Arie Returns to Indy

After two years out of the cockpit, Arie Luyendyk announced that he wasn't happy in the broadcast booth and would return to racing. His Jan. 5 announcement came as a surprise to many in racing, since the two time Indianapolis 500 winner seemed comfortable in his job with ABC Television. Last year, he spent the "500" in the broadcast booth, and it was assumed that he would do the same this year.

Arie will make his return in the Treadway-Hubbard's G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone, with many of the same crew that helped him win his second Indy 500 in 1997. That team, headed by chief mechanic Skip Faul and engineer Tim Wardrop should be able to pick up right where they left off with the "Flying Dutchman" and possibly put his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy for a third time.

Among the records that Arie Luyendyk holds at Indianapolis are the fastest four lap qualifying speed in history at 236.986 mph. This was done 1996, and while it's a record that may never be beaten, due to rules changes, it took place on day 2, and according to Indianapolis qualifying rules, placed him in 20th position on the starting grid.

Luyendyk also holds the record for the fastest Indianapolis 500 on record, during the 1990 race, when he averaged 185.981 mph. During that event, he started in the outside of row one, and while he only led 37 of the 200 laps, they were the laps needed for him to take the first trip down victory lane. He again tasted success (and that famous bottle of milk) in 1997 when he set the record for all time winnings for a single race of $1,568,150.

Luyendyk has been associated with the Treadway Racing team since 1996, and team owner Fred Treadway made it clear when Arie retired that if he ever wanted to return, there would be a place for him. Now, he's kept good to his word. For the past two years, when not behind a microphone, Arie has spent his time as a driver coach and consultant to the team.

Arie Luyendyk began his racing career in Formula Vee in 1972 and moved to Formula Ford and a championship in the Dutch Formula Ford series in 1973. In 1975 he won the European Formula Ford championship and the 1977 Super Vee title. He moved to the U.S. and finished fourth in the U.S. Super Vee championship. In 1984 he made his debut in an Indy Car, finishing eighth at Road America. In 1985 he qualified for the first of fifteen Indy 500 starts, finishing seventh and winning Rookie of the Year honors.

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