IRL News

The 2004 IRL IndyCar Series season begins with the Toyota Indy 300 at 2 p.m. (EST) on Feb. 29, 2004, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The race will be broadcast live on ESPN and the IMS Radio Network.
Point System Change for 2004
A minor modification to the IRL IndyCar® Series point system highlights several rule changes announced by the Indy Racing League for the 2004 season. The change to the championship scoring system increases the amount of points scored by cars and entrants finishing 19th through 33rd in an IndyCar Series event, as well as the bonus earned by the driver leading the most laps.
Each car finishing from 19th to 24th place will receive 12 points, while each car finishing 25th through 33rd will receive 10 points. Previously, a car finishing 19th would receive 11 points, with each successive position receiving one less point. Drivers finishing 29th or lower each earned a single point. The driver who leads the most laps also will receive an additional point, with the bonus increasing to three points for 2004. A race winner may earn a maximum of 53 points.
"There were two major reasons for adjusting the championship scoring system," said Brian Barnhart, IRL senior vice president of racing operations. "We felt the points awarded for positions 29-33 was too low, particularly if it involved a full-time IndyCar Series team. "Second, by adjusting the points for positions 19-24, teams who had suffered car damage would not feel compelled to get back on the track and run for points. This, like the other technical changes announced today, will make our sport safer for the driver."
Fuel Capacity Changes
Fuel-cell capacity has been reduced from 35 gallons to 30 gallons, and the amount of methanol teams may have in their trackside tanks has changed accordingly. Teams are allowed to carry 97 gallons for 200-mile events, 108 gallons for 225-mile events, 145 gallons for 300-mile events, 195 gallons for 400-mile events and 245 gallons for 500-mile events.

The Konstant Hot Special driven by Roger McCluskey in 1963 is for sale.
Photo by Earl Ma

USAC Champ Points

Thanks to Charles Bolton you will find the Final Standings for the 1957 USAC National Championship below.

 1 Jimmy Bryan  1650                         
 2 Jim Rathmann 1470                               
 3 George Amick 1400	                          
 4 Pat O'Connor 1250                
 5 Jud Larson 1170                             
 6 Andy Linden 1130                                     
 7 Johnny Thomson 1110
 8 Johnny Boyd 1040
 9 Sam Hanks 1000
10 Elmer George 830
11 Rodger Ward 740
12 Bob Veith 650
13 Paul Russo 600
14 Jimmy Reece 550
15 Ed Elisian 340
16 Marshall Teague 300
17 Len Sutton 300
18 Billy Garrett 300
19 Don Branson 280
20 Art Bisch 260
21 Gene Hartley 210
22 Jack Turner 200
23 Don Freeland 190
24 Johnnie Tolan 190
25 Eddie Sachs 160
26 A.J. Foyt 160
27 Johnnie Parsons 120
28 Ralph Liguori 110
29 Tony Bettenhausen 80
30 Bud Randall 80
31 Bill Cheesbourg 70
32 Jim McWithey 40
33 Don Edmunds 40
34 Earl Motter 40
35 Van Johnson 30
36 Troy Ruttman 30 
37 Chuck Weyant 20
38 Ken Gottschalk 10
39 Al Keller 10
40 Dick Rathmann 10
41 Al Herman 10

Old Timers Reunion

The 6th Annual Columbus Speedway, 25th Street Raceway Old Timers Reunion will take place in Columbus, Indiana on February 28. Time will be 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Vendor tables are just $10.00.
Bench racing, memorabilia, old racing movies and a Vintage Car display is always fun. In a heated pavilion at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds s 2 miles south of Highway 46 on State Road 11. For additional information contact Jerry Castor at 812-346-3181 or Dave Norris at 352-382-7845.