1995 Marlboro Indycar World Series Season Preview
The 1995 Marlboro Championship Trail looks hot, with plenty of teams stepping up their game to challenge the dominant Penske-Honda outfit. Some big news concerning the schedule, as Atlanta Motor Speedway, after 30 years of being the season opener for the Indycar season, will be replaced in 1996 by the brand new oval build in Miami at the Homestead complex. Atlanta Motor Speedway has decided to run out its Indycar contract and stick to its parent company ISC's commitments with NASCAR from 1996 onwards, prompting Indycar Inc. To buy land in Miami to build a new oval track with long, sweeping corners [1] and secure sponsorship from none other than the Walt Disney Company to become the title sponsor for the new Grand Prix of Miami that will open next season.
Also of note is the potential rebranding of the Marlboro Michigan 500. Seeing the dwindling numbers in recent years at the event, Indycar Inc. Is thinking about making the event the compliment to the Indy 500 by moving it, starting next year in 1996, to the 4th of July week-end, giving out significant prize money to the victor and renaming it with patriotic fervor as the US 500. Time will tell if that will bring new life to the 2nd oldest 500 mile race on the calendar.
That isn't all, however. In much bigger news, Indycar Inc., with its global reach increasing exponentially thanks to the presence of Ayrton Senna, looks to capitalise on Senna's presence and worldwide popularity by looking at potential overseas races in the near future. Recently retired Emerson Fittipaldi has long been an advicate for an Indycar race in Brazil, and with Senna and the large brazilian presence in the series, we might see a race in Brazil sooner than later. Rumour has it that a special oval layput might be constructed at the Jacarapegua circuit in Rio De Janeiro to welcome the Indycars, while in other news, with Formula 1 leaving the streets of Adelaide for the new temporary track in Melbourne, Victoria, rumour has it that Indycar Inc. Have expressed interest in potentially picking up the Adelaide street race event for 1996.
It is an exciting time in Indycar history, with increased global attention and interest. And with a new generation of stars coming up to face the veterans of the sport, we might be on the cusp of something special...that is, if the 1996 CBA meetings do go well, considering there are some big issues that Indycar Inc. Needs to address for the sake of its future, such as the rising costs, the full-time american rookies quota and the increasing pressures on the tobacco industry...
1995 Schedule
1. Valvoline 300 (O) - March 15th- Atlanta Motor Speedway
2. Jimmy Bryant Memorial (O) - April 2nd - Phoenix International Raceway
3. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (S) - April 9th
4. Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix of Pennsylvania (O) - April 23rd - Nazareth Speedway
5. 79th Indianapolis 500 (O) - May 28th
6. Rex Mays Classic (O) - June 4th - Milwaukee Mile
7. Budwesier GP of New York (R) - June 11th - Watkins Glen International
8. GI Joe's 200 (R) - June 25th - Portland
9. New England 200 (O) - July 9th - New Hampshire
10. Molson Indy (S) - July 16th - Toronto
11. Marlboro Michigan 500 (O) - July 23rd
12. Budweiser GP of Cleveland (R) - July 30th
13. Miller Genuine Draft 200 (R) - August 13th - Mid-Ohio
14. Texaco Havoline 200 (R) - August 20th - Road America
15. Texas 500 (O) - September 3 - Texas World Speedway
16. LA Times 500k (R) - September 10th. Riverside Raceway
17. California 500 (O) - September 30th - Ontario Motot Speedway (Night Race)
TEAMS AND DRIVERS
Marlboro Team Penske
Penske PC-24-Honda
#1 Al unser jr
#2 Ayrton Senna
Penske had one of the most dominant seasons in Indycar history in 1994, with Al Unser Jr beating the legendary Ayrton senna for the title and the Indy 500. This year, Senna is ready to beat his teammate and the rest of the field to get the title.
Player's Forsythe Green Racing
Reynard 95I-Ford Cosworth
#27 Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve won his first Indycar race at Road America, and his strong points finishes would've earned him rookie of the year were not for Senna. The Reynard-Ford package seems to be the main contenders against Penske, and with the Green Brothers and Tony Cicote perfecting their approach and Gerry Forsythe's managerial skills, JV might be the main darkhorse in this year's championship.
Newman-haas Racing
Lola T95/00-Ford Cosworth
#6 Michael andretti - Texaco-Havoline
#3 Christian fittipaldi (R) - Budweiser
Back to earth for Newman-Haas, with Penske dominating 1994, although Michael Andretti managed to win his 5th Toronto win and scored a few poles and regular top 5 finishes once the ford-cosworths upgrades arrived. With his fatger Mario retiring, Paul Newman and Carl Haas brought over Emerson Fittipaldi's nephew Christian as his new number 2. Christian impressed last season in formula 1 for Arrows, with his best finish being a podium in Germany.
Team Rahal-Hogan
Lola T95/00-Mercedes 500I
#11 Bryan herta - Duracell
#9 Bobby Rahal - Miller Genuine Draft
Bobby Rahal and Bryan Herta had strong first impressions with the Merc Pushrod engines, but over the season, reliability issues reared its head. This year, with the Merc improving in that department, the team looks set to cone back to the front.
Firestone Patrick Racing
Reynard 95I-Ford Cosworth
#20 Scott Pruett - Firestone
Pat Patrick returns from his 1994 hiatus, bringing back Scott Pruett and coming in with the brand new Firestone tires, of which they tested all year long last year. Armed with the Reynard-Ford package, Pruett might play spoiler to the front runners this year.
Pennzoil hall VDS racing
Reynard 95I-Mercedes 500I
#24 Jeff Gordon
With Jeff Gordon finally winning his first indycar race at the season finale in Ontario and the merc engines improving their reliability, many feels this is a make or break year for the Jim Hall team. Gordon has made it clear: he wants to compete for the championship. He definitely has the package to challenge the Penskes, Walkers and Forsythes, but the question remains: will the engine hold up? Not to mention his contract is up at the end of the year...
Panasonic Dick simon racing
Lola T95/00-Chevrolet Ilmor
#7 Raul boesel
#22 Hiro Matsushita
With Buick discontinuing their Aurora V8 engine program, Dick Simon opted to go with Chevies for this year. This might be the last year we see this team, however, for Simon himself is considering retirement.
Target Chip ganassi Racing
Reynard 95I-Ford Cosworth
#10 Jimmy vasser
#8 Jeff Krosnoff (R)
A big shakeup at Ganassi. While Jimmy Vasser replacing Eddie Cheever was expected, Robby Gordon leaving the team to join Walker Racing most certainly wasn't. Scraping something out of a bad situation, Mike Hull, one of the chief mechanics of the team, suggested to Chip his old friend Jeff Krosnoff, who has grown into a fan favorite in Japan. After much negotiating with Toyota, the Nippon automaker accepted to loan Krosnoff to the Ford-powered Target outfit for one year only, as they are planning to return to Indycars next year with Dan Gurney and an unknown team. Should Krosnoff impress, Ganassi might be able to leverage that into a works Toyota deal...that is, if they are not pursuing the Honda engines as the rumours suggests...
Tasman motorsports
Penske PC-23-Honda
#31 Andre Ribeiro (R) - LCI
#99 Eddie Lawson (R) - Subway
A brand new team enters the fray. 1994 Indy Lights champion Andre Ribeiro and the Tasman team moves up to the big time, bringing over Ribeiro's teammate and former 3-time 500cc Motorcycle world champion Eddie Lawson as his teammate, though many thinks that this move is most likely to fulfill the 3 full-time american rookies rule that Indycar Inc. Implemented all the way back in 1984. A rule that will be one of the main talking points at the next CBA meetings this offseason...
AJ Foyt Enterprises
Lola T95/00-Chevrolet
#14 Robbie Stanley - Copenhagen
#48 Davey hamilton (ovals) - Canadian Tire
#48 David Empringham (road Courses), Lola T94/Chevrolet for the 500 milers - Canadian Tire
With Kenny Bernstein disbanding his Indycar team despite a stunning win at Michigan, Robbie Stanley almost found himself without a seat wherenot for the intervention of AJ Foyt, who offered him the legendary #14 car. Davey Hamilton stays as the oval specialist, giving AJ Foyt a deadly combination on the ivals, while David Empringham brings Canadian Tire money and runs the road courses and last year's car in the 500 milers.
Pacwest racing
Reynard 95I-Chevrolet Ilmor
#17 Mauricio gugelmin - Hollywood Cigarettes
#18 Scott Sharp - Visa
Bruce McCaw's outfit continues its steady growth int he sport, opting for stabilisation and building on its foundations.
Payton coyne Racing
Lola T95/-Chevrolet Ilmor
#19 Robbie buhl - Mi-Jack
#34 Willy t. Ribbs - Coors Light
Willy T. Ribbs showed that he still got it in 1994, scoring points in many races and bringing Payton/Coyne to a comfortable mid-table team. Robbie Buhl, meamwhile, essentially became Ribbs's number 2.
Alumax Bettenhausen/Comptech Racing
Penske PC-23-Honda
#16 Parker Johnstone (R)
After a less than stellar season with Robbie Groff, Tony Bettenhausen Jr. Plans a big return to competitiveness. Equipped with the dominant Penske PC-23-Honda package, the squad, now teaming up with IMSA GTP lights team Comptech Racing, hired Honda factory driver Parker Johnstone, who impressed massively in pre-season test on both road courses and ovals.
Galles Racing
Lola T94/00-Chevrolet Ilmor
#66 Adrian Fernandez - Tecate
#55 Davy Jones - Motorola
To say Rick Galles is in trouble would be a big understatement. Not only did Valvoline left for Walker, but Wally Dallenbach Jr switched to NASCAR Winston Cup by accepting an offer he couldn't refuse: drive the legendary #43 of Richard Petty. As such, he hurriedly gained sponsorship from the ambitious Motorola and hired former Foyt leading man Davy Jones as Adrian Fernandez's new teammate.
Arciero-Wells Racing
Reynard 94I-Ford Cosworth
#25 Mark Smith - Craftsman Tools
Frank Arciero and Cal Wells switches to the Reynard-Ford package that brought Jacques Villeneuve and Forsythe to victory at Road America. Whether or not this will lead to improved results remains to be seen...
Valvoline Walker Racing
Reynard 95I-Ford
#5 Robby Gordon - Valvoline
#15 John Andretti - Molson
This is it for Derrick Walker: the big push towards championship contention. Poaching Valvoline from Galles, he used said money to snatch Robby Gordon, one of the leaders of the new generation of Indycar drivers, as his new lead driver to form a strong duo with John Andretti. They will most likely be one of the favorites for the title now with Penske, Hall, Rahal and Forsythe.
Delta Faucet Hemelgarn Racing
Reynard 94I-Ford
#33 Buddy Lazier
Ron Hemelgarn buys one of Ganassi's 94 Reynard-Ford packages to run for Buddy Lazier, hoping to get back into the points.
Pagan Racing (Part-time)
Reynard 94I-Chevrolet Ilmor
#91 Jeff Andretti - Interstate Batteries
Due to the failures of 94, Pagan and Jeff Andretti will only compete on the speedways and larger road courses for this year
Menard Racing (Part-Time)
Lola T95/00-Menard-Buick
#40 Scott Goodyear (Speedways, Portland, Cleveland, Toronto, Road America and 500 milers) - Mackenzie Financials
#60 Tony Stewart (R) (Indy 500) - Quaker State
#80 Scott Brayton (500 milers only) - Glidden
John Menard Jr., a long-time Indy 500, only entrant running his modified Buick V6 engines, is using this year to test the waters for a full-time entry in 1996, managing to convince Indycar Inc to let him use his Menard-Buick engine by arguing that they let Hall and Rahal run the Merc pushrod engine for the entire season last year. Scott Goodyear comes in from Walker on a part-time basis, with veteran Scott Brayton joining him on the 500 milers and the impressive Sprint car standout Tony Stewart making his Indycar debut at the track he calls home, the Indy 500. His impending debut at Indy received lots of hype in both the local racing scene and in the magazines, with many even daring to call Stewart a future superstar...
Indy Regency Racing (Part-time)
Lola T94/00-Ford Cosworth
#96 Arie Luyendyk (ovals only)
#96 Chris Smith (Portland, Cleveland, Watkins Glen and Road America)
Indy Regency is reduced to a part time schedule this year, with 1990 Indy 50p winner Arei Luyendyk tackling the ovals and Chris smith onboard for the larger road courses.
Alright, so the 1995 season is ready! What do you think of all this, guys?
[1] Here, Homestead-Miami will be build with its current layout from 2000 onwards.