Miami Season Opener Lands Big Field
The Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota, which moves from the city's streets to the Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex, has attracted the third-largest field of the six IndyCar races run in Miami.Twenty-eight drivers representing 19 teams will open the 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series with the March 3 race on the 1.51-mile oval that is situated roughly 30 miles south of Miami. The entry total trails only the Tamiami Park races in 1985 (30 entries) and '87 (29).
The Metro-Dade Homestead Motorsports Complex is the third venue for IndyCar racing in South Florida. The first was Tamiami Park's 1.784-mile temporary road course, which played host to the first four events beginning in 1985. The event was discontinued after the 1988 race, but IndyCar returned to Miami last year for a one-time run on the downtown street circuit that had played host to IMSA and Trans-Am races since 1983.
Defending champion Jacques Villeneuve will not be in this year's field because of his departure to the Formula One circuit, but two former event winners will be in the lineup. Al Unser Jr., of Marlboro Team Penske, is the race's only multiple champ, having won in 1986 and '88 when it was run on a temporary road course at Tamiami Park. Michael Andretti, of Newman-Haas Racing, also is a former champ of the Tamiami, having won in 1987.
Andretti also is one of two current drivers who have won the pole at the event. He won last year and Bobby Rahal won the inaugural one in '85.
The Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami presented by Toyota kicks off the PPG Indy Car World Series 16-race schedule. The series travels out of the country for its following two races, the inaugural Rio 400 on March 17 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and IndyCar Australia on March 31 in Queensland, Australia.
Source: IndyCar Web SiteUsed by permission