Pennzoil 200

Location: New Hampshire International Speedway 1 Mile Paved Oval 200 Laps/200 Miles August 17, 1997 Time of race: 1:46:50.574 Average speed of winner: 118.829 Margin of victory: 0.064 Lead changes: 12 among 9 leaders Cautions: 7 for 37 laps Lap leaders: Greco 1-34, Goodyear 35-62, Salazar 63-64, Paul Jr. 65, Salazar 66-95, Cheever 96-133, Goodyear 134-136, Luyendyk 137-138, Salazar 139-145, Brack 146-154, Sospiri 155, Cheever 156-197, Buhl 198-200

Summary:

Robbie Buhl, coming off an injury suffered at Pikes Peak, took the closest victory in IRL history. For Buhl, it was a matter of surviving a race of attrition that saw several drivers suffer mechanical failures while leading. Surprise polesitter Marco Greco was strong and led from the start until a broken engine oil line fitting put him out of contention. Scott Goodyear then led until being passed on lap 63 by another surprise contender, Eliseo Salazar. Meanwhile, 18th starter Eddie Cheever was on a mission; he moved into second place by lap 40 and assumed the lead on lap 96 when Salazar pitted. Cheever held the lead until the next round of pit stops, starting on lap 133. Buhl had remained in the top 10 since early in the race, running third or fourth most of the time. Goodyear's engine failed on lap 153, bringing out another caution and a round of pit stops that shuffled the field and left Vincenzo Sospiri near the front, while a slow pit stop cost Salazar positions that he would not regain. Cheever took over again after the green and it appeared that he would dominate the remainder of the race, with only Buhl able to stay with him. But it was not to be; on the second-to-last lap Cheever's gearbox failed and he slowed abruptly on the backstretch. Buhl, running close behind, had to slow abruptly, and Sospiri rapidly made up a gap of several seconds. With the blue Old Navy car quickly filling his mirrors, Buhl picked his way through traffic on the final lap. The two cars came out of turn 4 side by side and drag-raced to the line, with Buhl winning by a nose. The debut of the new Riley and Scott chassis was postponed when Mark Dismore, after qualifying the only entered R&S in 21st position, decided to switch to a Dallara for the race. (from IRL Underground)