# 1997 CART PPG World Series

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 |
| Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | F | 1 | Jimmy Vasser | All | Target |
| Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | F | 4 | Alex Zanardi | 1–16 | Target |
| Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | F | 4 | Arie Luyendyk | 17 | Target |
| Marlboro Team Penske | Penske PC-26-97 | Ilmor-Mercedes IC108D | G | 2 | Al Unser Jr. | All | Marlboro |
| Marlboro Team Penske | Penske PC-26-97 | Ilmor-Mercedes IC108D | G | 3 | Paul Tracy | All | Marlboro |
| Walker Racing | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | G | 5 | Gil de Ferran | All | Valvoline |
| Newman-Haas Racing | Swift 007.i | Ford XD | G | 6 | Michael Andretti | All | Texaco-Havoline |
| Newman-Haas Racing | Swift 007.i | Ford XD | G | 11 | Christian Fittipaldi | 1–2, 9–17 | Budweiser |
| Newman-Haas Racing | Swift 007.i | Ford XD | G | 11 | Roberto Moreno | 3–8 | Budweiser |
| Team Rahal | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 7 | Bobby Rahal | All | Miller Lite |
| Team Rahal | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 8 | Bryan Herta | All | Shell |
| Hogan Racing | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | F | 9 | Dario Franchitti (R) | 1–16 | Hogan Racing |
| Hogan Racing | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | F | 9 | Robby Gordon | 17 | Hogan Racing |
| Bettenhausen Racing | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | G | 16 | Patrick Carpentier (R) | 1–14, 17 | Alumax |
| Bettenhausen Racing | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | G | 16 | Roberto Moreno | 15–16 | Alumax |
| PacWest | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | F | 17 | Maurício Gugelmin | All | Hollywood Cigarettes |
| PacWest | Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | F | 18 | Mark Blundell | All | Motorola |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 19 | Michel Jourdain Jr. | 11, 14, 16 | Herdez |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 19 | Michel Jourdain Jr. | 1–10, 12–13, 15, 17 | Herdez |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 34 | Roberto Moreno | 1 | Data Control |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 34 | Paul Jasper (R) | 2–7 | Hype |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 34 | Christian Danner | 8–9 | Payton/Coyne Racing |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 34 | Charlie Nearburg (R) | 10, 13 | Nearburg Exploration |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 34 | Dennis Vitolo | 11–12 | Payton/Coyne Racing |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 34 | Charlie Nearburg (R) | 14, 16 | Nearburg Exploration |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 34 | Christian Danner | 15 | Payton/Coyne Racing |
| Payton/Coyne Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 34 | Dennis Vitolo | 17 | SmithKline Beecham |
| Patrick Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | F | 20 | Scott Pruett | All | Brahma |
| Patrick Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | F | 40 | Raul Boesel | All | Brahma |
| Della Penna Motorsports | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 21 | Richie Hearn | 1–16 | Ralphs |
| Della Penna Motorsports | Swift 007.i | Ford XD | G | 21 | Richie Hearn | 17 | Ralphs |
| Arciero-Wells Racing | Reynard 97i | Toyota RV8B | F | 24 | Hiro Matsushita | All | Panasonic |
| Arciero-Wells Racing | Reynard 97i | Toyota RV8B | F | 25 | Max Papis | All | MCI Worldcom |
| Team KOOL Green | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | F | 27 | Parker Johnstone | All | KOOL |
| Tasman Motorsports | Reynard 97i | Honda HRR | F | 31 | André Ribeiro | 10–17 | LCI Communications |
| Tasman Motorsports | Lola T97/00 | Honda HRR | F | 31 | André Ribeiro | 1–9 | LCI Communications |
| Tasman Motorsports | Lola T97/00 | Honda HRR | F | 32 | Adrian Fernández | All | Tecate |
| All American Racing | Reynard 96i Reynard 97i | Toyota RV8B | G | 36 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | All | Castrol |
| All American Racing | Reynard 96i Reynard 97i | Toyota RV8B | G | 98 | P. J. Jones | All | Castrol |
| Project Indy | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 64 | Dennis Vitolo | 1, 3–4, 15–16 | SmithKline Beecham |
| Project Indy | Lola T97/00 | Ford XD | G | 64 | Arnd Meier (R) | 2, 5–6, 8–14, 17 | Hasseröder |
| Davis Racing | Reynard 97i | Ford XD | G | 77 | Gualter Salles (R) | All | Davis Racing 2 Indusval 15 |
| Forsythe Racing | Reynard 96i Reynard 97i | Mercedes IC108D | F | 99 | Greg Moore | All | Player's |

## Season summary
### Schedule

| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Circuit | Location | TV Broadcaster |
| 1 | March 2 | Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota | O Homestead Motorsports Complex | Homestead, Florida | ABC |
| 2 | April 6 | Sunbelt IndyCarnival | R Surfers Paradise Street Circuit | Surfers Paradise, Australia | ABC |
| 3 | April 13 | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | R Streets of Long Beach | Long Beach, California | ABC |
| 4 | April 27 | Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota | O Nazareth Speedway | Nazareth, Pennsylvania | ABC |
| 5 | May 11 | Hollywood Rio 400K | O Autódromo de Jacarepaguá | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ABC |
| 6 | May 24 | Motorola 300 | O Gateway International Raceway | Madison, Illinois | ABC |
| 7 | June 1 | Miller 200 | O Milwaukee Mile | West Allis, Wisconsin | ESPN |
| 8 | June 8 | ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix | R The Raceway on Belle Isle Park | Detroit, Michigan | ABC |
| 9 | June 22 | Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 Presented by Texaco/Havoline | R Portland International Raceway | Portland, Oregon | ESPN |
| 10 | July 13 | Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland | R Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport | Cleveland, Ohio | ABC |
| 11 | July 20 | Molson Indy Toronto | R Exhibition Place | Toronto, Ontario | ABC |
| 12 | July 27 | U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota | O Michigan Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan | ABC |
| 13 | August 10 | Miller 200 | R Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | Lexington, Ohio | ABC |
| 14 | August 17 | The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200 | R Road America | Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | ESPN |
| 15 | August 31 | Molson Indy Vancouver | R Streets of Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia | ESPN |
| 16 | September 7 | Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300 | R Laguna Seca Raceway | Monterey, California | ESPN |
| 17 | September 28 | 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 Winner | Race Winner | Race Winner | Race time | Report |
| Rnd | Race | Pole position | Fastest lap | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Race time | Report |
| 1 | Homestead | Alex Zanardi | Michael Andretti | Michael Andretti | Newman/Haas Racing | Swift | Ford | 1:38:45 | Report |
| 2 | Surfers Paradise | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Scott Pruett | Patrick Racing | Reynard | Ford | 2:01:04 | Report |
| 3 | Long Beach | Gil de Ferran | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 1:46:17 | Report |
| 4 | Nazareth | Paul Tracy | Paul Tracy | Paul Tracy | Marlboro Team Penske | Penske | Mercedes | 1:53:31 | Report |
| 5 | Rio | Maurício Gugelmin | Gil de Ferran | Paul Tracy | Marlboro Team Penske | Penske | Mercedes | 2:10:47 | Report |
| 6 | Gateway | Raul Boesel | Dario Franchitti | Paul Tracy | Marlboro Team Penske | Penske | Mercedes | 2:37:54 | Report |
| 7 | Milwaukee | Paul Tracy | Paul Tracy | Greg Moore | Forsythe Racing | Reynard | Mercedes | 1:43:32 | Report |
| 8 | Belle Isle | Gil de Ferran | Dario Franchitti | Greg Moore | Forsythe Racing | Reynard | Mercedes | 1:52:45 | Report |
| 9 | Portland | Scott Pruett | Raul Boesel | Mark Blundell | PacWest | Reynard | Mercedes | 2:00:12 | Report |
| 10 | Cleveland | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 1:41:40 | Report |
| 11 | Toronto | Dario Franchitti | Mark Blundell | Mark Blundell | PacWest | Reynard | Mercedes | 1:45:43 | Report |
| 12 | Michigan | Scott Pruett | Maurício Gugelmin | Alex Zanardi | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 2:59:35 | Report |
| 13 | Mid-Ohio | Bryan Herta | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 1:41:16 | Report |
| 14 | Road America | Maurício Gugelmin | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 1:57:54 | Report |
| 15 | Vancouver | Alex Zanardi | Alex Zanardi | Maurício Gugelmin | PacWest | Reynard | Mercedes | 1:47:17 | Report |
| 16 | Laguna Seca | Bryan Herta | Mark Blundell | Jimmy Vasser | Target Chip Ganassi | Reynard | Honda | 1:41:38 | Report |
| 17 | Fontana | Maurício Gugelmin | Greg Moore | 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 | SUR | LBH | NAZ | RIO | GAT | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIC | MDO | ROA | VAN | LAG | FON | Pts |
| 1 | Alex Zanardi | 7 | 4 | 1* | 11 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1* | 1* | 1 | 4 | 3 | Wth | 195 |
| 2 | Gil de Ferran | 22 | 5 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 3* | 2 | 2* | 25 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 162 |
| 3 | Jimmy Vasser | 3 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 2* | 1* | 2 | 144 |
| 4 | Maurício Gugelmin | 6 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 6* | 15 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 132 |
| 5 | Paul Tracy | 2 | 19* | 7 | 1* | 1 | 1 | 6 | DNS | 7 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 121 |
| 6 | Mark Blundell | 14 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 8 | 24 | 12 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 1* | 2 | 26 | 16* | 7 | 2 | 1 | 115 |
| 7 | Greg Moore | 4 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 1* | 1 | 5 | 24 | 23 | 27 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 24 | 13 | 111 |
| 8 | Michael Andretti | 1* | 3 | 22 | 2 | 21 | 11* | 2 | 2 | 8 | 23 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 26 | 16 | 27 | 19 | 108 |
| 9 | Scott Pruett | 5 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 19 | 9 | 24 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 7 | 102 |
| 10 | Raul Boesel | 17 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 91 |
| 11 | Bryan Herta | 10 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 21 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 24 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 72 |
| 12 | Bobby Rahal | 16 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10* | 20 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 70 |
| 13 | Al Unser Jr. | 27 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 25 | 4 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 67 |
| 14 | André Ribeiro | 12 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 15 | 10 | 26 | 25 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 23 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 17* | 45 |
| 15 | Christian Fittipaldi | 26 | 28 | | | | | | | 4 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 42 |
| 16 | Parker Johnstone | 8 | 21 | 5 | 17 | 12 | 7 | 25 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 36 |
| 17 | Patrick Carpentier RY | 9 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 28 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 27 | | | Wth | 27 |
| 18 | Adrián Fernández | 13 | 11 | 11 | 23 | 26 | 8 | 24 | 27 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 26 | 23 | 12 | 19 | 23 | 3 | 27 |
| 19 | Roberto Moreno | 24 | | 24 | 14 | 18 | 25 | 10 | 5 | | | | | | | 15 | 10 | | 16 |
| 20 | Gualter Salles R | 15 | 24 | 18 | 24 | 19 | 12 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 10 | 20 | 13 | 26 | 7 | 14 | 10 |
| 21 | Richie Hearn | 11 | 13 | 27 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| 22 | Dario Franchitti R | 25 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 26 | 11 | 26 | 19 | 11 | 25 | 13 | 13 | | 10 |
| 23 | Juan Manuel Fangio II | 20 | 20 | 26 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 10 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 25 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 9 |
| 24 | Max Papis | 19 | 14 | 25 | 22 | 13 | 26 | 19 | 11 | 28 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 8 |
| 25 | Dennis Vitolo | 23 | | DNS | DNQ | | | | | | | 28 | 7 | | | 27 | 20 | 16 | 6 |
| 26 | Robby Gordon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 5 |
| 27 | Hiro Matsushita | 21 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 9 | 19 | 24 | 14 | 28 | 23 | 4 |
| 28 | P. J. Jones | 28 | 26 | 16 | 21 | 16 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 28 | 17 | 14 | 25 | 17 | 10 | 3 |
| 29 | Michel Jourdain Jr. | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 27 | 22 | 12 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 1 |
| 30 | Arnd Meier R | | 16 | | | 25 | DNS | | 18 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 12 | 16 | 19 | | | 25 | 1 |
| 31 | Christian Danner | | | | | | | | 12 | 27 | | | | | | 23 | | | 1 |
| 32 | Charlie Nearburg R | | | | | | | | | | 26 | | | 28 | 17 | | 18 | | 0 |
| 33 | Paul Jasper R | | 23 | 19 | DNQ | 24 | Wth | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| 34 | Arie Luyendyk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | MIA | SUR | LBH | NAZ | RIO | GAT | MIL | DET | POR | CLE | TOR | MIC | MDO | ROA | VAN | LAG | FON | 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) |
| Blank | 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 | United States | 252 |
| 2 | Brazil | 238 |
| 3 | Italy | 198 |
| 4 | Canada | 190 |
| 5 | England | 115 |
| 6 | Mexico | 27 |
| 7 | Scotland | 10 |
| 8 | Argentina | 9 |
| 9 | Japan | 4 |
| 10 | Germany | 2 |
| 11 | Netherlands | 0 |
| Pos | Country | Pts |

### Chassis Constructors' Cup

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

### Engine Manufacturers' Cup

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