Las Vegas 500K

Location: Las Vegas Motor Speedway 1.5 Mile Paved Oval 208 Laps/312 Miles October 11, 1997 Time of race: 2:11:07 Average speed of winner: 142.757 Margin of victory: 1.204 Lead changes: 13 among 10 leaders Cautions: 8 for 44 laps Lap leaders: Boat 1-3, Hamilton 4, Ward 5-45, Buhl 46-51, Dismore 52-94, Buhl 95-99, Giaffone 100-116, Goodyear 117-120, Dismore 121-122, Guthrie 123-131, Brack 132-137, Salazar 138-158, Buhl 159, Salazar 160-208

Summary:

Eliseo Salazar took home his first IRL victory as Tony Stewart clinched the 1997 championship. The race began under cold and windy conditions that caused tire problems, which resulted in two accidents occurring immediately after pit stops. Greg Ray slid into the wall in turn 2 on lap 38, and about 25 laps later Sam Schmidt spun coming out of turn 2 and hit the wall. Buzz Calkins and Jack Miller both ran into debris from Schmidt's car, and all three were out. Polesitter Billy Boat didn't stay up front very long; Jeff Ward quickly took charge until he began having engine problems and then Mark Dismore moved into the lead. Affonso Giaffone took the lead on lap 100 and looked strong, but during a pit stop on lap 116 a wheel wasn't tightened properly and it came off as Giaffone pulled back onto the track, damaging the suspension and undercarriage. Giaffone would finish, but well back. Several drivers then dueled for the lead until Eliseo Salazar took over; the veteran driver led most of the rest of the way and survived a two-lap sprint with Scott Goodyear after a late caution to win. The late caution was occasioned when Roberto Guerrero touched wheels with a slower car and suffered a frightening accident; the car became airborne and then barrel-rolled through the infield grass on the backstretch. It was the first time an IRL car had been upside down during a live run, and the safety systems worked as planned: Guerrero walked away with minor injuries. Both of the championship contenders, Stewart and Davey Hamilton, had problems; Stewart won the title owing to the points lead that he had coming in. This race marked the first competition for the new Riley and Scott chassis, with Stan Wattles taking one to a credible 8th-place finish. (from IRL Underground)