Michigan 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series

Race No. 12

The Marlboro 500
Brooklyn, Michigan
July 26-28, 1996

The Plot Thickens
By Jim DeFord
©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.

The closest, most contested race in CART/IndyCar history. AlUnser Jr. and Scott Pruett battled this contest nose to tail.Wheel to wheel. Pit to pit.

That was 1995. Buy the video. It's worth every penny.

With 110 potential PPG Championship (Winner) points left, one(could) consider that anyone has a chance, but as we know, thatwill not be. Here is the Top Ten to date:

  1    Jimmy Vasser             107  2    Al Unser Jr               99  3    Gil de Ferran             92  4    Christian Fittipaldi      84  5    Michael Andretti          73  6    Alex Zanardi              72  7    Greg Moore                72  8    Scott Pruett              62  9    Paul Tracy                59 10    Adrian Fernandez          56

Here are the Editor's Odds for the top ten drivers ofwinning the prestigious PPG Cup and their chances for winningthe Marlboro 500.

Jimmy Vasser: 1.5 to 1 - The first four races of theyear it looked like Jimmy was a shoe-in for The Cup. Since theU.S. 500 he has been a non-performer for various reasons. Vasserobviously has a great chance to win this one, but I seriouslydoubt it.

Al Unser Jr.: 1 to 1 - Will be driving the newMercedes Series II powerplant at Michigan. Al has a nasty habitof being consistent and then launching a late-season attack forThe Cup. Look for that to happen again in 1996 - and at Michiganthis weekend.

Unser will proudly place another PPG Cup on his mantle thisyear.

Gil de Ferran: 1.2 to 1 - Could pull it off on theroad circuits after the Marlboro 500, but chances are slim.There are too many internal happenings going on with Hall Racingat this point and the team is not as focused as they should be.No chance for a win at Michigan.

Christian Fittipaldi: 1.3 to 1 - Could be a CinderellaStory, but until Cosworth does their homework he will sufferwith the other XD drivers fate. DNF at MIS.

Michael Andretti: 1.2 to 1 - You can never count outMichael when he's this close. Mikey will win one more race, butthen that's it. He'll wear #4 next year if Newman-Haas keepshim. DNF at MIS.

Alessandro 'Alex' Zanardi: 1.25 to 1 - The Editor'sChoice for the win this weekend. If Zanardi had a bit of LadyLuck on his side, he'd be leading the race for The Cup in a bigway, but....

Zanardi will win again this year and maybe more than justonce. Rookie of the Year, in his pocket.

Greg Moore: 2 to 1 - Shined early on, but has madesome serious rookie mistakes. He'll be back in 1997. Win finishwell in the points at MIS, but will be no threat to theleader.

Scott Pruett: 2.8 to 1 - Scott has been movingbackwards in the points. His weak link is the Cosworth (Ford XD)Connection. The Marlboro 500 defending champion will have toughtime at repeating his task. Scott has consistently been thequickest XD driver, but has had the worst luck.

Throw another Ford on the barby, Scott? Scotty might walkthis one home for 1-2 points.

Paul Tracy: 5 to 1 - A self-implemented implosion.Paul has pissed off Penske for the last time. Paul has pissedoff Roger's 'favorite son,' Al, for the last time. Tracy willnever win the PPG Cup.

Paul is hunting for a ride for 1997. No way he'll have achance at MIS.

Adrian Fernandez: 3 to 1 - The sleeper of the year.Adrian has really shown what he can do under Steve Horne'swings. This man WILL be back with Tasman'ian' vengeance.

The second, and only, 500-mile race of the year will test thedrivers