlotte 1998. Total IRL starts - 22. Last IRL start - Atlanta 2001. Current status - Retired from Indy racing; has been doing some marketing and sponsor hunting for teams, in addition to continuing his dentistry practice.

Roberto Moreno: Born - February 11, 1959. From - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Background - Karting beginning at age of 15; Formula Vee and Super Vee. CART (1985-86, 1995-97, present), Formula 3000 (1987-88), won championship in 1988. Formula 1 (1989-1995). IRL Experience: Started his first IRL race at Phoenix in 1999; two starts that year. Best finish - 6th, Phoenix 1999. Total IRL starts - 2. Last IRL start - Indianapolis 1999. Current status - Racing full time in CART.

John Paul Jr.: Born - Feb. 19, 1960. From - Muncie, Indiana USA. Background - Formula Ford, beginning age 19; IMSA, won GT championship in 1982, won 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995 and 1996. Full time CART in 1982-85, with one series win. Part time CART driver in 1989-95, mostly Indy only. Did not race 1987-88 due to legal difficulties including a brief jail sentence for his involvement (during his teens) in his father's drug-running operation. Competed in the SCCA Trans-Am series in 2000. IRL Experience: Was with the series since the beginning; full time until team folded midseason in 1999. Best finish - 1st, Texas [2nd] 1998. Total IRL starts - 24. Last IRL start - Texas [2nd] 1999. Current status - unknown.

Sam Schmidt: Born - August 16, 1964. From - Las Vegas, Nevada USA. Background - Sports cars; various SCCA series including Can-Am. Hooters Formula Cup, completed every lap of every race in 1995. F2000 in 1996, his win at Disney World was the first race ever held at that track. IRL Experience: First race Phoenix 1996; full time through the 1999 season. Best finish - 1st, Las Vegas 1999. Total IRL starts - 27. Last IRL start - Texas [2nd] 1999. Current status - Suffered paralysis after a testing crash at Disney World in January 2000. Sam is now an IRNLS team owner.

Lyn St. James: Born - March 13, 1947. From - Willoughby, Ohio USA. Now resides in Daytona Beach. Background - Sports cars; Trans-Am and IMSA GTO from 1981-1990. 24 Hours of Daytona GTO class wins in 1987 and 1990. Part-time CART 1992-95; won Indy 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1992. IRL Experience: First race Disney World 1996; full time through 1996 until being injured at Las Vegas. Two starts since then, both at Indy (1997 and 2000). Her 224.594 qualifying effort at Indy in 1996 stands as the current women's world closed-course speed record. Lyn was the first woman to start an IRNLS race. Best finish - 8th, Disney World 1996. Total IRL starts - 6. Last IRL start - Indianapolis 2000. Current status - Retired from Indy racing. Lyn works as a consultant for the American Le Mans sports-car series.

Tony Stewart: Born - May 20, 1971. From - Rushville, Indiana USA. Background - USAC Midgets/Sprints/Silver Crown. Won the championship of all three of these divisions in 1995, the only driver ever to win all three in the same year. IRL Experience: Was with the series from the beginning through the 1998 season; started every IRL event through 1998 and also ran Indy in 1999. He is generally credited with being the leader of the current crop of Midget and Sprint car drivers moving into the IRL. Started on pole of Indy 500 as a rookie in 1996 (after Scott Brayton's death). IRL champion in 1997. Best finish to date - 1st, three times (most recently New Hampshire 1998). Total IRL starts - 26. Last IRL start - Indianapolis 2001. Current status - Now racing full time in the NASCAR Winston Cup series. Stewart continues to make an effort to run the Indy-Charlotte daily double each year.

Stan Wattles: Born - July 24, 1961. From - Long Island, New York USA. Attended college in Virginia and Conneticut; now lives in Florida. Does extensive work with children with learning disabilities. Martial arts expert. Background - Formula Ford and Toyota Atlantic. Did not race from 1990 to 1992. SCCA Formula 2000 in 1993, and then raced sporadically until the IRL's startup in 1996. IRL Experience: First start at Disney World 1996. Three starts in calendar year 1996; did not race again until Las Vegas in 1997 where he retured as an owner-driver. Full time in 1998; became one of the two first drivers (along with Mike Shank) to compete with the Riley & Scott chassis at Las Vegas in 1997. Retired after Indy 1999, but came out of retirement to run Indy 2000. He put together a ride for 2001 but retired for good after being injured in practice at Indy that year. Best finish - 8th, twice (most recently Texas [2nd] 1998). Total IRL starts - 17. Last IRL start - Atlanta 2001. Current status - Retired from Indy racing; Stan is now an IRNLS team owner.


Sponsors

Disclaimer: The intent of this section is to describe basically what business the sponsors are in, since some of them are in rather specialized businesses or are regional companies that people in other areas may not have heard of. It is not my intent for this to be an advertising forum. Please don't ask me to put links to advertiser Web sites here; I won't do it, because if I did I would be violating my no-commercial-use agreement with my ISP. Many of these companies have Web sites with names like www.[companyname].com, or a simple search engine like Yahoo should be able to find it.

1-800-BAR-NONE: An automotive and consumer finance company specializing in difficult-credit cases. Sponsoring Airton Dare.

Bradley Food Marts: A chain of gas stations and convenience stores, owned by the Calkins family. Sponsor Buzz Calkins, of course.

Coors: The well-known U.S. beer brand. Sponsoring Buddy Lazier.

Delphi Automotive: This is an auto-parts designer and manufacturer made up largely of former General Motors parts divisions such as Saginaw and the Monsoon car-stereo operation. Sponsoring Scott Sharp.

Epson: A maker of printers and other computer peripherals. Sponsoring Shigeaki Hattori.

Harrah's: Hotel and resort chain best known for their extensive Las Vegas casino. Sponsoring Eliseo Salazar.

Hollywood: A cigarette brand, not sold in the U.S. Participates in the IRL for exposure via the IRL's international broadcasts. Sponsoring Felipe Giaffone.

Johns Manville: Maker of building materials and home improvement products. Sponsoring Jaques Lazier.

Menard's: The Midwest home-improvement store chain owned by IRL team owner John Menard. Currently sponsors Jaques Lazier, although the name can be found on any car that Menard has anything to do with.

Pennzoil: The well-known motor oil and additive brand. They are heavily invested in the IRL and other forms of racing. Sponsoring Sam Hornish.

Purex: The well-known detergent brand, a division of the Dial Corp. household products company. Sponsoring Robbie Buhl.

Red Bull: Brand name of a popular energy drink, often used as a mixer in trendy bars. Sponsoring Eddie Cheever.

Starz Encore: Owner of the premium cable channels after which it is named, as well as other cable services. For 2001 they have become the primary sponsor of Al Unser Jr.

TV Guide: The well-known magazine of television reviews and listings. An associate sponsor of Al Unser Jr.

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