Martin Victorious in IROC, but Earnhardt Wins Series

In what might have been the dullest race in series history, Mark Martin led a parade of pastel-colored stock cars for the final 31 of the 40 laps Friday in winning for the second consecutive time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the International Race of Champions.

Dale Earnhardt, who had won the first three races this year, labored along in eighth place, just ahead of replacement driver Dave Marcis, to win the $225,000 championship check. His finish gave him a one-point margin over Martin. A four-time IROC champion, Martin collected $100,000 as series runner-up.

“I picked up a vibration the last 10 laps and was scared I’d cut a tire,” said Earnhardt, who several times late in the race waved at Marcis in the trailing car.

Said Marcis: “I think Dale was trying to show me that his car was loose. I could see it.”

Marcis finished inches behind Earnhardt.

It was Earnhardt’s third championship, the seven-time Winston Cup champion having won in 1990 and 1995.

Winston Cup drivers finished in eight of the first nine positions, with only former Indianapolis 500 winner Eddie Cheever breaking into the monopoly in third place. Jeff Gordon was second.

It was a bad day for CART champ car drivers. Adrian Fernandez was injured Friday morning while practicing for Sunday’s CART race at Detroit and had to withdraw. He was replaced by Marcis, one of the test drivers who prepare IROC cars for competition. It was Marcis’ first IROC start since 1978.

Greg Moore, the other CART entrant, crashed on the second lap and finished last. Moore, who also crashed Thursday in practice, spun in the short chute between Turns 1 and 2 and hit the outside retaining wall. He was not injured.

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With the race under caution, pole-sitter Jason Keller captured the NASCAR Busch Grand National series Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park for his second victory of the year. There were four cautions in the final 50 laps. The red flag came out on Lap 177 after a nine-car pileup, which began when Buckshot Jones ran into the back of Mike McLaughlin.