1997 CART PPG World Series


The 1997 CART PPG 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 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 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.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 CART World Series season.
TeamChassisEngineTiresNoDriversRoundsPrimary Sponsors
Target Chip GanassiReynard 97iHonda HRR1 Jimmy VasserAllTarget
Target Chip GanassiReynard 97iHonda HRR4 Alex Zanardi1-16Target
Target Chip GanassiReynard 97iHonda HRR4 Arie Luyendyk17Target
Marlboro Team PenskePenske PC-26-97Ilmor-Mercedes
IC108D		2 Al Unser, Jr.AllMarlboro
Marlboro Team PenskePenske PC-26-97Ilmor-Mercedes
IC108D		3 Paul TracyAllMarlboro
Walker RacingReynard 97iHonda HRR5 Gil de FerranAllValvoline
Newman-Haas RacingSwift 007.iFord XD6 Michael AndrettiAllTexaco-Havoline
Newman-Haas RacingSwift 007.iFord XD11 Christian Fittipaldi1-2, 9-17Budweiser
Newman-Haas RacingSwift 007.iFord XD11 Roberto Moreno3-8Budweiser
Team RahalReynard 97iFord XD7 Bobby RahalAllMiller Lite
Team RahalReynard 97iFord XD8 Bryan HertaAllShell
Hogan RacingReynard 97iMercedes IC108D9 Dario Franchitti 1-16Hogan Racing
Hogan RacingReynard 97iMercedes IC108D9 Robby Gordon17Hogan Racing
Bettenhausen RacingReynard 97iMercedes IC108D16 Patrick Carpentier 1-14, 17Alumax
Bettenhausen RacingReynard 97iMercedes IC108D16 Roberto Moreno15-16Alumax
PacWestReynard 97iMercedes IC108D17 Maurício GugelminAllHollywood Cigarettes
PacWestReynard 97iMercedes IC108D18 Mark BlundellAllMotorola
Payton/Coyne RacingReynard 97iFord XD19 Michel Jourdain, Jr.11, 14, 16Herdez
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD19 Michel Jourdain, Jr.Herdez
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD34 Roberto Moreno1Data Control
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD34 Paul Jasper 2-7Hype
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD34 Christian Danner8-9Payton/Coyne Racing
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD34 Charlie Nearburg 10, 13Nearburg Exploration
Payton/Coyne RacingLola T97/00Ford XD34 Dennis Vitolo11-12Payton/Coyne Racing
Payton/Coyne RacingReynard 97iFord XD34 Charlie Nearburg 14, 16Nearburg Exploration
Payton/Coyne RacingReynard 97iFord XD34 Christian Danner15
Payton/Coyne RacingReynard 97iFord XD34 Dennis Vitolo17SmithKline Beecham
Patrick RacingReynard 97iFord XB20 Scott PruettAllBrahma
Patrick RacingReynard 97iFord XD40 Raul BoeselAllBrahma
Della Penna MotorsportsLola T97/00Ford XD21 Richie HearnAllRalphs
Arciero-Wells RacingReynard 97iToyota RV8B24 Hiro MatsushitaAllPanasonic
Arciero-Wells RacingReynard 97iToyota RV8B25 Max PapisAllMCI
Team KOOL GreenReynard 97iHonda HRR27 Parker JohnstoneAllKOOL
Tasman MotorsportsReynard 97iHonda HRR31 André Ribeiro10-17LCI
Tasman MotorsportsLola T97/00Honda HRR31 André Ribeiro1-9LCI
Tasman MotorsportsLola T97/00Honda HRR32 Adrian FernándezAllTecate
All American RacingReynard 96i
Reynard 97i		Toyota RV8B36AllCastrol
All American RacingReynard 96i
Reynard 97i		Toyota RV8B98 P. J. JonesAllCastrol
Project IndyLola T97/00Ford XD64 Dennis Vitolo1, 3-4, 15-16SmithKline Beecham
Project IndyLola T97/00Ford XD64 Arnd Meier 2, 5-6, 8-14, 17Hasseröder
Davis RacingReynard 97iFord XD77 Gualter Salles AllDavis Racing
Indusval
Forsythe RacingReynard 97iMercedes IC108D99 Greg MooreAllPlayer's

Season summary

Schedule

- 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.
Oval/Speedway
Dedicated road course
Temporary street circuit

Race results

' Dedicated road course, ' Oval/Speedway, Temporary street circuit

Final driver standings

Nation's Cup

  • Top result per race counts towards Nation's Cup.
PosCountryPts
1 United States252
2 Brazil238
3 Italy198
4 Canada190
5 England115
6 Mexico27
7 Scotland10
8 Argentina9
9 Japan4
10 Germany2
11 Netherlands0
PosCountryPts

[Chassis] Constructor's Cup

PosChassisPtsWins
1 Reynard 97I/96I34613
2 Penske PC-261563
3 Swift 007.i1431
4 Lola T9700450
PosChassisPtsWins

[Engine] Manufacturer's Cup

PosEnginePtsWins
1 Mercedes3169
2 Honda2906
3 Ford XD/XB2302
4 Toyota150
PosEnginePtsWins

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