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2005 IROC NEWS, LINEUP and SCHEDULE

Updated 1-5-2006

Question: What is IROC?

Answer: International Race of Champions

The International Race of Champions is a series of four races designed to produce a winner determined solely on driver skill. As far as humanly possible, the many mechanical variables normally associated with the sport of auto racing have been eliminated. Drivers are not allowed to make changes or adjustments to the suspension, handling or any other parts of the IROC race cars, except for pedal and steering wheel adjustments, seat position and safety belts. A specially fitted seat is provided for each driver and that seat moves from car to car with him.

About Crown Royal

www.diageo.com

Official IROC Racing Site

IROC 2005 News

Truex wins at Atlanta: Martin Truex Jr. won the IROC race at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his first IROC win in his 4th race, the 48th driver to win an IROC race. Mark Martin finished 2nd and clinced the 2005 Crown Royal IROC Championship, his 5th career championship, winning $1 million. Matt Kenseth finished 3rd, followed by Helio Catrobeves and Danny Lasoski. Truex finished 2nd to Martin in the championship standings.(10-29-2005)
Crown Royal IROC Legends of Victory Lane named: After nearly three decades of championship racing, the International Race of Champions (IROC) and title sponsor Crown Royal made history today by announcing its first ever all-time IROC team dubbed the "Crown Royal IROC Legends of Victory Lane." Mario Andretti, the late Dale Earnhardt, Scott Pruett and Steve Kinser were named to the all-time team and were honored in a ceremony held at the year's final IROC race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The all-time IROC team represents the three main racing disciplines - open-wheel, stock car and road racing. Andretti (open-wheel), Earnhardt (stock car) and Pruett (road racing) garnered the most fan votes to win their respective categories, while Kinser (open-wheel) earned the fans' wild card selection by amassing the most votes among all categories outside of the three winners. Nearly a quarter-million votes were cast during the five-month voting period.
The four members of the Legends of Victory Lane team were presented with a custom crystal trophy by IROC Series President Jay Signore and Crown Royal Senior Brand Manager James Lorenz. Fans voted for the Legends team from a list of 12 finalists selected by a veteran, three-person media panel, which has covered motorsports for a combined 100-plus years. Finalists were determined by panel nominations based primarily on drivers' IROC career performance and included: Andretti, Kinser, Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser (open-wheel); Earnhardt, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Cale Yarborough (stock car); and Pruett, Hurley Haywood, Tom Kendall and Mark Donohue (road racing). From April to September, fans 21 years of age and older had the opportunity to vote for one driver in each of three categories by visiting kiosks stationed at the Crown Royal Experience at NASCAR events or via the Internet at www.crownroyalracing.com.
In its second year as title sponsor, Crown Royal continues to promote responsible drinking with its "Be a Champion. Drink Responsibly." campaign. At the conclusion of the Atlanta race, the IROC champion is awarded a $1 million first-place purse from Crown Royal. Mark Martin, winner of the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in February and IROC Race #3 at Richmond International Raceway in September, leads the current Crown Royal IROC points standings. Champ Car World Series driver Sebastien Bourdais claimed Race #2 at Texas Motor Speedway in April.(Alan Taylor Communications)(10-28-2005)
Martin to clinch IROC with a start: Mark Martin will clinch a record fifth career IROC championship when he takes the green flag on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His day will end celebrating in victory lane with the Crown Royal IROC Championship worth $1- million dollars. Final driver practice for the 2005 Crown Royal IROC season finale will take place on Friday. The Saturday race action will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel at 1:30pm/et.(10-28-2005)
No IROC at Richmond in 2006 UPDATE: International Race of Champions [IROC] officials said yesterday the series won't return to Richmond International Raceway next season. The all-star circuit raced in tandem with the Craftsman Truck Series on Thursdays the past two Septembers. RIR is cutting Thursday from its fall weekend and squeezing an IROC event into a two-day Busch-Cup schedule isn't feasible. Richmond was the shortest track to hold an IROC race in the series' 31-year history.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-28-2005)
UPDATE: The IROC series will not return to Richmond next season. The series tentatively is scheduled to race next year at Daytona, Texas, Atlanta and Michigan or California.(Roanoke Times)(10-29-2005)
Fans to Decide First All-Time IROC Team After nearly three decades of legendary racing, the International Race of Champions (IROC) has partnered with title sponsor Crown Royal to give fans the opportunity to become part of racing history in selecting the first ever all-time IROC Team. Crown Royal and IROC today unveiled the program that will honor IROC's all-time great champions. Dubbed Crown Royal's Legends of Victory Lane, the program will represent the first all-time team in IROC history selected by the fans. Twelve finalists for this prestigious all-time team have been selected by an esteemed media panel, which has covered motorsports for a combined 100 plus years. Finalists were determined by panel nominations based primarily on drivers' IROC career performance.
Starting this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, fans legal drinking age and above will have the opportunity to vote at IROC and NASCAR races across the country for the four drivers whom they consider the Legends of Victory Lane. Voting kiosks will be stationed at the Crown Royal Experience, an interactive racing exhibit for fans at track, or via the Internet at www.crownroyalracing.com. The final team will consist of four all-time legends, and will be honored at the final IROC race of the season in Atlanta in October. The finalists represent the three main racing disciplines of IROC racing - stock car, open-wheel and road racing - and include: Mario Andretti, Mark Donohue, Dale Earnhardt, Hurley Haywood, Tom Kendall, Steve Kinser, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Scott Pruett, Al Unser Jr., Bobby Unser and Cale Yarborough.(Alan Taylor Communications)(4-15-2005)
Martins wins IROC race at Richmond: Kurt Busch dominated Round Three of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) at Richmond International Raceway on Thursday night, but it was Mark Martin – aided by three cautions in the final five laps – that provided him with enough to edge out Busch in one of the closest finishes in the series’ 115-race history. On a restart with two laps remaining, Busch, the 2003 IROC titlist, tried valiantly to hold his Roush Racing teammate, before Martin coaxed the nose of his IROC car through the start/finish line a mere .021 seconds ahead of him. Martin’s series’ best 13th-career victory clinches the 2005 series points title when he starts the last race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 29, giving him a record-breaking fifth IROC Series crown and the $1 million first-place purse. Matt Kenseth, who started in the eighth position and was in the middle of the pack for much of the race, made a late charge to finish third. IRL IndyCar driver Buddy Rice turned in a strong performance and claimed fourth, followed by NASCAR Busch Series driver Martin Truex Jr. Pole-sitter Scott Pruett rebounded from on track incidents in the first two races registering a solid sixth, followed by World of Outlaws drivers Danny Lasoski (seventh) and Steve Kinser (eighth). Rounding out positions nine through 12 were: Max Papis, Sebastien Bourdais, Helio Castroneves, and Bobby Hamilton.(9-8-2005)

Richmond results:
1. (6) Mark Martin, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 90 laps, 25 points.
2. (97) Kurt Busch, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 90, 25.
3. (17) Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 90, 14.
4. (15) Buddy Rice, IndyCar Series, 90, 12.
5. (8) Martin Truex Jr, NASCAR Busch Series, 90, 10.
6. (01) Scott Pruett, Grand American Road Racing, 90, 9.
7. (20) Danny Lasoski, World of Outlaws, 90, 8.
8. (11) Steve Kinser, World of Outlaws, 90, 9.
9. (16) Max Papis, Grand American Road Racing, 90, 6.
10. (2) Sebastien Bourdais, Champ Car, 89, 5
11. (03) Helio Castroneves, IndyCar Series, 86, 6.
12. (4) Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, 3, 3.

Average Speed 61.588
Time of Race 1.05.46
Margin of Victory .021
Lead Changes 3
Caution Periods 5
Lap Leaders: 1-2 Kinser, 3-85 Busch, 86 Martin, 87-88 Busch, 89-90 Martin

Points Standings after Richmond [3 of 4 races]:
1 Mark Martin NASCAR Nextel Cup, 67
9 Kurt Busch NASCAR Nextel Cup, 40
4 Matt Kenseth NASCAR Nextel Cup, 40
3 Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Busch Series, 39
5 Buddy Rice IRL Indy Car Series, 38
2 Sebastien Bourdais Champ Car World Series, 36
6 Bobby Hamilton NASCAR Craftsman Truck, 27
8 Danny LasoskiWorld of Outlaws, 24
7 Max Papis Grand-Am Road Racing, 24
11 Steve KinserWorld of Outlaws, 22
10 Helio CastronevesIRL Indy Car Series, 20
12 Scott Pruett Grand-Am Road Racing, 18
Marcis praises Bourdais: Dave Marcis, the veteran stock car driver who now is the key setup driver for IROC, was quoted as saying that "[Sebastien] Bourdais is the best I've ever seen in an IROC car. The best."(Yahoo Sports)(4-18-2005)
Bourdais wins Texas IROC race: Champ Car World Series driver Sebastien Bourdais led a total of 52 laps to win his first career Crown Royal IROC series event at Texas Motor Speedway. Bourdais is the first Champ Car driver to win an IROC race since Al Unser Jr. won in IROC XXI in 1997.

Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais became just the fourth foreign-born driver to win an IROC race, leading the final 22 laps Friday night at Texas after Kurt Busch suffered the same kind of bad luck that has plagued him in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series. Bourdais regained the lead when Busch cut a tire and slammed hard into the outside wall in the second turn. The problem was related to a tire change after Busch avoided an earlier wreck. IROC officials said after the race that their pit crew inadvertently reversed the right- and left-side front tires - the ones on the car when it crashed. Busch got the tires changed after going through the grassy infield, where he ran over a drainage culvert. All the cars use the same pit crew in an IROC race. Busch took the lead on the first lap after a restart. He led for nine laps until his crash after the 45th lap in the 67-lap race.(FoxSports/AP)

Goodyear Statement: In the late stage of Friday's International Race of Champions event at Texas Motor Speedway, race leader Kurt Busch hit the wall when his right front Goodyear tire failed-but the cause is absolutely clear. The positions of the front tires on his IROC car had been switched during a pit stop -- the left front was mounted on the right front position and vice versa. The tire switch was discovered by Goodyear engineers during inspection of the car in the garage area. Several factors in that situation caused the unavoidable circumstance. When compared to a right front tire, the left front tire had much lower air pressure, it ran in a reverse stagger mode and it had a softer tread compound. A lesser factor might also have been what the IROC team said appeared to be some front end problems with the car from an earlier incident. (Goodyear PR)

Texas results:
1. (2) Sebastien Bourdais, Champ Car, 67 laps, 29 points.
2. (6) Mark Martin, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 67, 18.
3. (15) Buddy Rice, IndyCar Series, 67, 16.
4. (8) Martin Truex Jr, NASCAR Busch Series, 67, 12.
5. (4) Bobby Hamilton, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, 67, 10.
6. (16) Max Papis, Grand American Road Racing, 67, 9.
7. (20) Danny Lasoski, World of Outlaws, 67, 8.
8. (11) Steve Kinser, World of Outlaws, 67, 9.
9. (17) Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 67, 6.
10. (03) Helio Castroneves, IndyCar Series, 67, 5.
11. (97) Kurt Busch, NASCAR Nextel Cup, 45, 7.
12. (01) Scott Pruett, Grand American Road Racing, 5, 3.

Lap Leaders: Kinser 1-6, Bourdais 7-36, Busch 37-45, Bourdais 46-67.

Points Standings after Texas [2 of 4 races]:
1 Mark Martin NASCAR Nextel Cup, 42
2 Sebastien Bourdais Champ Car World Series, 32
3 Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR Busch Series, 29
4 Matt Kenseth NASCAR Nextel Cup, 26
5 Buddy Rice IRL Indy Car Series, 26
6 Bobby Hamilton NASCAR Craftsman Truck, 24
7 Max Papis Grand-Am Road Racing, 18
8 Danny LasoskiWorld of Outlaws, 16
9 Kurt Busch NASCAR Nextel Cup, 15
10 Helio CastronevesIRL Indy Car Series, 14
11 Steve KinserWorld of Outlaws, 13
12 Scott Pruett Grand-Am Road Racing, 9 (IROC Site)(4-16-2005)
IROC at Texas: This Friday, April 15, the Crown Royal IROC Series will race under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) for the second of four races. World of Outlaws driver Danny Lasoski's Crown Royal IROC Series victory at TMS last year was just the second time a driver representing short track open-wheel racing claimed a checkered flag in the series' 29-year history. Fresh off a win in the Champ Car season-opener, driver Sebastien Bourdias will be on the pole for the second consecutive IROC race. The win in the Grand Prix of Long Beach (Calif.) was the 11th of Bourdias' career. The defending Champ Car World Series champion is competing in the IROC Series this season for the first time. Mark Martin is on track for a record-breaking year in the Crown Royal IROC Series. With his win in the season-opener at Daytona, Martin became the all-time series leader in wins with 12, surpassing Dale Earnhardt and Al Unser Jr. A Crown Royal IROC championship for Martin this year would not only give him the $1 million first place prize, but also the most championships in the history of the series with five.(Alan Taylor Communications), the race will be televised on Speed Channel at 8:00pm/et and re-aired again at 1:30am/et.(4-13-2005)
Martin wins IROC race at Daytona, now all-time wins leader: Four -time Crown Royal IROC champion Mark Martin held off Martin Truex Jr., and Bobby Hamilton to win the 2005 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The win puts Martin at the top of the charts with the most wins in IROC history. For more info and full results, see IROCracing.com.(2-18-2005)
Points after Daytona:
Mark Martin, 24
Matt Kenseth, 20
Martin Truex, 19
Bobby Hamilton, 14
Buddy Rice, 10
Max Papis, 9
Helio Castroneves, 9
Danny Lasoski, 8
Kurt Busch, 6
Scott Pruett, 6
Steve Kinser, 4
Sebastien Bourdais, 3

Bourdais on the pole for IROC at Daytona: The 2004 Champ Car World Series champion, Sebastien Bourdais is on the pole for the season opening race of the 2005 Crown Royal International Race of Champions this Friday at Daytona International Speedway. The LeMans, France native will compete for the first time on the 2.5-mile, high-banked oval portion of the Speedway and for the first time in a stock car style race. "I hope it's not (the pole)," said Bourdais as he pulled the replica diecast number-one Crown Royal IROC car indicating his starting position. Amused by Bourdais' reaction to his starting spot, SPEED Channel's Crown Royal IROC broadcast team Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond prodded Bourdais and suggested he make fast friends among his competitors. Bourdais replied, "I'm very happy to be invited to represent Champ Car in the IROC series, it's all new to me, and like everybody, I want to do well. The spotlight is now going to be on me and I don't want to look ridiculous." Modest words from the 25 year-old who in his second year of Champ Car racing won the championship with seven wins in 14 races. Bourdais continued, "I'm going to see how many friends I've got fast, because if I see a second row going by on the outside of me, it's going to be not good I guess."
2003 Crown Royal IROC Champion Kurt Busch, representing the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship, drew the outside pole position followed by newcomers, Max Papis, third, 2004 Busch Series champion, Martin Truex Jr., fourth and the 2004 Indianapolis 500 champion, Buddy Rice, representing the IRL IndyCar Series, rounds out the top-five.(IROC PR)(2-17-2005)

Round one of the Crown Royal IROC Series will take the green flag at Daytona this Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on SPEED Channel.

Crown Royal International Race of Champions

Race One, Daytona International Speedway

Friday, February 18, 2005

Line Up

Starting	Driver	Car #/Color	Representing
1	Sebastien Bourdais	2 Yellow	Champ Car World Series
2	Kurt Busch*	97 Red	NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
3	Max Papis	16 Magenta	Grand American Road Racing
4	Martin Truex Jr.	8 Black	NASCAR Busch Series
5	Buddy Rice	15 Burgandy	IRL IndyCar Series
6	Helio Castroneves	03 Day-glo	IRL IndyCar Series
7	Scott Pruett	01 Gold	Grand American Road Racing
8	Bobby Hamilton	4 Dark Blue	NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
9	Danny Lasoski	20 Orange	World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series
10	Matt Kenseth*	17 Purple	NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
11	Mark Martin*	6 Lt. Blue	NASCAR Nextel Cup Series
12	Steve Kinser	11 Green	World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

IROC 2005 UPDATE 2 the drivers: there will be an announcement at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, Jan. 19th to announce the 2005 IROC [International Race of Champions - www.irocracing.com] drivers and new paint schemes for the four race 2005 season. Expect 5-6 Nextel Cup drivers, the Busch Champ [Truex Jr.], Truck Series champ [Hamilton] a few IRL, WoO drivers nad maybe a surprise or two. The 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series will feature 12 drivers from different forms of auto racing in equally prepared cars. The 2005 driver field will consist of seven drivers who captured their respective series championship in 2004 [Busch, Truex Jr., Hamilton, Kanaan, Kinser, Kenseth (IROC) and ?]. This year's Crown Royal IROC Series champion will take home a $1 million first-place purse. Also for info on 2004, see my 2004 IROC page.(1-17-2005)
UPDATE the drivers: the following drivers will run the 2005 IROC Series:
Matt Kenseth - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Crown Royal IROC champion)
Kurt Busch - NASCAR Nextel Cup (2004 Series champion)
Mark Martin - NASCAR Nextel Cup (4-time Crown Royal IROC champion)
Sebastien Bourdais - CHAMP CAR (2004 Series champion)
Bobby Hamilton NASCAR - Craftsman Truck (2004 Series champion)
Steve Kinser - World of Outlaws (2004 Series champion)
Max Papis - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Scott Pruett - Grand American Road Racing (2004 Series co-champion)
Martin Truex Jr. - NASCAR Busch Series (2004 Series champion)
Helio Castroneves - IRL IndyCar Series (2-time Indianapolis 500 champion)
Buddy Rice - IRL IndyCar Series (2004 Indianapolis 500 champion)
Danny Lasoski - World of Outlaws (2001 Series champion)(1-18-2005)
UPDATE 2: Crown Royal International Race of Champions (IROC) officials have announced the driver field for the 2005 Crown Royal IROC Series. The invitational series will feature 12 champion drivers from different forms of auto racing, including seven drivers who won their respective series titles in 2004. The Crown Royal IROC Series will kick off its 29th season on Friday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway. Following the season opener, the series will shift to Texas Motor Speedway (April 15), followed by Richmond International Raceway (September 8) and conclude at the Atlanta Motor Speedway (October 29).(Alan Taylor Communications PR)(1-19-2005)
IMAGE: see an image of the 2005 IROC car on my 2005 Paint Schemes page.(1-20-2005)

THE 2005 IROC LINEUP stats thru 2004
Driver	Car #	Series From	Appearance (including 2005)	IROC Wins (including 2005)	IROC Champs
Sebastien Bourdais	2	Champ Car	1	0	0
Kurt Busch	97	Nextel Cup	3	1	1
Helio Castroneves	03	Indy Racing League	4	0	0
Buddy Rice	15	Indy Racing League	1	0	0
Mark Martin	6	Nextel Cup	11	12	4
Max Papis	16	Grand American Road Racing	1	0	0
Scott Pruett	01	Grand American Road Racing	8	2	0
Steve Kinser	11	World of Outlaws	6	1	0
Danny Lasoski	20	World of Outlaws	4	1	0
Bobby Hamilton	4	NASCAR Truck Series	1	0	0
Martin Truex Jr.	8	Busch Series	1	0	0
Matt Kenseth	17	Nextel Cup	2	2	1

THE 2005 IROC SCHEDULE
#	Track	Date & Time	TV	Date & Time	Laps/Miles
1	Daytona	Feb 18th	Speed Channel	2/18/05 6:00pm/et	40/100
2	Texas	April 15th	Speed Channel	4/15/05 8:00pm/et	67/100.5
3	Richmond	Sept 8th	Speed Channel	9/8/05 7:00pm/et	90/67.5
4	Atlanta	Oct 29	Speed Channel	TBA	67/100.5

IROC TV SCHEDULE
Date, Start, Track, Network
(Please note that all dates and time are subject to change.)

none yet...

ALL TIME IROC RACE WINNERS

Mark Martin, 13
Al Unser Jr., 11
Dale Earnhardt, 11
Cale Yarborough, 5
Bobby Allison, 4
Neil Bonnett , 4
Bobby Unser, 4
Rusty Wallace, 4
48 drivers have won an IROC race [thru race 4, 2005]
125 drivers have ran the series [including 2005].(10-29-2005)

IROC 2006 Page
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IROC 2003 Page
IROC 2002 Page
IROC 2001 Page
IROC 2000 Page

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