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The 1997 PPG CART World Series season , the nineteenth in the CART era of U.S. open-wheel racing , consisted of 17 races, beginning in Homestead , Florida on March 2 and concluding in Fontana , California on September 28. The PPG CART World Series Drivers' Champion was Alex Zanardi . Rookie of the Year was Patrick Carpentier . After a settlement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway , CART had relinquished its exclusive license of the "IndyCar" trademark, resulting in the renaming of the Series for the first time since 1980. This was also the last year of title sponsorship by PPG Industries, although the Driver's Championship continued to be known as the PPG Cup until 1999.
Drivers and Constructors
The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 CART World Series season.
Team
Chassis
Engine
Tires
No
Drivers
Rounds
Target Chip Ganassi
Reynard 97i
Honda
F
1
Jimmy Vasser
All
4
Alex Zanardi
1-16
Arie Luyendyk
17
Marlboro Team Penske
Penske PC-26 -97
Ilmor -Mercedes-Benz IC108D
G
2
Al Unser, Jr.
All
3
Paul Tracy
All
Walker Racing
Reynard 97i
Honda
G
5
Gil de Ferran
All
Newman-Haas Racing
Swift 007.i
Ford XD
G
6
Michael Andretti
All
11
Christian Fittipaldi
1-2, 9-17
Roberto Moreno
3-8
Team Rahal
Reynard 97i
Ford XD
G
7
Bobby Rahal
All
8
Bryan Herta
All
Hogan Racing
Reynard 97i
Mercedes-Benz
F
9
Dario Franchitti (R)
1-16
Robby Gordon
17
Bettenhausen Racing
Reynard 97i
Mercedes-Benz
G
16
Patrick Carpentier (R)
1-14, 17
Roberto Moreno
15-16
PacWest
Reynard 97i
Mercedes-Benz
F
17
Maurício Gugelmin
All
18
Mark Blundell
All
Payton/Coyne Racing
Reynard 97i
Ford XD
G
19
Michel Jourdain, Jr.
11, 14, 16
Lola T97/00
1-10, 12-13, 15, 17
34
Roberto Moreno
1
Paul Jasper (R)
2-7
Christian Danner
8-9
Charlie Nearburg (R)
10, 13
Dennis Vitolo
11-12
Reynard 97i
Charlie Nearburg (R)
14, 16
Christian Danner
15
Dennis Vitolo
17
Patrick Racing
Reynard 97i
Ford XB
F
20
Scott Pruett
All
Ford XD
40
Raul Boesel
All
Della Penna Motorsports
Lola T97/00
Ford XD
G
21
Richie Hearn
All
Arciero-Wells Racing
Reynard 97i
Toyota
F
24
Hiro Matsushita
All
25
Max Papis
All
Team KOOL Green
Reynard 97i
Honda
F
27
Parker Johnstone
All
Tasman Motorsports
Lola T97/00
Honda
F
31
André Ribeiro
All
32
Adrian Fernández
All
All American Racing
Reynard 96i Reynard 97i
Toyota
G
36
Juan Manuel Fangio II
All
98
P. J. Jones
All
Project Indy
Lola T97/00
Ford XD
G
64
Dennis Vitolo
1, 3-4, 15-16
Arnd Meier (R)
2, 5-6, 8-14, 17
Davis Racing
Reynard 97i
Ford XD
G
77
Gualter Salles (R)
All
Forsythe Racing
Reynard 96i Reynard 97i
Mercedes-Benz
F
99
Greg Moore
All
Season Summary
Race results
Rnd
Race Name
Circuit
City/Location
Date
Pole position
Fastest lap
Winning driver
Winning team
Report
1
Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
March 2
Alex Zanardi
Michael Andretti
Michael Andretti
Newman/Haas Racing
Report
2
Sunbelt Indy Carnival Australia
Surfers Paradise Street Circuit
Surfers Paradise , Australia
April 6
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Scott Pruett
Patrick Racing
Report
3
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Streets of Long Beach
Long Beach, California
April 13
Gil de Ferran
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
4
Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota
Nazareth Speedway
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
April 27
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Marlboro Team Penske
Report
5
Hollywood Rio 400k
Autódromo de Jacarepaguá
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
May 11
Maurício Gugelmin
Gil de Ferran
Paul Tracy
Marlboro Team Penske
Report
6
Motorola 300
Gateway International Raceway
Madison, Illinois
May 24
Raul Boesel
Dario Franchitti
Paul Tracy
Marlboro Team Penske
Report
7
Miller 200
Milwaukee Mile
West Allis, Wisconsin
June 1
Paul Tracy
Paul Tracy
Greg Moore
Forsythe Racing
Report
8
ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix
The Raceway on Belle Isle Park
Detroit, Michigan
June 8
Gil de Ferran
Dario Franchitti
Greg Moore
Forsythe Racing
Report
9
Budweiser/G.I. Joe's 200 Presented by Texaco/Havoline
Portland International Raceway
Portland, Oregon
June 22
Scott Pruett
Raul Boesel
Mark Blundell
PacWest
Report
10
Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland
Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport
Cleveland, Ohio
July 13
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
11
Molson Indy
Exhibition Place
Toronto, Ontario
July 20
Dario Franchitti
Mark Blundell
Mark Blundell
PacWest
Report
12
U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota
Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
July 27
Scott Pruett
Maurício Gugelmin
Alex Zanardi
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
13
Miller 200
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
August 10
Bryan Herta
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
14
The Chicago Tribune Presents Texaco/Havoline 200
Road America
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
August 17
Maurício Gugelmin
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
15
Molson Indy Vancouver
Streets of Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia
August 31
Alex Zanardi
Alex Zanardi
Maurício Gugelmin
PacWest
Report
16
Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300
Laguna Seca Raceway
Monterey, California
September 7
Bryan Herta
Mark Blundell
Jimmy Vasser
Target Chip Ganassi
Report
17
Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota
California Speedway
Fontana, California
September 28
Maurício Gugelmin
Greg Moore
Mark Blundell
PacWest
Report
Oval/Speedway
Road Course/Street Circuit
Final driver standings
Color
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
4th & 5th place
Light Blue
6th-10th place
Dark Blue
Finished (Outside Top 10)
Purple
Did not finish
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Brown
Withdrawn (Wth)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Blank
Did not participate (DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold
Pole position
Italics
Ran fastest race lap
*
Led most race laps
Rookie of the Year
Rookie
Nation's Cup
Top result per race counts towards Nation's Cup.
Chassis Constructor's Cup
Engine Manufacturer's Cup
References
See also