Storm knocked ESPN2 off air at IRL race’s end

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 11:46 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand

The closest finish in Indy Racing League history was not seen live on national television because of a storm that knocked ESPN2 off the air with seven laps remaining in Sunday's Casino Magic 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Scott Sharp and Robby McGehee were locked in a duel for the lead when ESPN2 lost the signal on its live broadcast. Sharp held off McGehee by 59 thousandths of a second for the win.

All four ESPN networks -- ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News and ESPN Classic -- were knocked off the air due to a heavy storm at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. When service was restored after the finish of the race, ESPN2 showed highlights of the race, including the finish.

ESPN officials said the network would replay the Casino Magic 500 in its entirety at 11 a.m. (PDT) Wednesday.

Sharp's margin of victory was the closest ever in Indy Racing, topping the 64 thousandths of a second by Robbie Buhl over Vincenzo Sospiri at New Hampshire in 1997.

The 208-lap race featured an IRL-record 31 lead changes among eight drivers and easily was the most exciting race in the series' five-year history.

"I have never had this much fun in a single-seat, open-wheel race car in my life," said veteran driver Al Unser Jr., who contended for the win before finishing third. "You don't get this kind of racing anywhere or any time in these types of cars.

"I tell you, I love driving race cars but (Sunday) was unbelievable. I was in my seat, but I promise I was standing up the whole time."