Elkhart 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series

Race No. 14

Texaco/Havoline 200
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
August 16-18, 1996

The Bratwurst 200

By Jim DeFord
©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.

Okay, it's really the Texaco/Havoline200, but for the longtime fans at this track, IndyCars are firstand bratwurst second. It is a very close battle. It's abarbecue-fest....uh....feast, at Road America.

Bratwurst, steaks and anything else that is barbecue'ablewill be tossed on the grill this weekend at Elkhart Lake,Wisconsin.

Road America is one of the oldest and most beautifulroad-courses in existence in North America. The IndyCars havebeen racing at this track since 1982, when none other thanHector Rebaque won the inaugural race and Rick Mears won thepole!

Who was it that said Rick Mears is not a road racer? Take itback!

Jacques Villeneuve has won this race two-years in a row, butmost interesting is that Jacques Villeneuve won this race in1985.

What?!? Jacques Villeneuve? 1985? Teen-Racer? Nope. That wasJacques' namesake/uncle that won at Road America 11 yearsago.

Now back to 1996.

Jimmy Vasser has extended his points lead by 17 points(128-111) over Al Unser Jr. but, in this writer's opinion, thedriver that should worry Vasser the most is his own teammate andlatest race-winner, Alessandro Zanardi.

"Alex" Zanardi vaulted into the #3 position in the PPG pointsbattle with his latest pole-to-win finish at Mid-Ohio. Thisdriver is hot, Hot, HOT!

Most noteable is that this course is the longest circuit onthe 1996 IndyCar PPG season. Four miles and eleven turns. Thisis a high-speed road circuit and pitstops always play into thefactor.

Look for the Honda-powered teams to dominate, with Mercedesattempting to be in a fray and a few more "toasty" FordXD's.

What Ford-Cosworth driver will "kick the crap" out of the carthis weekend?