It’s Official: Indianapolis 500 Winner Luyendyk Joins Elite With $1,090,940

Arie Luyendyk, a struggling race driver until Sunday, began to find out Monday night how the other half lives when he and his Doug Shierson teammates collected their winnings at the Indianapolis 500 victory banquet.

Luyendyk’s victory was worth a record $1,090,940, $16,650 of it in lap-prize money for leading 37 laps. Emerson Fittipaldi, who set the early pace and led 128 of the 200 laps, earned $57,600 in lap money and $75,000 more when he got back into the lead lap by passing Luyendyk, who had just taken the white flag. Finishing the full 200 laps carries a $75,000 bonus.

Fittipaldi held the previous record for a winner with $1,001,604 in 1989.

Only one major change was made in the official standings, posted Monday morning. Scott Brayton and Eddie Cheever changed places. Brayton , who drives for Dick Simon of San Juan Capistrano, moved up to seventh and Cheever down to eighth. Cheever, selected the Indy 500 rookie of the year, was originally credited with one lap too many.

Also, Luyendyk’s average speed was reduced from 185.984 m.p.h. to 185.981.