1997 CART PPG World Series

Template:American Championship Car season The 1997 CART PPG World Series season was the nineteenth in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) era of American open-wheel car racing. It 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. Mercedes-Benz won their first and only CART engine-manufacturer's title.

After a settlement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, CART relinquished its license of the "IndyCar" trademark for 1997 and beyond. As a result, the series was renamed for the first time since 1980. The CART term, which had been mostly eschewed since 1992, was brought back and embraced, a new logo was unveiled, and participants were encouraged to refer to the machines of the CART series as "Champ Cars". The revival of the historic term (and curtailing the use of the mostly generic term "Indy cars") helped to differentiate the machines from those of the rival Indy Racing League, and was part of a concerted and necessary effort to distance the series from the Indianapolis 500, to which it no longer had any link. 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. This was the first season since 1983 not to feature Emerson Fittipaldi.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 CART World Series season.

Team	Chassis	Engine	Tires	No	Drivers	Rounds	Primary Sponsors
Template:Flagicon Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard 97i	Honda HRR	F	1	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Vasser	All	Target
				4	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	1–16
					Template:Flagicon Arie Luyendyk	17
Template:Flagicon Marlboro Team Penske	Penske PC-26-97	Ilmor-Mercedes IC108D	G	2	Template:Flagicon Al Unser Jr.	All	Marlboro
				3	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	All
Template:Flagicon Walker Racing	Reynard 97i	Honda HRR	G	5	Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran	All	Valvoline
Template:Flagicon Newman-Haas Racing	Swift 007.i	Ford XD	G	6	Template:Flagicon Michael Andretti	All	Texaco-Havoline
				11	Template:Flagicon Christian Fittipaldi	1–2, 9–17	Budweiser
					Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno	3–8
Template:Flagicon Team Rahal	Reynard 97i	Ford XD	G	7	Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal	All	Miller Lite
				8	Template:Flagicon Bryan Herta	All	Shell
Template:Flagicon Hogan Racing	Reynard 97i	Mercedes IC108D	F	9	Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti (R)	1–16	Hogan Racing
					Template:Flagicon Robby Gordon	17
Template:Flagicon Bettenhausen Racing	Reynard 97i	Mercedes IC108D	G	16	Template:Flagicon Patrick Carpentier (R)	1–14, 17	Alumax
					Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno	15–16
Template:Flagicon PacWest	Reynard 97i	Mercedes IC108D	F	17	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	All	Hollywood Cigarettes
				18	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	All	Motorola
Template:Flagicon Payton/Coyne Racing	Reynard 97i	Ford XD	G	19	Template:Flagicon Michel Jourdain Jr.	11, 14, 16	Herdez
	Lola T97/00					1–10, 12–13, 15, 17
				34	Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno	1	Data Control
					Template:Flagicon Paul Jasper (R)	2–7	Hype
					Template:Flagicon Christian Danner	8–9	Payton/Coyne Racing
					Template:Flagicon Charlie Nearburg (R)	10, 13	Nearburg Exploration
					Template:Flagicon Dennis Vitolo	11–12	Payton/Coyne Racing
	Reynard 97i				Template:Flagicon Charlie Nearburg (R)	14, 16	Nearburg Exploration
					Template:Flagicon Christian Danner	15	Payton/Coyne Racing
					Template:Flagicon Dennis Vitolo	17	SmithKline Beecham
Template:Flagicon Patrick Racing	Reynard 97i	Ford XD	F	20	Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett	All	Brahma
				40	Template:Flagicon Raul Boesel	All
Template:Flagicon Della Penna Motorsports	Lola T97/00	Ford XD	G	21	Template:Flagicon Richie Hearn	1–16	Ralphs
	Swift 007.i					17
Template:Flagicon Arciero-Wells Racing	Reynard 97i	Toyota RV8B	F	24	Template:Flagicon Hiro Matsushita	All	Panasonic
				25	Template:Flagicon Max Papis	All	MCI Worldcom
Template:Flagicon Team KOOL Green	Reynard 97i	Honda HRR	F	27	Template:Flagicon Parker Johnstone	All	KOOL
Template:Flagicon Tasman Motorsports	Reynard 97i	Honda HRR	F	31	Template:Flagicon André Ribeiro	10–17	LCI Communications
	Lola T97/00					1–9
				32	Template:Flagicon Adrian Fernández	All	Tecate
Template:Flagicon All American Racing	Reynard 96i Reynard 97i	Toyota RV8B	G	36	Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Fangio II	All	Castrol
				98	Template:Flagicon P. J. Jones	All
Template:Flagicon Project Indy	Lola T97/00	Ford XD	G	64	Template:Flagicon Dennis Vitolo	1, 3–4, 15–16	SmithKline Beecham
					Template:Flagicon Arnd Meier (R)	2, 5–6, 8–14, 17	Hasseröder
Template:Flagicon Davis Racing	Reynard 97i	Ford XD	G	77	Template:Flagicon Gualter Salles (R)	All	Davis Racing 2 Indusval 15
Template:Flagicon Forsythe Racing	Reynard 96i Reynard 97i	Mercedes IC108D	F	99	Template:Flagicon Greg Moore	All	Player's

Season summary

Schedule

Rnd	Date	Race Name	Circuit	Location	TV Broadcaster
1	March 2	Template:Flagicon Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota	O  Homestead Motorsports Complex	Homestead, Florida	ABC
2	April 6	Template:Flagicon Sunbelt IndyCarnival	R  Surfers Paradise Street Circuit	Surfers Paradise, Australia	ABC
3	April 13	Template:Flagicon Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach	R  Streets of Long Beach	Long Beach, California	ABC
4	April 27	Template:Flagicon Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota	O  Nazareth Speedway	Nazareth, Pennsylvania	ABC
5	May 11	Template:Flagicon Hollywood Rio 400K	O  Autódromo de Jacarepaguá	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	ABC
6	May 24	Template:Flagicon Motorola 300	O  Gateway International Raceway	Madison, Illinois	ABC
7	June 1	Template:Flagicon Miller 200	O  Milwaukee Mile	West Allis, Wisconsin	ESPN
8	June 8	Template:Flagicon ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix	R  The Raceway on Belle Isle Park	Detroit, Michigan	ABC
9	June 22	Template:Flagicon Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 Presented by Texaco/Havoline	R  Portland International Raceway	Portland, Oregon	ESPN
10	July 13	Template:Flagicon Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland	R  Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport	Cleveland, Ohio	ABC
11	July 20	Template:Flagicon Molson Indy Toronto	R  Exhibition Place	Toronto, Ontario	ABC
12	July 27	Template:Flagicon U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota	O  Michigan Speedway	Brooklyn, Michigan	ABC
13	August 10	Template:Flagicon Miller 200	R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course	Lexington, Ohio	ABC
14	August 17	Template:Flagicon The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200	R  Road America	Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin	ESPN
15	August 31	Template:Flagicon Molson Indy Vancouver	R  Streets of Vancouver	Vancouver, British Columbia	ESPN
16	September 7	Template:Flagicon Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300	R  Laguna Seca Raceway	Monterey, California	ESPN
17	September 28	Template:Flagicon Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota	O  California Speedway	Fontana, California	ESPN

– The Australian Indy Grand Prix was supposed to run 182 miles, but was shortened due to time constraints.
– Portland was supposed to be 193 miles, but was shortened due to rain.
 O  Oval/Speedway
 R  Road/Street course

Race results

Rnd	Race	Pole position	Fastest lap	Race Winner				Race time	Report
				Driver	Team	Chassis	Engine
1	Template:Flagicon Homestead	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Michael Andretti	Template:Flagicon Michael Andretti	Newman/Haas Racing	Swift	Ford	1:38:45	Report
2	Template:Flagicon Surfers Paradise	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett	Patrick Racing	Reynard	Ford	2:01:04	Report
3	Template:Flagicon Long Beach	Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	1:46:17	Report
4	Template:Flagicon Nazareth	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Marlboro Team Penske	Penske	Mercedes	1:53:31	Report
5	Template:Flagicon Rio	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Marlboro Team Penske	Penske	Mercedes	2:10:47	Report
6	Template:Flagicon Gateway	Template:Flagicon Raul Boesel	Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Marlboro Team Penske	Penske	Mercedes	2:37:54	Report
7	Template:Flagicon Milwaukee	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy	Template:Flagicon Greg Moore	Forsythe Racing	Reynard	Mercedes	1:43:32	Report
8	Template:Flagicon Belle Isle	Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran	Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti	Template:Flagicon Greg Moore	Forsythe Racing	Reynard	Mercedes	1:52:45	Report
9	Template:Flagicon Portland	Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett	Template:Flagicon Raul Boesel	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	PacWest	Reynard	Mercedes	2:00:12	Report
10	Template:Flagicon Cleveland	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	1:41:40	Report
11	Template:Flagicon Toronto	Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	PacWest	Reynard	Mercedes	1:45:43	Report
12	Template:Flagicon Michigan	Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	2:59:35	Report
13	Template:Flagicon Mid-Ohio	Template:Flagicon Bryan Herta	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	1:41:16	Report
14	Template:Flagicon Road America	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	1:57:54	Report
15	Template:Flagicon Vancouver	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	PacWest	Reynard	Mercedes	1:47:17	Report
16	Template:Flagicon Laguna Seca	Template:Flagicon Bryan Herta	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Vasser	Target Chip Ganassi	Reynard	Honda	1:41:38	Report
17	Template:Flagicon Fontana	Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin	Template:Flagicon Greg Moore	Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell	PacWest	Reynard	Mercedes	3:02:42	Report

(R) Dedicated road course, (O) Oval/Speedway, (S) Temporary street circuit

Final driver standings

Pos Driver MIA Template:Flagicon SUR Template:Flagicon LBH Template:Flagicon NAZ Template:Flagicon RIO Template:Flagicon GTW Template:Flagicon MIL Template:Flagicon BEL Template:Flagicon POR Template:Flagicon CLE Template:Flagicon TOR Template:Flagicon MIS Template:Flagicon MOH Template:Flagicon ROA Template:Flagicon VAN Template:Flagicon LAG Template:Flagicon FON Template:Flagicon Pts 1 Template:Flagicon Alex Zanardi 7 4 1* 11 4 4 13 26 11 1 2 1* 1* 1 4 3 Wth 195 2 Template:Flagicon Gil de Ferran 22 5 21 4 11 3 7 3* 2 2* 25 3 6 3 3 5 6 162 3 Template:Flagicon Jimmy Vasser 3 12 9 5 9 5 3 4 19 13 7 24 5 8 2* 1* 2 144 4 Template:Flagicon Maurício Gugelmin 6 17 2 9 22 6 5 16 6* 15 6 6 7 2 1 9 4 132 5 Template:Flagicon Paul Tracy 2 19* 7 1* 1 1 6 DNS 7 7 10 4 27 28 28 26 26 121 6 Template:Flagicon Mark Blundell 14 8 13 19 8 24 12 17 1 9 1* 2 26 16* 7 2 1 115 7 Template:Flagicon Greg Moore 4 2 23 16 2 13 1* 1 5 24 23 27 2 18 17 24 13 111 8 Template:Flagicon Michael Andretti 1* 3 22 2 21 11* 2 2 8 23 4 21 8 26 16 27 19 108 9 Template:Flagicon Scott Pruett 5 1 3 10 3 19 9 24 17 8 5 14 9 5 18 16 7 102 10 Template:Flagicon Raul Boesel 17 7 8 8 5 14 4 6 3 16 8 18 4 21 6 8 20 91 11 Template:Flagicon Bryan Herta 10 22 6 7 6 22 15 7 21 3 17 5 24 11 8 6 21 72 12 Template:Flagicon Bobby Rahal 16 10 10 6 10* 20 11 9 24 5 9 17 3 6 24 19 5 70 13 Template:Flagicon Al Unser Jr. 27 27 4 3 7 18 20 8 25 4 20 20 22 7 5 11 22 67 14 Template:Flagicon André Ribeiro 12 6 14 26 15 10 26 25 13 14 3 23 10 22 10 4 17* 45 15 Template:Flagicon Christian Fittipaldi 26 28 4 6 11 16 21 4 9 21 9 42 16 Template:Flagicon Parker Johnstone 8 21 5 17 12 7 25 20 9 10 12 25 12 23 11 12 11 36 17 Template:Flagicon Patrick Carpentier  RY  9 15 15 12 28 2 8 15 16 12 16 15 15 27 Wth 27 18 Template:Flagicon Adrián Fernández 13 11 11 23 26 8 24 27 10 17 14 26 23 12 19 23 3 27 19 Template:Flagicon Roberto Moreno 24 24 14 18 25 10 5 15 10 16 20 Template:Flagicon Gualter Salles  R  15 24 18 24 19 12 22 21 23 19 18 10 20 13 26 7 14 10 21 Template:Flagicon Richie Hearn 11 13 27 18 14 9 23 23 14 28 27 22 13 9 22 25 15 10 22 Template:Flagicon Dario Franchitti  R  25 9 12 13 27 17 16 13 26 11 26 19 11 25 13 13 10 23 Template:Flagicon Juan Manuel Fangio II 20 20 26 15 20 23 21 10 22 21 19 11 25 10 12 15 27 9 24 Template:Flagicon Max Papis 19 14 25 22 13 26 19 11 28 27 15 8 14 15 20 14 12 8 25 Template:Flagicon Dennis Vitolo 23 DNS DNQ 28 7 27 20 16 6 26 Template:Flagicon Robby Gordon 8 5 27 Template:Flagicon Hiro Matsushita 21 25 20 25 23 15 17 19 15 20 22 9 19 24 14 28 23 4 28 Template:Flagicon P. J. Jones 28 26 16 21 16 21 14 14 20 25 21 28 17 14 25 17 10 3 29 Template:Flagicon Michel Jourdain Jr. 18 18 17 20 17 16 27 22 12 18 13 13 18 20 21 22 18 1 30 Template:Flagicon Arnd Meier  R  16 25 DNS 18 18 22 24 12 16 19 25 1 31 Template:Flagicon Christian Danner 12 27 23 1 32 Template:Flagicon Charlie Nearburg  R  26 28 17 18 0 33 Template:Flagicon Paul Jasper  R  23 19 DNQ 24 Wth 18 0 34 Template:Flagicon Arie Luyendyk 24 0 Pos Driver MIA Template:Flagicon SUR Template:Flagicon LBH Template:Flagicon NAZ Template:Flagicon RIO Template:Flagicon GTW Template:Flagicon MIL Template:Flagicon BEL Template:Flagicon POR Template:Flagicon CLE Template:Flagicon TOR Template:Flagicon MIS Template:Flagicon MOH Template:Flagicon ROA Template:Flagicon VAN Template:Flagicon LAG Template:Flagicon FON Template:Flagicon Pts

Color Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green 4th–6th place Light Blue 7th–12th place Dark Blue Finished (Outside Top 12) 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  RY  Rookie of the Year  R  Rookie

Nations' Cup

• Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.

Pos	Country	Pts
1	Template:Flagicon United States	252
2	Template:Flagicon Brazil	238
3	Template:Flagicon Italy	198
4	Template:Flagicon Canada	190
5	Template:Flagicon England	115
6	Template:Flagicon Mexico	27
7	Template:Flagicon Scotland	10
8	Template:Flagicon Argentina	9
9	Template:Flagicon Japan	4
10	Template:Flagicon Germany	2
11	Template:Flagicon Netherlands	0
Pos	Country	Pts

Chassis Constructors' Cup

Pos	Chassis	Pts	Wins
1	Template:Flagicon Reynard 97I/96I	346	13
2	Template:Flagicon Penske PC-26	156	3
3	Template:Flagicon Swift 007.i	143	1
4	Template:Flagicon Lola T9700	45	0
Pos	Chassis	Pts	Wins

Engine Manufacturers' Cup

Pos	Engine	Pts	Wins
1	Template:Flagicon Mercedes	316	9
2	Template:Flagicon Honda	290	6
3	Template:Flagicon Ford XD/XB	230	2
4	Template:Flagicon Toyota	15	0
Pos	Engine	Pts	Wins

See also

• 1997 Toyota Atlantic Championship season
• 1997 Indianapolis 500
• 1996–97 Indy Racing League
• 1997 Indy Lights season
• Super Speedway
• CART World Series