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CART returned to a two abreast start for the first time since 1993. Teammates Pruett and
Gugelmin raced side by side for much of the first lap, with Pruett leading the opening lap by a narrow margin. Gugelmin took the lead with an inside pass into turn one and held the lead for the next 34 laps.
372:
The difference between the U.S. 500 in 1996 and 1997 highlighted CART's strategy that no race should stand above all others as the flagship race, as
President Andrew Craig explained, "While the Indy 500 was a part of the series, it was always a little unclear in peoples' minds as to what was
373:
important, winning the Indy 500 or winning the championship. We, as an organization, never really developed a championship to the level of prestige that it should enjoy. So very, very high on my list of priorities is to create the mood and atmosphere of the national championship."
345:
was quoted as saying, "I don't think you can say it is of the same magnitude that it was last year. There is no doubt about it: The U.S. 500 is one of our showcase or premier events, but I don't think you can say that one race stands out as a crown jewel."
332:
The decision for
Michigan 500 to take the U.S. 500 name while losing the prestige drew attention to CART's problem of not having a flagship race. "Every series needs a flagship race," team owner John Della Penna said, "I don't think we have one right now."
324:
In
October 1996, CART released the 1997 schedule. The Memorial Day U.S. 500 was not retained for 1997, owing to CART's desire to not have two races at the same venue. Instead, the U.S. 500 name was kept and the July race date, which had been the
336:
The 1996 U.S. 500 attracted 110,000 spectators and paid over one million dollars to win. Despite sharing a name, the 1997 U.S. 500 was expected to draw between 50,000 and 60,000 spectators and paid only $ 100,000 to win.
453:
cut a tire and crashed in turn two, hitting the wall with the right side of his car. A piece of suspension entered the cockpit and hit
Johnstone in the helmet. Aside from a laceration on his forehead, he was uninjured.
399:
Scott Pruett won the pole with a speed of 233.857 mph. Despite CART's efforts to slow the cars, Pruett's pole speed was only a tenth of a second slower the track record set by Jimmy Vasser in the
466:
Scott Pruett had led 32 laps but drifted high in turn two on lap 175 and crashed out of the race. Mechanical problems sidelined
Michael Andretti, Al Unser Jr., and Dario Franchitti among others.
463:
Trying to passed the lapped car of Dennis Vitolo on lap 127, Rahal drifted high in turn two and hit the wall with the right side of his car. Rahal suffered a bruised right hip in the incident.
460:
Bobby Rahal led 25 laps and was seeking his first win since
October 1992. Alex Zanardi, recovering from a penalty for running over pit equipment on lap 33, took the lead from Rahal on lap 119.
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Under caution, race leader
Ribeiro suffered a transmission failure and retired from the race. At the same time, Jimmy Vasser suffered a similar transmission problem and retired.
376:
Entering the U.S. 500, CART officials added tunnel blocks to take away downforce and in theory reduce the speeds that had climbed over 235 mph in recent years.
321:
at
Michigan on the same day. While the U.S. 500 had a high amount of spectators and television viewers, CART chose not to compete directly with the Indy 500 again.
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Partly Cloudy with temperatures up to 88 °F (31 °C); wind speeds reaching up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
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An estimated 85,000 spectators attended the U.S. 500. Hot temperatures raised the track temperature to 135 degrees.
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357:. This year, it is the track's race is being conducted with no more vigor than any other race at say,
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said, "My feeling is that you can't just name marquee events. They're created over time."
35: in Brooklyn, Michigan, on Sunday, July 27, 1997. The race was branded as the
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Zanardi led 93 of the final 98 laps and won the U.S. 500 by 31.737 seconds over
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353:, Shav Glick, noted that the 1996 U.S. 500 was promoted "as if it were the
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39:, for sponsorship reasons, and in an attempt to create a link to the
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31:, the seventeenth running of the event, was held at the
639:. (California). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 156.
603:. (California). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 156.
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at 233.584 mph. 14 cars went faster than 230 mph.
531:. (Indiana). Associated Press. October 8, 1996. p. 54.
833:. (Michigan). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 23.
657:. (Florida). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 104.
621:. (Florida). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 104.
585:. (Florida). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 104.
567:. (Florida). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 104.
549:. (Florida). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 104.
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took the lead at lap 36 and held it for the next 20 laps.
851:. (Michigan). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 7.
815:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 16.
783:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 16.
765:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 16.
747:. (Michigan). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 7.
729:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 28, 1997. p. 16.
711:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 27, 1997. p. 42.
693:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 18.
675:. (Indiana). Associated Press. July 26, 1997. p. 18.
633:"Michigan Race Gets Steered Away From A Collision Course"
597:"Michigan Race Gets Steered Away From A Collision Course"
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posted the fastest speed with a lap at 234.283 mph.
723:"Martin Becomes IROC's First Three Time Series Champion"
55:
victory on an oval. The race was round 12 of 17 in the
481:
The
Michigan 500 was broadcast live on television by
403:. Mauricio Gugelmin was second at 233.493 mph.
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861:1997 Michigan 500 Telecast: ABC-TV, July 27, 1997
687:"Speeds Top 230 MPH At Practice for Sunday Race"
669:"Speeds Top 230 MPH At Practice for Sunday Race"
473:. Only 11 of the 28 starters finished the race.
705:"Pruett Buzzes Record in Taking Pole at US 500"
392:was second at 233.971 mph, his teammate
8:
887:Motorsport competitions in the United States
309:In 1996, CART attempted to compete with the
92:
651:"Sorry, CART: U.S. 500 is big in name only"
615:"Sorry, CART: U.S. 500 is big in name only"
579:"Sorry, CART: U.S. 500 is big in name only"
561:"Sorry, CART: U.S. 500 is big in name only"
543:"Sorry, CART: U.S. 500 is big in name only"
91:
489:was the lead announcer and was joined by
47:the previous season. The race was won by
501:
384:In Friday's opening practice session,
7:
222:233.857 mph (376.356 km/h)
25:
525:"CART Confirms Schedule for 1997"
329:, was rebranded as the U.S. 500.
141:1997 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
37:1997 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
18:1997 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
430:competed in both IROC and CART.
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408:International Race of Champions
151:Michigan International Speedway
33:Michigan International Speedway
442:Defending winner at Michigan,
1:
418:won the series championship.
509:Weather information for the
414:won the 100 mile race while
877:1997 in American motorsport
349:Motorsports writer for the
908:
57:1997 CART PPG World Series
165:Permanent racing facility
119:
109:
78:42.0663000°N 84.2414389°W
380:Practice and Time Trials
43:, which had been run on
406:On Sunday morning, the
177:500.000 mi / 804.672 km
83:42.0663000; -84.2414389
882:Motorsport in Michigan
845:"Zanardi Zooms to Win"
741:"Zanardi Zooms to Win"
493:as color commentator.
410:competed at Michigan.
849:Battle Creek Enquirer
795:"1997 US 500 Results"
745:Battle Creek Enquirer
111:Race 12 of 17 in the
809:"Zanardi Continued"
249:Chip Ganassi Racing
167:2.000 mi / 3.219 km
101:
74: /
831:Detroit Free Press
317:by scheduling the
311:Indy Racing League
155:Brooklyn, Michigan
132:July 27, 1997
892:Michigan Indy 400
813:Indianapolis News
781:Indianapolis News
763:Indianapolis News
727:Indianapolis News
709:Indianapolis Star
691:Indianapolis News
673:Indianapolis News
529:Indianapolis News
401:1996 Michigan 500
386:Maurício Gugelmin
351:Los Angeles Times
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100:1997 Michigan 500
29:1997 Michigan 500
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69:84°14′29.18″W
66:42°03′58.68″N
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41:1996 U.S. 500
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477:Broadcasting
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428:Alex Zanardi
424:Jimmy Vasser
420:Al Unser Jr.
412:Randy Lajoie
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394:Scott Pruett
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348:
343:Jimmy Vasser
335:
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327:Michigan 500
323:
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245:Alex Zanardi
208:Scott Pruett
105:Race details
51:, his first
49:Alex Zanardi
45:Memorial Day
36:
28:
26:
511:1997 US 500
449:On lap 54,
416:Mark Martin
390:Raul Boesel
339:Bobby Rahal
81: /
871:Categories
497:References
487:Bob Varsha
355:Super Bowl
305:Background
367:Vancouver
359:Milwaukee
27:The
637:LA Times
601:LA Times
363:Mid-Ohio
319:U.S. 500
313:and the
175:250 laps
172:Distance
147:Location
53:Indy Car
291: (
269: (
247: (
210: (
182:Weather
426:, and
256:Second
228:Podium
197:Driver
162:Course
278:Third
234:First
434:Race
219:Time
129:Date
483:ABC
369:."
365:or
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