1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League

Race #10 - Mall.com 500

The Pep Boys Indy Racing League made their 10th and final stop of 1999 at the Texas Motor Speedway, in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Mall.com 500.

Championship contender Greg Ray led the field to the green and would quickly build up a early leading, needing to score maximum points to have a chance at winning the championship, but would be tested early as Davey Hamilton would assume the lead with the two drivers swapping the lead over the first eighty laps before Hamilton pulled away. With only one caution coming out during the event, it meant drivers would have to gamble on fuel with either a two or three stop strategy. Most of the field pitted with less then thirty laps to go expect for Hamilton who was trying to make it on two stops.

Greg Ray's team gave him a splash of fuel and four fresh tires and would quickly get his lap back as he cut into Hamilton's lead each lap, and as Hamilton took the white flag, Ray was right in his tire tracks, making a move on the backstretch and would hold on for the final two turns to score his second win of 1999, however crossing the line in 16th, Kenny Brack scored enough points to be crowned the 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Champion and the first ever driver to win back-to-back championships in series history.

Other Noticeables:
Greg Ray scored his 2nd win of the year,
Ray led 5 times for 50 laps, including the final lap,
It was the 2nd win of his career in the Pep Boys Indy Racing League and his first since Dover; 3 races ago,
Doug Didero(19th) and Sarah Fisher(22nd) made their Pep Boys Indy Racing League debuts,
Kenny Brack, who finished 16th, won the 1999 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Championship by 6 points over Eddie Cheever Jr.

1.2-Greg Ray (50 laps led)
2.9-Davey Hamilton (155 laps led)
3.51-Eddie Cheever Jr. (2 laps led)
4.28-Mark Dismore
5.55-Robby McGehee
6.12-Buzz Calkins
7.33-Jaques Lazier (1 lap led)
8.66-Scott Harrington-1 lap
9.42-John Hollansworth Jr.-1 lap
10.98-Donnie Beechler-1 lap
11.81-Robby Unser-1 lap
12.91-Buddy Lazier-1 lap
13.20-Tyce Carlson-2 laps
14.21-Jeff Ward-2 laps
15.7-Stephan Gregoire-2 laps
16.14-Kenny Brack-2 laps
17.30-John Paul Jr.-2 laps
18.8-Scott Sharp-2 laps
19.43-Doug Didero-3 laps
20.99-Sam Schmidt-4 laps
21.4-Scott Goodyear-5 laps
22.48-Sarah Fisher-9 laps
23.22-Robbie Buhl-69 laps (Engine)
24.6-Eliseo Salazar-83 laps (Accident)
25.17-Ronnie Johncox-129 laps (Gearbox)
26.11-Billy Boat-181 laps (Header)
27.27-Niclas Jonsson-208 laps (Did Not Start)

Greg Ray-1-39
Davey Hamilton-40-71
Greg Ray-72-77
Davey Hamilton-78
Greg Ray-79
Jaques Lazier-80
Eddie Cheever Jr.-81-82
Greg Ray-83-85
Davey Hamilton-86-207
Greg Ray-208

9 Lead Changes among 4 drivers

Caution Flags: 1 for 4 laps
Lap 127 (Cars #20, 4 and 6 Accident Frontstretch)

Margin of Victory: 1.367 Seconds

Time of Race: 2 Hours and 12 Minutes

Greg Ray leads the field to the Green Flag.



While running in 14th, Billy Boat's Header breaks.



Davey Hamilton passes Greg Ray for the lead on Lap 40.



Greg Ray passes Davey Hamilton to retake the lead on Lap 72.



Davey Hamilton passes Greg Ray to retake the lead on Lap 78.



Greg Ray passes Davey Hamilton to retake the lead on Lap 79.



Davey Hamilton passes Greg Ray to retake the lead on Lap 80.



While running in 22nd, Ronnie Johncox's Gearbox breaks.



The lone caution comes out on Lap 127 when a three car wreck breaks out on the Frontstretch.



While running in 20th, Robbie Buhl's Engine blows up.



Greg Ray passes Davey Hamilton for the 9th and final lead change on the final lap.



Greg Ray takes the Checkered Flag.