Speedway Spectacle
An in-depth analysis of the 1999 Miller Lite 200, the CART FedEx Championship Series race held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, detailing drivers, strategies, and pivotal moments.
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Event Overview
Race Details
The 1999 Miller Lite 200 was the fourteenth round of the 1999 CART FedEx Champ Car World Series season. It took place on August 15, 1999, at the renowned Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Venue
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a permanent road course, hosted this event. The track measures 2.258 miles (3.634 km) and featured a demanding layout that tested driver skill and machine endurance.
Race Format
The race consisted of 83 laps, covering a total distance of 187.414 miles (301.622 km). The weather conditions were dry, providing a clear track for the competitors.
Race Report
Qualifying and Start
Due to rain washing out Saturday's qualifying, the grid was determined by Friday's times. Championship leader Dario Franchitti secured his first pole position of the season. He led the field away, followed closely by Bryan Herta. Paul Tracy quickly moved into second place, establishing an early Team Green 1-2.
Early Dominance and Charge
Franchitti and Tracy built a significant lead, extending it to 12 seconds. Following the first pit stop cycle, Juan Pablo Montoya, after a rapid stop, climbed to third. Unfazed by the gap, Montoya began an aggressive charge, closing down the leaders to form a tight three-car pack before the second pit stops.
The Decisive Stint
Montoya and Tracy both pitted, with Montoya emerging ahead of Franchitti. A subsequent caution period for Luiz Garcia Jr.'s spin bunched the field. However, once the race resumed, Montoya demonstrated superior pace in the final stint. He pulled away decisively, winning the race by over 10 seconds. Tracy finished second, with Franchitti third, maintaining his championship lead by a single point.
Race Classification
Final Standings
The following table details the top finishers and key participants of the 1999 Miller Lite 200:
Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Chip Ganassi Racing | 83 | 1:42:03.808 | 8 | 20 |
2 | 26 | Paul Tracy | Team Green | 83 | +10.927 | 3 | 16 |
3 | 27 | Dario Franchitti | Team Green | 83 | +12.313 | 1 | 14+1+1 |
4 | 12 | Jimmy Vasser | Chip Ganassi Racing | 83 | +14.728 | 5 | 12 |
5 | 7 | Max Papis | Team Rahal | 83 | +19.899 | 9 | 10 |
6 | 5 | Gil de Ferran | Walker Racing | 83 | +23.682 | 6 | 8 |
7 | 9 | Hé lio Castro-Neves | Hogan Racing | 83 | +25.097 | 7 | 6 |
8 | 6 | Michael Andretti | Newman-Haas Racing | 83 | +31.299 | 11 | 5 |
9 | 25 | Cristiano da Matta | Arciero-Wells Racing | 83 | +31.877 | 14 | 4 |
10 | 22 | Robby Gordon | Team Gordon | 83 | +32.822 | 10 | 3 |
11 | 99 | Greg Moore | Forsythe Racing | 83 | +33.262 | 25 | 2 |
12 | 10 | Richie Hearn | Della Penna Motorsports | 83 | +35.317 | 12 | 1 |
13 | 18 | Mark Blundell | PacWest Racing | 83 | +35.775 | 26 | |
14 | 20 | Jan Magnussen | Patrick Racing | 83 | +43.215 | 15 | |
15 | 40 | P. J. Jones | Patrick Racing | 83 | +43.694 | 21 | |
16 | 11 | Roberto Moreno | Newman-Haas Racing | 83 | +44.565 | 19 | |
17 | 24 | Scott Pruett | Arciero-Wells Racing | 82 | +1 Lap | 20 | |
18 | 36 | Gualter Salles | All American Racing | 82 | +1 Lap | 16 | |
19 | 15 | Naoki Hattori | Walker Racing | 82 | +1 Lap | 23 | |
20 | 17 | Maurício Gugelmin | PacWest Racing | 76 | Engine | 17 | |
21 | 8 | Bryan Herta | Team Rahal | 72 | Engine | 2 | |
22 | 71 | Memo Gidley | Payton/Coyne Racing | 69 | Fire | 13 | |
23 | 44 | Tony Kanaan | Forsythe Racing | 58 | Fuel system | 4 | |
24 | 21 | Luiz Garcia Jr. | Hogan Racing | 56 | Clutch | 24 | |
25 | 2 | Al Unser Jr. | Team Penske | 54 | Contact | 22 | |
26 | 19 | Michel Jourdain Jr. | Payton/Coyne Racing | 54 | Transmission | 18 |
Caution Flags
Race Stoppages
The race saw one caution period, which significantly impacted the race dynamics:
Laps | Cause |
---|---|
60-65 | Luiz Garcia Jr. (No. 21) spin |
Lap Leaders
Lap Leadership Breakdown
The lead changed hands multiple times throughout the event, highlighting strategic battles and driver performance:
Laps | Leader |
---|---|
1-54 | Dario Franchitti |
55 | Paul Tracy |
56-83 | Juan Pablo Montoya |
Total Laps Led
A summary of laps led by the primary contenders:
Driver | Laps Led |
---|---|
Dario Franchitti | 54 |
Juan Pablo Montoya | 28 |
Paul Tracy | 1 |
Championship Standings
Post-Race Standings
Following the 1999 Miller Lite 200, the championship battle remained incredibly tight, with Dario Franchitti holding a slim lead:
Pos | Driver | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Dario Franchitti | 152 |
2 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 151 |
3 | Michael Andretti | 124 |
4 | Paul Tracy | 122 |
5 | Christian Fittipaldi | 101 |
References
Source Citations
This content is derived from the following verified sources:
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not official race commentary or live data. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional motorsport analysis or official race results. Always refer to official sources for real-time updates and definitive results.
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