IRL Race and Season Results

This page contains results for every IRL race in a standardized (well, nearly) format. If you see anything that is incorrect, please let me know.

2002

The IRL series expands with several new venues and a best-ever schedule of 15 races. Included in the schedule are two new 400-mile races to complement the Indy 500.

Current 2002 Points Leader: Gil de Ferran

Races:
Miami-Homestead, March 2, Winner: Sam Hornish beats the Penske onslaught
Phoenix, March 17, Winner: Helio Castroneves and the Penske empire strike back
Fontana, March 24, Winner: Sam Hornish edges Jaques Lazier in the IRL's first 400-mile race
Nazareth, April 21, Winner: Scott Sharp beats Gil de Ferran's fuel gamble
Indianapolis 500, May 26, Winner: Helio Castroneves joins an elite category in the Indianapolis record book
Texas (first race), June 8, Winner: Jeff Ward takes his first IRL victory in a photo finish
Pikes Peak, June 16, Winner: Gil de Ferran leads a Penske sweep in a weather-delayed race
Richmond, June 29, Winner: Sam Hornish wins with a late-race charge
Kansas City, July 7, Winner: Airton Dare uses a late-race restart to take his first IRL victory
Nashville, July 20, Winner: Alex Barron becomes the IRL's first rookie winner since 1997
Michigan, July 28, Winner: Tomas Scheckter finally breaks through in the IRL's first visit to the historic facility
Kentucky, August 11, Winner: Felipe Giaffone becomes the season's ninth different winner
St. Louis / Gateway, August 25, Defending Champion: Al Unser
Chicagoland, September 8, Defending Champion: Jaques Lazier
Texas (second race), September 15, Defending Champion: Sam Hornish
Current Points Standings

2001

The series begans its expansion with three newly constructed tracks and three others new to the schedule. The total of 13 races, most ever for the IRNLS, and the condensed schedule guarantees near-continuous racing from April through September.

2001 Season Champion: Sam Hornish

Races:
Phoenix, March 18, Winner: Sam Hornish notches the first victory for the rookie class of 2000
Miami-Homestead, April 8, Winner: Sam Hornish makes it two in a row
Atlanta, April 28, Winner: Greg Ray marches through Atlanta again
Indianapolis 500, May 27, Winner: Helio Castroneves leads a sweep by the CART regulars
Texas (first race), June 9, Winner: Scott Sharp defends his Texas title
Pikes Peak, June 17, Winner: Buddy Lazier overcomes domination by Sam Hornish
Richmond, June 30, Winner: Buddy Lazier brings Indy to the heart of NASCAR country
Kansas City, July 8, Winner: Eddie Cheever puts the Infiniti 35A in victory circle
Nashville, July 21, Winner: Buddy Lazier survives an attrition-filled race on the Tennessee concrete
Kentucky, August 12, Winner: Buddy Lazier wins in dramatic fashion over Robbie Buhl
St. Louis / Gateway, August 26, Winner: Al Unser still has what it takes
Chicagoland, September 2, Winner: Jaques Lazier becomes the second winning Lazier in the IRNLS
Texas (second race), September 16, Defending Champion: Scott Goodyear

2000

This was a transition year with a new car and engine formula. The series acquired a new title sponsor in Northern Light and a long-term television package with ABC/ESPN.

2000 Season Champion: Buddy Lazier

Races:
Disney World, January 29, Winner: Robbie Buhl wins a three-way duel with Buddy Lazier and Eddie Cheever
Phoenix, March 28, Winner: Buddy Lazier finally erases the demons of Phoenix and gives R&S its first win
Las Vegas, April 22, Winner: Al Unser Jr. wins in his third IRNLS race
Indianapolis 500, May 28, Winner: Juan Montoya drops in from CART and dominates the race
Texas (first race), June 10, Winner: Scott Sharp edges Robby McGehee in a all-time Indy racing classic
Pikes Peak, June 18, Winner: Eddie Cheever finally scores the first win for Infiniti
Atlanta, July 15, Winner: Greg Ray outclasses the field
Kentucky, August 27, Winner: Buddy Lazier holds off the young guns
Texas (second race), October 15, Winner: Scott Goodyear wins his last race with Panther
Final Season Points

1999

This year marked the beginning of changes to eliminate the schedule gaps and pave the way for adding new venues beginning in 2000. It also was the final year for the original "new car" 1997-spec cars and engines.

1999 Season Champion: Greg Ray

Races:
Disney World, January 24, Winner: Eddie Cheever
Phoenix, March 28, Winner: Scott Goodyear
Charlotte, Cancelled
Indianapolis 500, May 30, Winner: Kenny Brack
Texas (first race), June 12, Winner: Scott Goodyear
Pikes Peak (first race), June 27, Winner: Greg Ray notches his first IRNLS win
Atlanta, July 17,, Winner: Scott Sharp outlasts the field to win
Dover, August 1, Winner: Greg Ray
Pikes Peak (second race), August 29, Winner: Greg Ray sweeps the Peak
Las Vegas, September 26, Winner: Sam Schmidt
Texas (second race), October 17, Winner: Mark Dismore
Final Season Points

1998

This was the IRL's first full season on a calandar year, and the first with an expanded racing schedule.

1998 Season Champion: Kenny Brack

Races:
Disney World, January 24, Winner: Tony Stewart
Phoenix, March 22, Winner: Scott Sharp
Indianapolis 500, May 24, Winner: Eddie Cheever
Texas (first race), June 6, Winner: Billy Boat
New Hampshire, June 28, Winner: Tony Stewart
Dover, July 19, Winner: Scott Sharp
Charlotte, July 25, Winner: Kenny Brack
Pikes Peak, August 16, Winner: Kenny Brack coasts in to win a fuel-economy run
Atlanta, August 29, Winner: Kenny Brack
Texas (second race), September 20, Winner: John Paul Jr. scores his second Indy-style win 15 years after hsi first one
Las Vegas, October 10, Winner: Arie Luyendyk goes out in style
Final Season Points

1997

This was the "odyssey" season. It came about when the IRL decided in September 1996 (after the season had already started) to switch to a calendar-year season. To avoid a two-race season, a decision was made to add the 1996 New Hampshire and Las Vegas races to the 1997 season, resulting in a 16-month season.

1997 Season Champion: Tony Stewart

Races:
-- old cars --
New Hampshire, August 18 '96, Winner: Scott Sharp
Las Vegas, September 15 '96, Winner: Ritchie Hearn
-- new cars --
Disney World, January 25, Winner: Eddie Cheever
Phoenix, March 23, Winner: Jim Guthrie
Indianapolis 500, May 25, Winner: Arie Luyendyk
Texas, June 7, Winner: Arie Luyendyk
Pikes Peak, June 29, Winner: Tony Stewart
Charlotte, July 26, Winner: Buddy Lazier
New Hampshire, August 17, Winner: Robbie Buhl
Las Vegas, October 11, Winner: Eliseo Salazar
Final Season Points

1996

This was the IRL's initial season. It was a short season because it was run under the IRL's original season concept where the Indy 500 would mark the end of each season.

1996 Season Champion: Buzz Calkins and Scott Sharp (co-champions)

Races:
Disney World, January 20, Winner: Buzz Calkins
Phoenix, March 24, Winner: Arie Luyendyk
Indianapolis 500, May 26, Winner: Buddy Lazier
Final Season Points