Paul Durant

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Paul Durant (born September 26, 1959), is a former American racecar driver from San Diego, California.

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He first excelled in supermodified racing, winning a number of regional championships. He then competed in the USAC Silver Crown Series in 1994. Following the founding of the Indy Racing League in 1996, he competed in the series' second ever race at the Phoenix International Raceway but broke on the first lap. Two months later, he competed in the Indianapolis 500, qualifying the oldest car in the field, a 1992 Lola powered by a stock-block Buick V6 engine in the 24th position. He moved up from 24th to 18th in 9 laps before his engine failed. [1] The following year he took over A. J. Foyt Enterprises' #1 car late on bump day and qualified in the final position with only 12 laps of practice in the car. He crashed on lap 111 of the race and was credited with 21st. Later that season he drove at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Byrd-Cunningham Racing and finished 26th after a mechanical issue on lap 62. He drove in the first race of the 1998 season at Phoenix for Cobb Racing but suffered an engine failure 99 laps in. He failed to qualify for the 1998 Indianapolis 500 in the same car and his entry failed to arrive at the race the following week at Texas Motor Speedway despite being entered.

He currently lives in Denver, Colorado.[ citation needed ]

Racing record

American Open Wheel

(key)

IndyCar

YearTeam1234567891011RankPointsRef
1996 ABF Motorsports WDW PHX
22
INDY
32
27th32 [2]
1996-97 A. J. Foyt Enterprises NHM LVS WDW PHX INDY
21
TXS PPIR CLT NH2  40th23 [3]
Byrd-Cunningham Racing           LV2
26
1998 CBR Cobb Racing WDW PHX
21
INDY
DNQ
TXS NHM DOV CLT PPIR ATLTX2LVS38th9 [4]

Indy 500 results

YearChassisEngineStartFinishTeamRef
1996 Lola Buick 24th32nd ABF [2]
1997 G-Force Oldsmobile 33rd21st Foyt [3]
1998 G-Force Oldsmobile Failed to Qualify Cobb [4]

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References

  1. "A Conversation with Paul Durant". The Auto Channel. June 25, 2003. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Paul Durant – 1996 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Paul Durant – 1997 Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Paul Durant – 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved December 21, 2022.