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2002 Indy Racing League
Sports season

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. The season was also notable for seeing six drivers win their first career Indy Racing League races.

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Confirmed entries

TeamChassisEngine#DriversRounds
Team MenardDallaraChevrolet2 Jaques Lazier1–4
P. J. Jones15
Raul Boesel5–6
Mark Dismore7–11
Vítor Meira  R 12–15
31 Robby Gordon5
Marlboro Team PenskeDallaraChevrolet3 Hélio CastronevesAll
6 Gil de Ferran1–14
Max Papis15
Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet4 Sam Hornish Jr.All
15 Dan Wheldon  R 14–15
Treadway RacingG-ForceDallara2Chevrolet5 Rick Treadway  R 5
551–4, 6, 9
Arie Luyendyk5, 11
Anthony Lazzaro  R 7
Will Langhorne  R 12, 14–15
Robby McGehee13
Kelley RacingDallaraChevrolet7 Al Unser Jr.1–9, 12–15
Tony Renna  R 10–11
7812–15
8 Scott SharpAll
Target Chip Ganassi RacingG-ForceChevrolet9 Jeff WardAll
22 Kenny Bräck5
33 Bruno Junqueira5
Cahill RacingDallaraChevrolet10 Robby McGehee1–5
A. J. Foyt EnterprisesDallaraChevrolet11 Eliseo Salazar1–3, 10–15
Richie Hearn4
Greg Ray5–9
14 Airton DaréAll
Donnie Beechler31
415
Greg Ray10–13
Bradley MotorsportsDallaraInfiniti12 Shigeaki Hattori2–7
Raul Boesel9–15
67 Rick Treadway  R 15
Walker RacingDallaraChevrolet15 Oriol Servià5
Racing ProfessionalsG-Force Dallara4Chevrolet16 Jon Herb1–8
Mo Nunn RacingG-ForceChevrolet17 Tony Kanaan5
21 Felipe GiaffoneAll
PDM RacingDallaraChevrolet18 Tyce Carlson1–2
Jeret Schroeder3
John de Vries  R 6
Scott Mayer  R 14
Cory Kruseman  R 15
99 Anthony Lazzaro  R 55
Jimmy Kite5
Team RahalDallaraChevrolet19 Jimmy Vasser3, 5
Convergent RacingG-ForceChevrolet20 Hideki Noda  R 1–3
Sam Schmidt MotorsportsDallaraChevrolet20 Richie Hearn5, 7–12
Greg Ray14–15
Anthony Lazzaro  R 13
991–2, 4
Richie Hearn3, 6
Mark Dismore5
Dreyer & Reinbold RacingG-ForceInfiniti24 Robbie Buhl1–3, 5–15
Memo Gidley3
Sarah Fisher4
235, 8–15
Team GreenDallaraChevrolet26 Paul Tracy5
27 Dario Franchitti5
39 Michael Andretti5
Indy Regency RacingG-ForceChevrolet28 Hideki Noda  R 13–15
310 RacingG-ForceChevrolet31 George Mack  R All
Duesenberg Brothers Racing CURB/Agajanian/Beck MotorsportsDallaraChevrolet32 Johnny Herbert65
Memo Gidley5
54 Robby McGehee7–9
Conquest RacingDallaraInfiniti34 Laurent Redon  R All
Brayton RacingDallaraChevrolet37 John de Vries  R 71–5
Scott Harrington5, 11
Blair RacingDallaraChevrolet44 Alex BarronAll
Red Bull Cheever RacingDallaraInfiniti51 Eddie CheeverAll
52 Tomas Scheckter  R 1–12
Buddy Rice  R 13–15
5311–12
Max Papis5
Robby McGehee15
Zali RacingG-ForceChevrolet81 Billy Roe1, 5
Hemelgarn RacingDallaraChevrolet91 Buddy LazierAll
CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy RacingDallaraChevrolet Infiniti898 Billy BoatAll

Schedule

RndRace NameTrackCityLocation
1Grand Prix of MiamiHomestead-Miami SpeedwayHomestead, FloridaMarch 2
2Bombardier ATV 200Phoenix International RacewayPhoenix, ArizonaMarch 17
3Yamaha Indy 400California SpeedwayFontana, CaliforniaMarch 24
4Firestone Indy 225Nazareth SpeedwayNazareth, PennsylvaniaApril 21
586th Indianapolis 500Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway, IndianaMay 26
6Boomtown 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasJune 8
7Radisson Indy 225Pikes Peak International RacewayFountain, ColoradoJune 16
8SunTrust Indy ChallengeRichmond International RacewayRichmond, VirginiaJune 29
9Ameristar Casino Indy 200Kansas SpeedwayKansas City, KansasJuly 7
10Firestone Indy 200Nashville SuperspeedwayLebanon, TennesseeJuly 20
11Michigan Indy 400Michigan International SpeedwayBrooklyn, MichiganJuly 28
12Belterra Casino Indy 300Kentucky SpeedwaySparta, KentuckyAugust 11
13Gateway Indy 250Gateway International RacewayMadison, IllinoisAugust 25
14Delphi Indy 300Chicagoland SpeedwayJoliet, IllinoisSeptember 8
15Chevy 500Texas Motor SpeedwayFort Worth, TexasSeptember 15
Sources:910

Results

Rd.RacePole positionFastest lapMost laps ledRace winner
DriverTeamChassisEngine
1Homestead Sam Hornish Jr. Jeff Ward Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet
2Phoenix Hélio Castroneves Robbie Buhl Sam Hornish Jr. Hélio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet
3Fontana Eddie Cheever Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet
4Nazareth Gil de Ferran Tomas Scheckter Gil de Ferran Scott SharpKelley RacingDallaraChevrolet
5Indianapolis Bruno Junqueira Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Hélio CastronevesTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet
6Texas 1 Tomas Scheckter Eddie Cheever Tomas Scheckter Jeff WardChip Ganassi RacingG-ForceChevrolet
7Pikes Peak Gil de Ferran Felipe Giaffone Gil de Ferran Gil de FerranTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet
8Richmond Gil de Ferran Buddy Lazier Gil de Ferran Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet
9Kansas Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Airton DaréA. J. Foyt EnterprisesDallaraChevrolet
10Nashville Billy Boat Tomas Scheckter Sam Hornish Jr. Alex BarronBlair RacingDallaraChevrolet
11Michigan Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas Scheckter Tomas ScheckterCheever RacingDallaraInfiniti
12Kentucky Sarah Fisher Tomas Scheckter Felipe Giaffone Felipe GiaffoneMo Nunn RacingG-ForceChevrolet
13Gateway Gil de Ferran Sam Hornish Jr. Hélio Castroneves Gil de FerranTeam PenskeDallaraChevrolet
14Chicagoland Sam Hornish Jr. Buddy Rice Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet
15Texas 2 Vítor Meira Buddy Rice Hélio Castroneves Sam Hornish Jr.Panther RacingDallaraChevrolet

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. The race was dominated by Sam Hornish Jr. who at one point had a lap on the entire field. On lap 193 of 200, while Hornish was leading by more than 20 seconds, fourth placed Robbie Buhl's engine expired, bringing out the yellow and packing up the field. The green came back out on Lap 197, but Airton Dare crashed immediately in turn 2 on the restart. The race finished under yellow, with Hornish on the top step of the podium. Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves were second and third respectively, for Team Penske in their first race of their first full season in the IRL.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  4. 9- Jeff Ward
  5. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  6. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  8. 44- Alex Barron
  9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
  10. 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

  1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 11- Eliseo Salazar
  5. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  6. 2- Jaques Lazier
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 98- Billy Boat
  9. 55- Rick Treadway
  10. 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

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 2- Jaques Lazier
  3. 34- Laurent Rédon
  4. 6- Gil de Ferran
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 8- Scott Sharp
  9. 19- Jimmy Vasser
  10. 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

  1. 8- Scott Sharp
  2. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  3. 6- Gil de Ferran
  4. 24- Sarah Fisher
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 44- Alex Barron
  7. 51- Eddie Cheever
  8. 98- Billy Boat
  9. 99- Anthony Lazzaro
  10. 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 and declared Castroneves the winner.

Top ten results

  1. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  2. 26- Paul Tracy
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 44- Alex Barron
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 20- Richie Hearn
  7. 39- Michael Andretti
  8. 31- Robby Gordon
  9. 9- Jeff Ward
  10. 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

  1. 9- Jeff Ward
  2. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  3. 14- Airton Daré
  4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  5. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  6. 12- Shigeaki Hattori
  7. 98- Billy Boat
  8. 91- Buddy Lazier
  9. 99- Richie Hearn
  10. 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

  1. 6- Gil de Ferran
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  5. 8- Scott Sharp
  6. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  7. 34- Laurent Rédon
  8. 51- Eddie Cheever
  9. 14- Airton Daré
  10. 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

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  5. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  6. 14- Airton Daré
  7. 20- Richie Hearn
  8. 9- Jeff Ward
  9. 54- Robby McGehee
  10. 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

  1. 14- Airton Daré
  2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  3. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  4. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  5. 6- Gil de Ferran
  6. 8- Scott Sharp
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 44-Alex Barron
  9. 98- Billy Boat
  10. 20- Richie Hearn

Firestone Indy 200

This race was held on July 20 at Nashville Superspeedway. Billy Boat won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 44- Alex Barron
  2. 6- Gil de Ferran
  3. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  4. 20- Richie Hearn
  5. 12- Raul Boesel
  6. 51- Eddie Cheever
  7. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  8. 8- Scott Sharp
  9. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  10. 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

  1. 52- Tomas Scheckter
  2. 53- Buddy Rice
  3. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  4. 7- Tony Renna
  5. 6- Gil de Ferran
  6. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  7. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  8. 23- Sarah Fisher
  9. 8- Scott Sharp
  10. 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

  1. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  2. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  3. 91- Buddy Lazier
  4. 8- Scott Sharp
  5. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  6. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  7. 78- Tony Renna
  8. 23- Sarah Fisher
  9. 44- Alex Barron
  10. 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

  1. 6- Gil de Ferran
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 44- Alex Barron
  4. 52- Buddy Rice
  5. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  6. 24- Robbie Buhl
  7. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  8. 12- Raul Boesel
  9. 2- Vítor Meira
  10. 51- Eddie Cheever

Delphi Indy 300

Main article: 2002 Delphi Indy 300

This race was held on September 8 at Chicagoland Speedway. Sam Hornish Jr. won the pole.

Top ten results

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.
  2. 7- Al Unser Jr.
  3. 91- Buddy Lazier
  4. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  5. 51- Eddie Cheever
  6. 21- Felipe Giaffone
  7. 8- Scott Sharp
  8. 2- Vítor Meira
  9. 52- Buddy Rice
  10. 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

  1. 4- Sam Hornish Jr.**
  2. 3- Hélio Castroneves
  3. 2- Vítor Meira
  4. 8- Scott Sharp
  5. 44- Alex Barron
  6. 52- Buddy Rice
  7. 91- Buddy Lazier
  8. 51- Eddie Cheever
  9. 78- Tony Renna
  10. 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.

Points standings

Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems

PosDriverHOMPHXCALNAZINDYTXSPIKRIRKANNSHMISKTYGAT CHITXSPts
1 Sam Hornish Jr.1*3*1*1725183123*7251*1531
2 Hélio Castroneves31551421739652*42*511
3 Gil de Ferran2243*10161*2*52521123443
4 Felipe Giaffone7196235434731*21617432
5 Alex Barron8231264101010811293125366
6 Scott Sharp201681271452168941874332
7 Al Unser Jr.1951112122651767220311
8 Buddy Lazier22772315815187121331537305
9 Airton Daré10121311133961172323111612304
10 Eddie Cheever251520751981416622111058280
11 Jeff Ward41810199120812112516132125268
12 Laurent Redon  RY 1514315221571522161120222510229
13 Billy Boat16818818714229141419231924225
14 Tomas Scheckter  R 624242126*17*16415*131*22210
15 Richie Hearn1414691271041024204
16 George Mack  R 132016181721132018152017161428184
17 Robbie Buhl1213Wth162023132121241062018177
18 Sarah Fisher42416142288202211161
19 Raul Boesel2113115151381122158
20 Eliseo Salazar5415191914141816157
21 Robby McGehee14211713DNQ179131213142
22 Buddy Rice  R 212496140
23 Greg Ray3312181219201725191714128
24 Tony Renna  R 104724159121
25 Vítor Meira  R 1598396
26 Jaques Lazier18622090
27 Shigeaki Hattori2526102061978
28 Rick Treadway  R 24922162923231976
29 Mark Dismore32111120181873
30 Anthony Lazzaro  R 9179Wth22DNS70
31 Jon HerbDNS111922DNQ22211970
32 Hideki Noda  R 23102517242754
33 John de Vries  R 172223DNSWth1153
34 Paul Tracy240
35 Will Langhorne  R 18132336
36 Dan Wheldon  R 101535
37 Arie Luyendyk141630
38 Michael Andretti726
39 Robby Gordon824
40 Jimmy Vasser93023
41 Tyce Carlson11Wth23
42 Kenny Bräck1119
43 Max Papis232116
44 Dario Franchitti1911
45 Billy Roe21DNQ9
46 Memo Gidley21DNQ9
47 Scott HarringtonDNQ219
48 Cory Kruseman  R 264
49 Jeret Schroeder273
50 Tony Kanaan282
51 Bruno Junqueira311
– Donnie BeechlerWthDNQ0
– Jimmy KiteDNQ0
– Oriol ServiàDNQ0
– Scott Mayer  R DNS0
– Johnny HerbertWth0
– P. J. JonesWth0
PosDriverHOMPHXCALNAZINDYTXSPIKRIRKANNSHMISKTYGAT CHITXSPts
ColorResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
Green4th & 5th place
Light Blue6th–10th place
Dark BlueFinished(Outside Top 10)
PurpleDid not finish(Ret)
RedDid not qualify(DNQ)
BrownWithdrawn(Wth)
BlackDisqualified(DSQ)
WhiteDid not start(DNS)
BlankDid notparticipate(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
BoldPole position(2 points)
ItalicsRan fastest race lap
*Led most race laps(1 point)
DNSAny driver who qualifiesbut does not start (DNS),earns all the pointshad they taken part.
 RY Rookie of the Year
 R Rookie
  • 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

Footnotes

References

  1. Injured during a practice crash at Indianapolis. ↩

  2. Used by Anthony Lazzaro at Pikes Peak; entry run in cooperation with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. /wiki/Anthony_Lazzaro_(racing_driver) ↩

  3. Injured during a practice crash at Homestead. ↩

  4. Raced from Texas onwards; both chassis were used during the Indy 500 month. ↩

  5. Replaced during the second week of Indy 500 practice. ↩

  6. Withdrew during Bump Day due to a racing conflict. ↩

  7. Replaced at Indianapolis ahead of Bump Day. ↩

  8. Used from Kansas onwards. ↩

  9. "NTT IndyCar Series Calendar 2002". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved November 17, 2023. https://motorsportstats.com/series/ntt-indycar-series/calendar/2002 ↩

  10. "Final Indy Racing League Leaders". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 26, 2002. p. 14D. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com . https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-final-indy-raci/135330808/ ↩