Wednesday, July 14, 1999
Wednesday, July 14, 1999 |
| Indy
racing action at AMS this weekend By
MICHAEL BOYLAN Atlanta Motor Speedway brings Indy Racing League excitement to the area this weekend. Qualifying for the Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500 begins Friday night. It is followed by a 24-lap U.S. F2000 race and an autograph session with the top drivers in the IRL sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The racing action starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with Legends feature races followed by a four-lap U.S. F2000 race. The Kobalt Mechanics Tools 500 begins at 7:30 p.m. Last year's winner was Kenny Brack, who was also the IRL champion last year. Brack is currently in fifth place in the points standings but he won the Indianapolis 500 recently and will be the the all-time victory leader if he can secure a win this weekend. Brack also holds the record at AMS, finishing a race in 2:17:15.289. His average speed during the race was 140.026 mph. Scott Goodyear is the current points leader, leading Jeff Ward 164-149. During last year's race, Goodyear and Ward combined to lead 75 percent of the race. Goodyear led for 93 of the 208 laps and finished in fourth place, while Ward led for 64 laps and finished in sixth place. Goodyear has won two races this year. The other big story for Saturday night's race is the AMS debut of Jimmy Kite. Kite is a 23-year-old from Stockbridge who has attended nearly every race at AMS since he was 10. This will be the first time he has raced an Indy car on the track. The Grand Marshal for the race will be three time Indianapolis 500 champion Johnny Rutherford. Rutherford also won the first Indy-Style race held at AMS in 1965. He notched three victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his career. Rutherford is currently the Pep Boys Indy Racing League's special events director. It is his job to work with the rookie drivers as well as drive the pace car. “You never think about being a gand marshal until after you retire,” said Rutherford. “It's part of the reward for making it to retirement and an honor to be able to stand up there to give the command.” There are still tickets left for this weekend, ranging in price. Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet or at the AMS box office. Call 770-946-4211. .
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