1997 U.S. 500

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Date— Sunday, July 27, 1997, at Michigan International Speedway. Distance— 500 miles; Course— 2 mile oval; Field—28 cars; Winner's average speed— 167.044 mph; Margin of victory— 31.737 seconds; Time of race— 2 hours, 59 minutes, 35.579 seconds; Caution flags— 6 for 55 laps; Lead changes— 13 by 9 drivers; Lap leaders—Zanardi (104 laps), Gugelmin (34), Pruett (32), Rahal (25), Ribeiro (21), Carpentier (14), Franchitti (12), de Ferran (5), Andretti (3); Pole Sitter—Scott Pruett at 233.857 mph; Attendance—70,000; TV Rating—1.8/5 share (ABC). Note that (r) indicates rookie driver.

Driver (start pos.) CountryCar LapsEnded
1Alex Zanardi (7)ItalyReynard-Honda250Running
2Mark Blundell (11)EnglandReynard-Ford Cosworth250Running
3Gil de Ferran (10)BrazilReynard-Honda249Running
4Paul Tracy (18)CanadaPenske-Mercedes249Running
5Bryan Herta (8)United StatesReynard-Mercedes248Running
6Mauricio Gugelmin (2)BrazilReynard-Ford Cosworth244Running
7Dennis Vitolo (27)United StatesLola-Ford Cosworth242Running
8Max Papis (23)ItalyReynard-Toyota241Running
9Hiro Matsushita (25)JapanReynard-Toyota241Running
10r-Gualter Salles (20)BrazilReynard-Cosworth240Running
11Juan Fangio II (25)ArgentinaEagle-Toyota226Transmission
12r-Arnd Meier (28)GermanyLola-Ford Cosworth224Running
13Michel Jourdain Jr. (17)MexicoLola-Ford Cosworth182Transmission
14Scott Pruett (1)United StatesLola-Ford Cosworth174Contact
15r-Patrick Carpentier (12)CanadaReynard-Mercedes144Electrical
16Christian Fittipaldi (14)BrazilLola-Ford Cosworth128Lost Wheel
17Bobby Rahal (6)United StatesReynard-Mercedes126Contact
18Raul Boesel (3)BrazilReynard-Ford Cosworth120Transmission
19r-Dario Franchitti (13)ScotlandReynard-Mercedes101Transmission
20Al Unser Jr. (16)United StatesPenske-Mercedes97Engine
21Michael Andretti (19)United StatesLola-Ford Cosworth79Transmission
22Richie Hearn (22)United StatesLola-Ford Cosworth60Turbo Control
23Andre Ribeiro (9)BrazilLola-Honda57Transmission
24Jimmy Vasser (4)United StatesReynard-Honda57Transmission
25Parker Johnstone (5)United StatesReynard-Honda53Contact
26Adrian Fernandez (15)MexicoLola-Honda46Electrical
27Greg Moore (21)CanadaReynard-Mercedes19Turbo Control
28P.J. Jones (24)United StatesReyanrd-Toyota11Engine
Note: IndyCar does not release earnings on a per-race basis.

1997 Race LocationsCART Results IndyCar Point Standings
CART Results
Sources +
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