2002 Indy Racing League
This article does not cite any sources. (December 2009) |
2002 Indy Racing League season | |
---|---|
Indy Racing League | |
Season | |
Races | 15 |
Start date | March 2 |
End date | September 15 |
Awards | |
Drivers' champion | Sam Hornish Jr. |
Indianapolis 500 winner | Hélio Castroneves |
The 2002 Indy Racing League (IRL) was one of transition, with two reigning CART championship teams, Team Penske and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, joining the series with full time entries. The Oldsmobile engine was rebranded as a Chevrolet, and both Honda and Toyota announced their participation in the series starting in 2003 while Infiniti announced its withdrawal.
Sam Hornish Jr. won 5 races on his way to his second straight championship ahead of Penske juggernaut Hélio Castroneves, winner of two races including a second straight Indy 500, on his way to second in the championship.
Team and driver chart[]
Team | Chassis | Engine | # | Drivers | Rounds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team Menard | Dallara | Chevrolet | 2 | Jaques Lazier | 1–4 |
P. J. Jones | 5 | ||||
Raul Boesel | 5–6 | ||||
Mark Dismore | 7–11 | ||||
Vítor Meira R | 12–15 | ||||
Marlboro Team Penske | Dallara | Chevrolet | 3 | Hélio Castroneves | All |
6 | Gil de Ferran | 1–14 | |||
Max Papis | 15 | ||||
Panther Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 4 | Sam Hornish Jr. | All |
Kelley Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 7 | Al Unser Jr. | 1–9, 12–15 |
Tony Renna R | 10–11 | ||||
8 | Scott Sharp | All | |||
Target Chip Ganassi Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 9 | Jeff Ward | All |
A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara | Chevrolet | 11 | Eliseo Salazar | 1–3, 10–15 |
Richie Hearn | 4 | ||||
Greg Ray | 5–9 | ||||
Donnie Beechler | 5 | ||||
14 | Airton Daré | All | |||
Bradley Motorsports | Dallara | Infiniti | 12 | Shigeaki Hattori | 2–7 |
Raul Boesel | 9–15 | ||||
Racing Professionals | G-Force Dallara |
Chevrolet | 16 | Jon Herb | 1–8 |
Sam Schmidt Motorsports | Dallara | Chevrolet | 20 | Richie Hearn | 5, 7–12 |
Greg Ray | 14–15 | ||||
Anthony Lazzaro R | 13 | ||||
99 | 1–2, 4–5 | ||||
Richie Hearn | 3, 6 | ||||
Mark Dismore | 5 | ||||
Jimmy Kite | 5 | ||||
Mo Nunn Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 21 | Felipe Giaffone | All |
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | G-Force | Infiniti | 24 | Robbie Buhl | 1–2, 5–15 |
Memo Gidley | 3 | ||||
Sarah Fisher | 4 | ||||
310 Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 31 | George Mack R | All |
Conquest Racing | Dallara | Infiniti | 34 | Laurent Redon R | All |
Dallara | Chevrolet | 44 | Alex Barron | All | |
Red Bull Cheever Racing | Dallara | Infiniti | 51 | Eddie Cheever | All |
52 | Tomas Scheckter R | 1–12 | |||
Buddy Rice R | 13–15 | ||||
Treadway Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 55 | Rick Treadway R | 1–4, 6, 9 |
Arie Luyendyk | 5, 11 | ||||
Will Langhorne R | 12, 14–15 | ||||
Robby McGehee | 13 | ||||
Hemelgarn Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 91 | Buddy Lazier | All |
CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet Infiniti |
98 | Billy Boat | All |
Part Time and Indy 500 Entries | |||||
Treadway Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 5 | Rick Treadway R | 5 |
67 | 15 | ||||
Cahill Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 10 | Robby McGehee | 1–5 |
Walker Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 15 | Oriol Servià | 5 |
Panther Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 15 | Dan Wheldon R | 14–15 |
Mo Nunn Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 17 | Tony Kanaan | 5 |
PDM Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 18 | Tyce Carlson | 1–2 |
Jeret Schroeder | 3 | ||||
John de Vries R | 6 | ||||
Cory Kruseman R | 15 | ||||
Team Rahal | Dallara | Chevrolet | 19 | Jimmy Vasser | 3, 5 |
G-Force | Chevrolet | 20 | Hideki Noda R | 1–3 | |
Indy Regency Racing | 28 | 13–15 | |||
Target Chip Ganassi Racing | G-Force | Chevrolet | 22 | Kenny Bräck | 5 |
33 | Bruno Junqueira | 5 | |||
Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | G-Force | Infiniti | 23 | Sarah Fisher | 5, 8–15 |
Team Green | Dallara | Chevrolet | 26 | Paul Tracy | 5 |
27 | Dario Franchitti | 5 | |||
39 | Michael Andretti | 5 | |||
Team Menard | Dallara | Chevrolet | 31 | Robby Gordon | 5 |
Dallara | Chevrolet | 32 | Memo Gidley | 5 | |
Johnny Herbert | 5 | ||||
Brayton Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 37 | John de Vries R | 1–5 |
Scott Harrington | 5, 11 | ||||
A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Dallara | Chevrolet | 41 | Greg Ray | 10–13 |
Red Bull Cheever Racing | Dallara | Infiniti | 53 | Max Papis | 5 |
Buddy Rice | 11–12 | ||||
Robby McGehee | 15 | ||||
CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports | Dallara | Chevrolet | 54 | Robby McGehee | 7–9 |
Sam Schmidt Motorsports | Dallara | Chevrolet | 55 | Anthony Lazzaro R | 7 |
Kelley Racing | Dallara | Chevrolet | 78 | Tony Renna R | 12–15 |
G-Force | Chevrolet | 81 | Billy Roe | 1, 5 |
Season Summary[]
Schedule[]
Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | City |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | March 2 | Grand Prix of Miami | Homestead-Miami Speedway | Homestead, Florida |
2 | March 17 | Bombardier ATV 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona |
3 | March 24 | Yamaha Indy 400 | California Speedway | Fontana, California |
4 | April 21 | Firestone Indy 225 | Nazareth Speedway | Nazareth, Pennsylvania |
5 | May 26 | 86th Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana |
6 | June 8 | Boomtown 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
7 | June 16 | Radisson Indy 225 | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, Colorado |
8 | June 29 | SunTrust Indy Challenge | Richmond International Raceway | Richmond, Virginia |
9 | July 7 | Ameristar Casino Indy 200 | Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, Kansas |
10 | July 20 | Firestone Indy 200 | Nashville Superspeedway | Lebanon, Tennessee |
11 | July 28 | Michigan Indy 400 | Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, Michigan |
12 | August 11 | Belterra Casino Indy 300 | Kentucky Speedway | Sparta, Kentucky |
13 | August 25 | Gateway Indy 250 | Gateway International Raceway | Madison, Illinois |
14 | September 8 | Delphi Indy 300 | Chicagoland Speedway | Joliet, Illinois |
15 | September 15 | Chevy 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
Race results[]
Rnd | Race | Pole position | Fastest lap | Most Laps Led | Winner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Homestead | Sam Hornish Jr. | Jeff Ward | Sam Hornish Jr. | Sam Hornish Jr. |
2 | Phoenix | Hélio Castroneves | Robbie Buhl | Sam Hornish Jr. | Hélio Castroneves |
3 | Fontana | Eddie Cheever | Tomas Scheckter | Sam Hornish Jr. | Sam Hornish Jr. |
4 | Nazareth | Gil de Ferran | Tomas Scheckter | Gil de Ferran | Scott Sharp |
5 | Indianapolis | Bruno Junqueira | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter | Hélio Castroneves |
6 | Texas 1 | Tomas Scheckter | Eddie Cheever | Tomas Scheckter | Jeff Ward |
7 | Pikes Peak | Gil de Ferran | Felipe Giaffone | Gil de Ferran | Gil de Ferran |
8 | Richmond | Gil de Ferran | Buddy Lazier | Gil de Ferran | Sam Hornish Jr. |
9 | Kansas | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter | Airton Daré |
10 | Nashville | Billy Boat | Tomas Scheckter | Sam Hornish Jr. | Alex Barron |
11 | Michigan | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter | Tomas Scheckter |
12 | Kentucky | Sarah Fisher | Tomas Scheckter | Felipe Giaffone | Felipe Giaffone |
13 | Gateway | Gil de Ferran | Sam Hornish Jr. | Hélio Castroneves | Gil de Ferran |
14 | Chicagoland | Sam Hornish Jr. | Buddy Rice | Sam Hornish Jr. | Sam Hornish Jr. |
15 | Texas 2 | Vítor Meira | Buddy Rice | Hélio Castroneves | Sam Hornish Jr. |
BOLD indicates a Superspeedway. Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.
Race summaries[]
Grand Prix of Miami[]
This race was held on March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 9- Jeff Ward
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 52- Tomas Scheckter
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 44- Alex Barron
- 99- Anthony Lazzaro
- 14- Airton Daré
Bombardier ATV 200[]
This race was held on March 17 at Phoenix International Raceway. Hélio Castroneves won the pole.
Top ten results
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 11- Eliseo Salazar
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 2- Jaques Lazier
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 98- Billy Boat
- 55- Rick Treadway
- 20- Hideki Noda
Inaugural Yamaha Indy 400[]
This race was held on March 24 at California Speedway. Eddie Cheever won the pole.
Top ten results
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 2- Jaques Lazier
- 34- Laurent Rédon
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 19- Jimmy Vasser
- 9- Jeff Ward
Inaugural Firestone Indy 225[]
This race was held on April 21 at Nazareth Speedway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 24- Sarah Fisher
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 44- Alex Barron
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 98- Billy Boat
- 99- Anthony Lazzaro
- 12- Shigeaki Hattori
86th Indianapolis 500[]
The Indy 500 was held on May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bruno Junqueira sat on pole. The race end was one of the most controversial in history as Paul Tracy passed Hélio Castroneves just as the yellow was coming out for a crash. Race officials ruled that the pass occurred after the yellow.
Top ten results
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 26- Paul Tracy
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 44- Alex Barron
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 20- Richie Hearn
- 39- Michael Andretti
- 31- Robby Gordon
- 9- Jeff Ward
- 6- Gil de Ferran
Boomtown 500[]
This race was held on June 8 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
- 9- Jeff Ward
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 14- Airton Daré
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 12- Shigeaki Hattori
- 98- Billy Boat
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 99- Richie Hearn
- 44- Alex Barron
Radisson Indy 225[]
This race was held on June 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 34- Laurent Rédon
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 14- Airton Daré
- 44- Alex Barron
SunTrust Indy Challenge[]
This race was held on June 29 at Richmond International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 52- Tomas Scheckter
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 14- Airton Daré
- 20- Richie Hearn
- 9- Jeff Ward
- 54- Robby McGehee
- 44- Alex Barron
Ameristar Casino Indy 200[]
This race was held on July 7 at Kansas Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
- 14- Airton Daré
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 44-Alex Barron
- 98- Billy Boat
- 20- Richie Hearn
Firestone Indy 200[]
This race was held on July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. Billy Boat won the pole.
Top ten results
- 44- Alex Barron
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 20- Richie Hearn
- 12- Raul Boesel
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 7- Tony Renna
Inaugural Michigan Indy 400[]
This race was held on July 28 at Michigan International Speedway. Tomas Scheckter won the pole.
Top ten results
- 52- Tomas Scheckter
- 53- Buddy Rice
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 7- Tony Renna
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 23- Sarah Fisher
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 20- Richie Hearn
Belterra Casino Indy 300[]
This race was held on August 11 at Kentucky Speedway. Sarah Fisher won the pole, the first by a female driver in a major open wheel series.
Top ten results
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 78- Tony Renna
- 23- Sarah Fisher
- 44- Alex Barron
- 24- Robbie Buhl
Gateway Indy 250[]
This race was held on August 25 at Gateway International Raceway. Gil de Ferran won the pole.
Top ten results
- 6- Gil de Ferran
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 44- Alex Barron
- 52- Buddy Rice
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 24- Robbie Buhl
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 12- Raul Boesel
- 2- Vítor Meira
- 51- Eddie Cheever
Delphi Indy 300[]
This race was held on September 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.
Top ten results
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
- 7- Al Unser Jr.
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 21- Felipe Giaffone
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 2- Vítor Meira
- 52- Buddy Rice
- 15- Dan Wheldon
Gil de Ferran was injured during a crash in this race and would miss the season finale at Texas.
Chevy 500[]
This race was held on September 15 at Texas Motor Speedway. Vítor Meira won the pole.
Top ten results
- 4- Sam Hornish Jr.**
- 3- Hélio Castroneves
- 2- Vítor Meira
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 44- Alex Barron
- 52- Buddy Rice
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 78- Tony Renna
- 34- Laurent Rédon
Max Papis filled in for the injured Gil de Ferran at Penske; however, he finished 21st due to a blown engine.
By winning the race, Sam Hornish Jr. won his second championship in a row.
Final points standings[]
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- Ties in points broken by number of wins, followed by number of 2nds, 3rds, etc., and then by number of pole positions, followed by number of times qualified 2nd, etc.
See also[]
- 2002 Indianapolis 500
- 2002 Infiniti Pro Series season
- 2002 CART season
- 2002 Toyota Atlantic Championship season
- http://www.champcarstats.com/year/2002i.htm
- http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf (p. 119–121)
- 2002 in American motorsport
- IndyCar Series seasons
- 2002 in IndyCar