1997 PPG CART World Series
Diecast manufacturers are noted with each vehicle. Photos coming soon!
#1 Jimmy Vasser // Target Chip Ganassi Racing // Reynard-Honda-Firestone (Racing Champions)
Note that, while this may actually be a 1998 Alex Zanardi model, the sponsorship and roll hoop colors are consistent with Vasser’s 1997 ride.
#4 Alex Zanardi // Target Chip Ganassi Racing // Reynard-Honda-Firestone (Hot Wheels)
#5 Gil de Ferran // Walker Racing // Reynard-Honda-Goodyear (Hot Wheels)
#6 Michael Andretti // Newman-Haas Racing // Swift-Ford-Goodyear (Hot Wheels/Racing Champions)
#8 Bryan Herta // Team Rahal // Reynard-Ford-Goodyear (Hot Wheels)
#11 Christian Fittipaldi // Newman-Haas Racing // Swift-Ford-Goodyear (Hot Wheels)
#16 Patrick Carpentier // Bettenhausen Racing // Reynard-Mercedes-Goodyear (Hot Wheels)
#17 Mauricio Gugelmin // PacWest // Reynard-Mercedes-Firestone (Racing Champions)
#18 Mark Blundell // PacWest // Reynard-Mercedes-Firestone (Hot Wheels/Racing Champions)
#21 Richie Hearn // Della Penna Motorsports // Lola-Ford-Goodyear (Hot Wheels)
#24 Hiro Matsushita // Arciero-Wells Racing // Reynard-Toyota-Firestone (Racing Champions)
#25 Max Papis // Arciero-Wells Racing // Reynard-Toyota-Firestone (Hot Wheels/Racing Champions)
#31 Andre Ribeiro // Tasman Motorsports // Reynard (Lola)-Honda-Firestone (Hot Wheels)
Hot Wheels produced two separate series under its Pro Racing line, an adult collector’s version and a kid-friendly track version. Ribeiro started the 1997 season in a Lola, but switched to Reynards starting in Cleveland. Hot Wheels only produced the Lola casting for the track version, meaning Ribeiro is one of few drivers in open-wheel diecast history to have a chassis change properly reflected in an official release. As with all Hot Wheels issues listed here, these cars were produced in 1998, giving the brand time to reflect this change.
#36 Juan Manuel Fangio II // All-American Racers // Reynard-Toyota-Goodyear (Racing Champions)
METAL FUEL + RUBBER 