The first event for the breakaway Indy Racing League took place at Walt Disney World Speedway, a brand new venue inaugurated on November 28, 1995.
[4] 13 of them were included in a tentative entry list published on December 6, highlighted by 1990 Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, IMS track record holder Roberto Guerrero, 1995 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter Scott Brayton and two full-time drivers from that year's IndyCar World Series season, Eddie Cheever and Eliseo Salazar.
Both Hearn and Guerrero were absent from testing, and five new signings being made during the week: Lazier, Paul Jr., Scott Sharp, Robbie Buhl and Lyn St. James.
[11] John Menard wanted to field Jim Crawford in the third car at Orlando, but he was persuaded by Cary Agajanian, USAC's vicepresident for the IRL and Stewart's legal advisor, to give the 24-year old rookie a try.
Being the first driver to have conquered the USAC Triple Crown, Stewart logged a best lap of 172 mph in only his second ever Indy car test, despite unknowingly running with a much-lowered turbo boost and a chassis that had been discarded by Cheever and Brayton for handling reasons.
[18] Five days later, Andy Evans bought the remaining share of Dick Simon in Scandia/Simon Racing, which would still compete under that name at Walt Disney World.
[20] Also, A. J. Foyt Enterprises entered Mike Groff on Thursday before the start of practice, in a third car that would be run during the season by the Sinden Racing Services rental crew.
Salazar was rushed by helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgeries for a fractured femur and thigh injuries, being listed afterwards in stable condition.
Seasoned veterans Guerrero and Luyendyk qualified third and fourth, the latter using a back-up car that would be later renumbered, in front of Scott Sharp and five further rookies.
As expected by the nuances of their stock block engine, Team Menard struggled in qualifying, although Tony Stewart surprised by outqualifying his more established teammates, Eddie Cheever and Scott Brayton, despite having only completed 67 laps in winter testing.
Della Penna didn't have a competitive spare car, and reached a deal with Pagan Racing to use Roberto Guerrero's back-up unit.
Richie Hearn had already gained 12 positions and was running in 7th place when a sway bar adjuster broke on his car, causing him to spin at the exit of Turn 1.
Further back, Eddie Cheever had worked his way up to ninth place, his progress having been hampered by the same handling issues that had forced his teammate Scott Brayton to retire from the race.
When the race was restarted with six laps to go, Stewart began hounding Calkins for the lead, but he lost some ground shortly after because of the damages to the car.
With his win, Calkins became the first American driver (and the only one to date) to win his first Indy car race, in a feat only equalled in modern Indy car racing by Formula 1 world champions Graham Hill at the 1966 Indianapolis 500 and Nigel Mansell at the 1993 Australian FAI IndyCar Grand Prix, per IndyCar's record book.
Calkins had also won his first Indy car oval race, being the second of four drivers to ever achieve this feat along Hill, Scott Dixon and Sébastien Bourdais.
Tony Stewart settled for second in his first rear-engine open wheel race, and Robbie Buhl also scored his first Indy car podium, improving on his sixth place at the 1993 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Mike Groff equalled the sixth place obtained at the 1994 Valvoline 200 at Phoenix, while Lyn St. James scored her only top-10 result in Indy car competition, with an 8th-place finish.
Chief Announcer: Bob Jenkins Statistician/Commentary: Gary Lee Historian/Commentary: Donald Davidson The race was carried live flag-to-flag coverage in the United States on ABC Sports.