We're Halfway There!
PPG Points Battle Is TightBy Jim DeFord
©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.
DETROIT (June, 5 1996) - The ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
this weekend marks the halfway point in the 1996 PPG IndyCar
World Series. The points battle has really tightened up.
Most noteable is Scott Goodyear's return to his full-time ride
in his Walker Racing's Reynard-Ford, after suffering back
injuries in Brazil.
PPG Top-Ten Driver Notes
Jimmy Vasser - #1 -- 97 points
Jimmy Vasser's lead in the chase for the PPG Cup has been cut to
22 points as a result of his surpising non-performance at
Milwaukee, last Sunday.
Vasser's dominance was cut short with a 10th-place finish at The
Miller 200. The Honda power was not a factor at this
race.
Al Unser, Jr. - #2 -- 75 points
Very impressive at Milwaukee. Al would have won the race if not
for the new NASCAR-style oval restart rule. Though he did not
scoff at the rule publicly, one could imagine the talk inside
the closed doors at Penske Racing.
Al has been the most consistent non-winner in 1996. Consistency
is sometimes rewarded with the PPG Cup at season's end.
Michael Andretti - #3 -- 51 points
As the driver rewarded the win via the restart rule, Michael
leaps into third place in the points with his victory at
Milwaukee. His second win of the year.
So far, Andretti is the only non-Honda driver to win a race. He
has been aggressive on street circuits in the past, but is on
probation until the end of the year.
Scott Pruett - #4 -- 50 points
Pruett earned 49 points in the first 5 races of the season, but
is faltering. In the last two races he has only garnered 1
point.
Scott has been publicly critical of Ford's lack of power this
year and fried four Cosworth engines at the U.S. 500, including
the one that ended his race on lap 3.
Greg Moore - #5 -- 46 points
Following in the steps of his predecessor, Jacques Villeneuve,
Moore is a shoe-in for IndyCar Rookie of the Year.
Greg gridded his car in the 18th position at Milwaukee and
blasted through the field to finish 5th, the last car on the
lead lap.
Paul Tracy - #6 -- 46 points
So far, Tracy has two-earned poles, Milwaukee did not count, but
no wins.
Many have been talking about his "racing maturity" this year, as
they have for the last two years. Detroit is a track where Paul
can shine-or-whine.
Andre Ribeiro - #7 -- 43 points
Andre has been in up-down-mode. He impressed his home country
with a win at the Rio 400. He's been in the points enough to
stay in the top-ten, but is is need of another win to go
anywhere from here.
Andre finished 8th at Milwaukee, but never has shown much
strength at temp/road courses.
Gil de Ferran - #8 -- 41 points
Gil had the win at Long Beach in his hands until a clamp came
loose on the turbo-charger. De Ferran's practice times were
impressive at Milwaukee and he has always shown strength on the
temporary tracks.
Never overlook this second-year driver. Especially at
Detroit.
Christian Fittipaldi - #9 -- 41 points
In his second year in the PPG IndyCar series, after a short F1
career, Christian is aggressive, but usually is on the
short-end of the proverbial racing-stick.
Bobby Rahal - #10 -- 32 points
Formerly known as "Mr. Consistency," Rahal always seems to
finish, but he was out of the major points at Milwaukee. Bobby's
consistent, but it seems that the finishes are further back in
the field and hence, less points.
1995 Detroit Grand Prix Recap
Robby Gordon is the defending Champion at Detroit, in which the
top-five cars could be covered with a baby-blanket!
We had race-winner Gordon, followed by Vasser, then Pruett, who
was being hounded in a big way by Andretti.
Detroit 1995, suffered due to a massive amount of "marbles" on
the track, and the apprehension of anyone to dare make a pass
and get into the marbles, but this year might be little
different...
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