Indycar War Continues

Another shot was fired in the burgeoning war between the new Indy Racing League and the established PPG IndyCar World Series.

The IRL announced its qualifying procedure and prize money distribution system for its five-race inaugural schedule in 1996, including the cornerstone Indianapolis 500.

With most of the teams participating in the PPG Cup series saying they do not plan to take part in the new series with the exception of Indy, the IRL procedure will limit their participation in the world’s richest and most prestigious event to just eight at-large entries.

A release from the IRL office in Indianapolis said the two-weekend qualifying procedure for the 500 will remain the same, with all entries allowed to vie for positions throughout the field. But top 25 IRL cars could not be bumped out of the lineup by non-IRL entries.

The International Automobile Federation gave approval for this year’s Italian Grand Prix after Italian officials promised to modify the hazardous track.