Treadway Racing
Treadway Racing is a former auto racing team that competed in the early seasons of the
IRL's inaugural season in 1996, Treadway was able to sign former Indianapolis 500 Champion Arie Luyendyk
to drive for his freshman team. Additionally, two long time backers of IndyCar teams, Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems and Jonathan Byrd's Cafeteria, were secured as sponsors.
1996 racing season
Luyendyk brought home the team's first win in their second race together, winning the
Phoenix International Raceway. Later that season Luyendyk would set two qualifying records at the Indianapolis 500. Luyendyk would run 236.986 mph (381.392 km/h) over the four lap run,[1] during this run he also set the one-lap record of 237.498-mph.[2] This run would not put Luyendyk on the pole position
however, as the run was on the second day of time trials. Luyendyk's attempt on the first day of qualifications was disallowed when he failed technical inspection although it was good enough for the pole. His day two attempt was faster than his day one attempt. Ultimately Luyendyk was knocked out of the race in an accident.
1997 racing season
The following year, good fortunes would continue to the race into the race as Luyendyk would win the
final season standings for 1997
despite not collecting a win.
1998 racing season
For
1998 Goodyear left Treadway Racing, leaving Luyendyk as the sole driver. Luyendyk won the final race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
before retiring from full-time racing.
1999 racing season
2000. An opportunity to achieve this success would not occur as a devastating pre-season testing injury[5] at Walt Disney World Speedway would leave Schmidt paralyzed. The accident would leave Robby McGehee
who had been signed to partner Schmidt as the team's sole driver. McGehee would only last one season.
2001 racing season
2001
, bringing with him personal sponsorship from Hollywood Cigarettes. Ross & Diana Hubbard also joined the team as partners to Fred Treadway. Giaffone and the Hubbards would also last only one season.
2002 racing season
For
2002 Chevy 500 at Texas Motor Speedway
was Treadway Racing's final race in the Indy Racing League's top series.
Treadway Racing Drivers
Full-Time Drivers
Felipe Giaffone (2001)
Scott Goodyear (1997)
Arie Luyendyk (1996-'98)
Robby McGehee (2000)- Sam Schmidt (1999)
- Rick Treadway (2002)
Part-Time/Indy-Only Drivers
- Raul Boesel (2000)
- Will Langhorne (2002)
- Jason Leffler (2000)
- Arie Luyendyk (1999, 2001-'02)
Complete IRL/IndyCar Series Results
(key) (Results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
- 1 The 1999 VisionAire 500K at Charlotte was cancelled after 79 laps due to spectator fatalities.
IndyCar wins
| # | Season | Date | Sanction | Track / Race | No. | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine | Tire | Grid | Laps Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1996 | March 24 | IRL
|
Phoenix International Raceway (O) | 5 |  Arie Luyendyk
|
Reynard 95i | Ford-Cosworth XB | Firestone | Pole | 122 |
| 2 | 1996-97
|
May 27 | IRL | Indianapolis 500 (O) | 5 | Arie Luyendyk (2)
|
G-Force GF01 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | Pole | 61 |
| 3 | June 7 | IRL | Texas Motor Speedway (O) | 5 | Arie Luyendyk (3)
|
G-Force GF01 | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | 11 | 20 | |
| 4 | 1998 | October 11 | IRL | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (O) | 5 | Arie Luyendyk (4)
|
G-Force GF01B | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Goodyear | 14 | 88 |
| 5 | 1999 | September 26 | IRL | Las Vegas Motor Speedway (O) | 99 |  Sam Schmidt
|
G-Force GF01C | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 | Firestone | Pole | 35 |
References
- ^ Qualifying Records - Four Lap, Indy500.com
- ^ Qualifying Records - One Lap, Indy500.com
- ^ Texas results revised after appeal, Johnny Unser Racing press release via Motorsport.com, June 8, 1997
- ^ Sanctioning duties assumed by IRL, IRL PR via Motorsport.com, June 16, 1997
- ^ Sam Schmidt injured in accident during Open Test, IRL PR via Motorsport.com, January 6, 2000