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Saturday, June 9
IRL amidst the heart of its schedule
Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas -- After the Casino Magic 500 last June, the Indy Racing League had only four events left on its nine-race schedule.

This year, the IRL isn't even halfway through its schedule, even though the race Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway again is the fifth of the season.

The IRL has expanded its schedule to 13 races this year, and Saturday night's race was the first of four in a five-week span. The unprecedented stretch for the six-year-old series continues June 17 at the Radisson Indy 200 at Pikes Peak.

'I'm not too worried about it physically," said driver Robby McGehee. "Mentally, it's important to stay positive and to be ready because with all of these races.

"The next month represents about a fourth of the season, so it's important to drive smart and drive well."

Most drivers could race every day, but the tight schedule puts pressure on the teams that prepare the cars and keep them running each week.

IRL's schedule not only expanded, it was condensed.

The season-ending Chevy 500 will be held at Texas on Sept. 16. The final race of 2000 was held at Texas on Oct. 15.

Double duty
Before starting from the pole at the Casino Magic 500, Mark Dismore finished last in the 11-car field at the International Race of Champions event.

Dismore joined IRL drivers Eddie Cheever Jr., Al Unser Jr. and Buddy Lazier for the IROC race at Michigan International Speedway earlier Saturday.

Cheever had the IROC pole but finished fourth. Unser, a substitute for injured IRL driver Scott Goodyear, finished second, almost three seconds behind NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, a former IRL champion. Lazier was sixth.

The four drivers made it back to Texas in time to attend the mandatory drivers' meeting. Had they had travel problems, however, IRL officials had already excused them from the pre-race meeting without penalty.

Cheever tester
IRL owner/driver Eddie Cheever is hiring another test driver for his team. While he hasn't revealed the name, he said the driver is currently in the IRL.

The new test driver will help Cheever's team continue testing Infiniti engines. But Cheever said there are no plans for the new driver to actually compete for the team.

Sparkplugs

The 24-car field for the Casino Magic 500 was the smallest of the season for the IRL. There are three cars fewer than for the zMax 500 on April 28, the last IRL event before the Indianapolis 500.

Dick Simon, an Indy car owner for three decades, didn't' have a car in the Texas race because he didn't have a sponsor.

Donnie Beechler drove his second race in the No. 11 Harrah's Dallara/Aurora for A.J. Foyt Racing. Beechler and Foyt say it's a race-to-race deal that depends on money and sponsorship.

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