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1997 VisionAire 500

{{more footnotes needed|date=June 2015}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{American Championship Car race report infobox

|Country = USA

|Race = Charlotte

|Image = Charlotte_Motor_Speedway_diagram.svg

|Date = July 27

|Year = 1997

|1996-1997 = yes

|Official name = VisionAire 500

|Round_No = 8th

|Series = Indy Racing League

|Location = Charlotte Motor Speedway

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 1.500

|Course_km = 2.414

|Distance_laps = 208

|Distance_mi = 312.000

|Distance_km = 502.115

|Weather = Dry with temperatures reaching up to {{convert|90.5|F|C}}; wind speeds reaching up to {{convert|6|mph|km/h}}{{cite web|url=http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/zipcode/28026/1997-07-26|title=1997 VisionAire 500 weather information |publisher=Old Farmers' Almanac|accessdate=2015-06-18}}

|Pole_Driver = Tony Stewart

|Pole_Team = Team Menard

|Pole_Time = 24.866

|Pole_Country = USA

|Fast_Driver = Billy Boat

|Fast_Team = A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|Fast_Time = 25.292

|Fast_Lap = 9

|Fast_Country = USA

|First_Driver = Buddy Lazier

|First_Team = Hemelgarn Racing

|First_Country = USA

|Second_Driver = Billy Boat

|Second_Team = A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|Second_Country = USA

|Third_Driver = Scott Goodyear

|Third_Team = Treadway Racing

|Third_Country = CAN

}}

The 1997 VisionAire 500 was the eighth round of the 1996–1997 Indy Racing League. The race was held on July 26, 1997, at the {{convert|1.500|mi|km|abbr=on}} Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, US. The event was the first Indy Racing League event to be held at Charlotte.

Qualifying Results

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
Key

! Meaning

align="center" | R

| Rookie

align="center" | W

| Past winner

class="wikitable sortable" " style="fontsize:95%"

!| Pos

!| No.

!| Name

!| Lap 1

!| Lap 2

!| Best (in mph)

scope="row" | 1

| align=center| 2

| {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

| align="center"| 24.986

| align="center"| 24.866

| align="center"| 217.164

scope="row" | 2

| align=center| 5

| {{flagicon|NED}} Arie Luyendyk

| align="center"| 25.245

| align="center"| 25.172

| align="center"| 214.524

scope="row" | 3

| align=center| 1

| {{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat R

| align="center"| 25.543

| align="center"| 25.419

| align="center"| 212.440

scope="row" | 4

| align=center| 14

| {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

| align="center"| 25.454

| align="center"| 25.424

| align="center"| 212.398

scope="row" | 5

| align=center| 91

| {{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier

| align="center"| 25.478

| align="center"| 25.514

| align="center"| 211.948

scope="row" | 6

| align=center| 27

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Guthrie R

| align="center"| 25.782

| align="center"| 25.661

| align="center"| 210.436

scope="row" | 7

| align=center| 21

| {{flagicon|COL}} Roberto Guerrero

| align="center"| 25.736

| align="center"| 25.688

| align="center"| 210.215

scope="row" | 8

| align=center| 6

| {{flagicon|CAN}} Scott Goodyear

| align="center"| 26.065

| align="center"| 25.787

| align="center"| 209.408

scope="row" | 9

| align=center| 77

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Stéphan Grégoire

| align="center"| 25.967

| align="center"| 25.799

| align="center"| 209.310

scope="row" | 10

| align=center| 28

| {{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore

| align="center"| 25.827

| align="center"| 25.808

| align="center"| 209.237

scope="row" | 11

| align=center| 70

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Marco Greco

| align="center"| 25.823

| align="center"| 25.861

| align="center"| 209.116

scope="row" | 12

| align=center| 22

| {{flagicon|ITA}} Vincenzo Sospiri R

| align="center"| 26.236

| align="center"| 25.833

| align="center"| 209.035

scope="row" | 13

| align=center| 33

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Kite R

| align="center"| 25.865

| align="center"| 25.891

| align="center"| 208.776

scope="row" | 14

| align=center| 7

| {{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar

| align="center"| 25.891

| align="center"| 25.961

| align="center"| 208.567

scope="row" | 15

| align=center| 51

| {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

| align="center"| 25.929

| align="center"| 25.911

| align="center"| 208.406

scope="row" | 16

| align=center| 17

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Affonso Giaffone R

| align="center"| 26.045

| align="center"| 26.074

| align="center"| 207.333

scope="row" | 17

| align=center| 31

| {{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray R

| align="center"| 26.120

| align="center"| 26.054

| align="center"| 207.262

scope="row" | 18

| align=center| 4

| {{flagicon|SWE}} Kenny Bräck R

| align="center"| 26.089

| align="center"| 26.062

| align="center"| 207.198

scope="row" | 19

| align=center| 40

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller R

| align="center"| 26.413

| align="center"| 26.193

| align="center"| 206.162

scope="row" | 20

| align=center| 30

| {{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Groff R

| align="center"| 26.328

| align="center"| 26.333

| align="center"| 205.066

scope="row" | 21

| align=center| 18

| {{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Jr.

| align="center"| 26.883

| align="center"| 26.577

| align="center"| 203.183

scope="row" | 22

| align=center| 10

| {{flagicon|USA}} Mike Groff

| align="center"| 27.548

| align="center"| 27.187

| align="center"| 198.624

scope="row" | 23

| align=center| 99

| {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Schmidt{{ref|1|1}} R

| colspan=2 align="center"| Did not qualify

| align="center"| No speed

{{refbegin}}

  1. {{note|1}} Failed to qualify after breaking a cam sensor in practice, but was allowed to start the race at the back of the field.

{{refend}}

= Failed to qualify or withdrew =

Race Report

Buddy Lazier beat rookie Billy Boat to take his second IRL victory in the first-ever Indy car race at this long-time stock-car racing venue. The race was dominated by Tony Stewart at the beginning, but his car developed handling problems after pitting during a caution period on lap 75 and was out of contention thereafter. Lazier stayed out during the caution and assumed the lead, but had to make a green-flag stop on lap 93 and fell a lap down.

Mark Dismore moved up steadily through the field but blew an engine at full speed going down the front stretch on lap 99; he spun the car harmlessly into the infield in turn 1. Boat, Roberto Guerrero and Jimmy Kite (in only his second IRL start) swapped the lead until Guerrero touched wheels with points leader Davey Hamilton in turn 2 and both cars spun into the wall. Neither driver was hurt, but his resulting 16th-place finish cost Hamilton the points lead. Lazier unlapped himself on the subsequent caution and joined the duel with Boat and Kite; the latter's race ended when his car pushed up into the wall exiting turn 4.

After the caution, Lazier took the lead and tried to pull away from Boat, but got caught behind Scott Goodyear who was trying to stay on the lead lap. While Lazier made several high-risk pass attempts (including two runs through the grass in the quad-oval), Boat caught him and briefly assumed the lead, but then Goodyear conceded and Lazier moved back in front for the final 11 laps. In the last few laps, Kenny Bräck and Eddie Cheever staged a furious duel for fifth as they picked through traffic, with Bräck coming out on top.

Race Results

=Box Score=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
Key

! Meaning

align="center" | R

| Rookie

align="center" | W

| Past winner

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
PosNo.DriverTeamLapsTime/RetiredGridLaps
Led		Points
1

| align=center|91

|{{flagicon|USA}} Buddy Lazier

|Hemelgarn Racing

|align=center|208

|align=center|1:55:29.224

|align=center|5

|align=center|58

|align=center|35

2

| align="center"|1

|{{flagicon|USA}} Billy Boat R

|A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|align=center|208

|align=center|+ 3.301 sec

|align=center|3

|align=center|38

|align=center|33

3

| align=center|6

|{{flagicon|CAN}} Scott Goodyear

|Treadway Racing

|align=center|207

|align=center|+ 1 lap

|align=center|8

|align=center|1

|align=center|32

4

| align=center|17

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Affonso Giaffone R

|Chitwood Motorsports

|align=center|206

|align=center|+ 2 laps

|align=center|16

|align=center|0

|align=center|31

5

|align=center|4

|{{flagicon|SWE}} Kenny Bräck R

|Galles Racing

|align=center|206

|align=center|+ 2 laps

|align=center|18

|align=center|0

|align=center|30

6

| align=center |51

|{{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

|Team Cheever

|align=center|206

|align=center|+ 2 laps

|align=center|15

|align=center|0

|align=center|29

7

|align="center" |2

|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

|Team Menard

|align=center|205

|align=center|+ 3 laps

|align=center|1

|align=center|74

|align=center|31

8

| align=center|77

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Stéphan Grégoire

|Chastain Motorsports

|align=center|202

|align=center|+ 6 laps

|align=center|9

|align=center|0

|align=center|27

9

| align=center|70

||{{flagicon|BRA}} Marco Greco

|Galles Racing

|align=center|202

|align=center|+ 6 laps

|align=center|11

|align=center|0

|align=center|26

10

| align=center|7

|{{flagicon|CHI}} Eliseo Salazar

|Team Scandia

|align=center|200

|align=center|+ 8 laps

|align=center|14

|align=center|0

|align=center|25

11

|align=center|18

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Jr.

|PDM Racing

|align=center|198

|align=center|+ 10 laps

|align=center|21

|align=center|0

|align=center|24

12

| align=center|27

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jim Guthrie R

|Blueprint Racing

|align=center|197

|align=center|+ 11 laps

|align=center|6

|align=center|0

|align=center|23

13

| align=center|30

|{{flagicon|USA}} Robbie Groff R

|McCormack Motorsports

|align=center|189

|align=center|Half shaft

|align=center|20

|align=center|0

|align=center|22

14

| align=center|10

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mike Groff

|Byrd-Cunningham Racing

|align=center|176

|align=center|+ 32 laps

|align=center|22

|align=center|0

|align=center|21

15

| align=center|33

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jimmy Kite R

|Team Scandia

|align=center|163

|align=center|Accident

|align=center|13

|align=center|11

|align=center|20

16

| align=center|14

|{{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

|A. J. Foyt Enterprises

|align=center|141

|align=center|Accident

|align=center|4

|align=center|0

|align=center|19

17

| align=center|21

|{{flagicon|COL}} Roberto Guerrero

|Pagan Racing

|align=center|141

|align=center|Accident

|align=center|7

|align=center|26

|align=center|18

18

| align=center|99

|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Schmidt R

|LP Racing-PCI

|align=center|114

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|23

|align=center|0

|align=center|17

19

| align=center|28

|{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Dismore

|Kelley Racing-PDM

|align=center|97

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|10

|align=center|0

|align=center|16

20

| align=center|22

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Vincenzo Sospiri R   

|Team Scandia

|align=center|70

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|12

|align=center|0

|align=center|15

21

| align=center|5

|{{flagicon|NED}} Arie Luyendyk

|Treadway Racing

|align=center|67

|align=center|Handling

|align=center|2

|align=center|0

|align=center|14

22

| align=center|31

|{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Ray R

|Knapp Motorsports

|align=center|30

|align=center|Engine

|align=center|17

|align=center|0

|align=center|13

23

| align=center|40

| {{flagicon|USA}} Jack Miller R

|Arizona Motorsports

|align=center|13

|align=center|Electrical

|align=center|19

|align=center|0

|align=center|13

=Race Statistics=

  • Lead changes: 13 among 6 drivers

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Lap Leaders

Laps

! Leader

1-47Tony Stewart
48Scott Goodyear
49-75Tony Stewart
76-92Buddy Lazier
93-100Billy Boat
101-126Roberto Guerrero
127-139Billy Boat
140-145Jimmy Kite
146Billy Boat
147-151Jimmy Kite
152-166Billy Boat
167-195Buddy Lazier
196Billy Boat
197-208Buddy Lazier

{{col-break}}

class="wikitable"

!colspan=2|Cautions: 4 for 27 laps

Laps

! Reason

74-76

|Debris

99-106

|Mark Dismore's engine leaks oil on track

145-154

|Guerrero, Hamilton and Salazar crash

165-170

|Jimmy Kite crash

{{col-end}}

Standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
Pos

! Driver

! Points

1

| {{flagicon|USA}} Tony Stewart

| 233

2

| {{flagicon|USA}} Davey Hamilton

| 226

3

| {{flagicon|USA}} Eddie Cheever

| 189

4

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Marco Greco

| 188

5

| {{flagicon|USA}} Buzz Calkins

| 183

  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for the standings.

Broadcasting

=Television=

Although the event was run on July 26, the race was not broadcast live. Instead, CBS carried it on a one-day tape delay as part of its sports anthology series, which was known at the time as The CBS Sports Show.

Mike Joy was the lap-by-lap commentator. Scott Sharp, who at the time was nursing injuries that were preventing him from driving, was the driver analyst in the booth. Brian Hammons and Mike King reported from the pits.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMIPXZTNKO0&t 1997 IRL Visionaire 500k at Charlotte (Full Race)]

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://indycar.com IndyCar official website]

{{American Championship Car race report footer |

Series = Indy Racing League |

Name_of_race = VisionAire 500 |

Year_of_race = 1996-1997 |

Previous_race_in_season = 1997 Samsonite 200 |

Next_race_in_season = 1997 Pennzoil 200 |

Previous_year's_race = none |

Next_year's_race = 1998 VisionAire 500K

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:VisionAire 500, 1997}}

Category:1996–97 in IndyCar

Category:1997 in sports in North Carolina