1998 Indy Racing League
The 1998 Pep Boys Indy Racing League was one of relative stability compared to the previous two seasons. For the first time the season consisted of a single and complete spring, summer, and fall like all other forms of motorsport. 15 drivers completed the entire 11 race schedule, twice as many as the previous season. It was also the first complete season for the new Riley & Scott chassis, though it proved unpopular due to its late introduction. A. J. Foyt Enterprises drivers captured 4 wins, the Indy 500 pole, and the championship, arguably the most successful year in the team's history.
| 1998 Indy Racing League season | |
|---|---|
| Pep Boys Indy Racing League | |
 1998 Indy Racing League | |
| Season | |
| Races | 11 |
| Start date | January 24 |
| End date | October 11 |
| Awards | |
| Drivers' champion |  Kenny Bräck |
| Manufacturers' Cup |  Oldsmobile |
| Rookie of the Year | Robby Unser |
| Indianapolis 500 winner | Eddie Cheever |
Confirmed entries
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Season summary
Schedule
| Rnd | Date | Race Name | Track | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 24 | Indy 200 at Walt Disney World | Walt Disney World Speedway | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 2 | March 22 | Dura Lube 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, Arizona |
| 3 | May 24 | 82nd Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, Indiana |
| 4 | June 6 | True Value 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 5 | June 28 | New England 200 | New Hampshire International Speedway | Loudon, New Hampshire |
| 6 | July 19 | Pep Boys 400K | Dover International Speedway | Dover, Delaware |
| 7 | July 25 | VisionAire 500K | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, North Carolina |
| 8 | August 16 | Radisson 200 | Pikes Peak International Raceway | Fountain, Colorado |
| 9 | August 29 | Atlanta 500 Classic | Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, Georgia |
| 10 | September 20 | Lone Star 500 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 11 | October 11 | Las Vegas 500K | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, Nevada |
All races running on Oval/Speedway.
The eight races that were held in calendar year 1997 returned in 1998, with the addition of three new races. As part of their effort to venture in traditional stock-car markets, the IRL held the second Indy-car race ever, the first since 1969, at Dover International Speedway, and also competed at the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, which had been raced eight times by Indy-cars in its former shape between 1965 and 1983. A second race at Texas Motor Speedway in the fall completed the calendar.
Race results
Indy 200
The Indy 200 was held on January 24 at Walt Disney World Speedway. Qualifying was rained out, so Tony Stewart won the pole position due to the race being lined up by 1996–97 entrant standings for the first 20 positions and the remaining eight came from the best practice speeds of the remaining cars.
Top 10 results
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stéphan Grégoire
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 10- Mike Groff
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 18- John Paul Jr.
- Failed to qualify: 24-Billy Roe, 27-John Hollansworth Jr. , 41-Affonso Giaffone and 53-Jim Guthrie
Dura-Lube 200
The Dura-Lube 200 was held on March 22 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jeff Ward qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 11- Billy Boat
- 77- Stéphan Grégoire
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 30- Raul Boesel
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- Failed to qualify: 19-Stan Wattles, 27-Robbie Groff, 40-Jack Miller and 53-Jim Guthrie
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500 was held on May 24 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top ten results
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 55- Steve Knapp
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 52- Robby Unser
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 81- John Paul Jr.
- 17- Andy Michner
- 44- J. J. Yeley
- 12- Buzz Calkins
- Failed to qualify: 10-Brian Tyler, 10, 20, 29-Joe Gosek, 15, 19-Eliseo Salazar, 20-Tyce Carlson, 23-Paul Durant, 24-Dan Drinan, 27-Claude Bourbonnais, 54-Hideshi Matsuda, 66-Scott Harrington, 68-Jaques Lazier, 81-Danny Ongais and 90-Lyn St. James
- Cheever became the first owner/driver to win the Indianapolis 500 since A. J. Foyt in 1977.
- Cheever, whose team was unsponsored prior to this race, planned to shut down his team after the race. However, he and teammate Robby Unser received sponsorship from Rachel's Gourmet Potato Chips. This, combined with Cheever's victory, kept the team open the rest of the season.
- Because St. James failed to qualify, the starting lineup consisted of only men for the first time since 1991.
- On the first lap, Yeley spun out and collected Cheever. Both recovered to finish in the top 10.
- Bräck ran out of fuel while leading. As a result, owner Foyt threw the laptop computer that said that Bräck had enough fuel in anger.
True Value 500
The True Value 500 was held June 6 at Texas Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 11- Billy Boat
- 97- Greg Ray
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 16- Marco Greco
- 52- Robby Unser
- 19- Stan Wattles
- Failed to qualify: 7-Jimmy Kite, 10-Mike Groff, 18-Jack Hewitt, 20-Tyce Carlson, 23-Paul Durant and 29-Joe Gosek
- Boat's only IndyCar win. He had been declared the winner at Texas the previous year, but a scoring error was discovered that resulted in Arie Luyendyk getting the win.
- John Paul Jr. replaced Groff at Byrd-Cunningham Racing for the remainder of the season.
New England 200
The New England 200 was held on June 28 at New Hampshire International Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top ten results
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 15- Eliseo Salazar
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 28- Mark Dismore
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- Stewart's final IndyCar win.
- Boat was involved in a large crash lap 95 and missed the next two races.
- Team owner John Menard Jr. believed that A. J. Foyt Enterprises was cheating and withdrew his car driven by Robbie Buhl from the next two races. His other car, driven by Stewart, was not withdrawn as it was leading the point standings.
Pep Boys 400K
The Pep Boys 400K was held on July 19 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 8- Scott Sharp
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 16- Marco Greco
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stephan Gregoire
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 23- Jim Guthrie
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- Failed to qualify: 15-Eliseo Salazar
- Greg Ray replaced the injured Billy Boat. He started 7th, but crashed with Eddie Cheever on lap 104 and finished 15th.
- Only 10 of the 22 starters were running at the finish.
VisionAire 500K
The VisionAire 500K was held on July 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Tony Stewart qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 4- Scott Goodyear
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 16- Marco Greco
- 10- John Paul Jr.
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 77- Stéphan Grégoire
- 40- Jack Miller
- 21- Stevie Reeves
- Bräck's first IndyCar win.
Radisson 200
The Radisson 200 was held August 16 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 1- Tony Stewart
- 77- Stéphan Grégoire
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 16- Marco Greco
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 11- Billy Boat
- 98- Donnie Beechler
- Boat returned in this race. He qualified on the pole position and finished 9th, one lap down.
- Buhl also returned in this race, finishing 2nd after starting 6th.
Atlanta 500 Classic
The Atlanta 500 Classic was held on August 29 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
Lone Star 500
The Lone Star 500 was held on September 20 at Texas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 10- John Paul Jr.
- 52- Robby Unser
- 35- Jeff Ward
- 23- Roberto Guerrero
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 19- Stan Wattles
- 6- Davey Hamilton
- 28- Mark Dismore
- Paul's second and final IndyCar win. 16 years earlier, he won the 1983 Michigan 500 at Michigan International Speedway.
- Entering the season finale, Bräck led Hamilton by 31 points and Tony Stewart by 41 points.
Las Vegas 500K
The Las Vegas 500K was held on October 11 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Billy Boat qualified on the pole position.
Top 10 results
- 5- Arie Luyendyk
- 99- Sam Schmidt
- 91- Buddy Lazier
- 10- John Paul Jr.
- 51- Eddie Cheever
- 81- Brian Tyler
- 3- Robbie Buhl
- 16- Marco Greco
- 18- Steve Knapp
- 14- Kenny Bräck
- Luyendyk's final IndyCar win. It would also be his final season as a full-time driver, as he would choose to go into semi-retirement in 1999.
- Of the championship contenders, Tony Stewart started 2nd, but spun on lap seven and finished 14th (30 laps down), Davey Hamilton was involved in a crash with Roberto Guerrero on lap 130, finishing 19th. Bräck cruised the rest of the way to finish 10th, six laps down, enough to win the championship.
Driver 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.
Additional points were awarded to the pole winner (3 points), the second best qualifier (2 points), the third best qualifier (1 point) and to the driver leading the most laps (2 point).
Notes:
Orlando: No additional points for the qualifying were awarded due to rain; starting grid were determined by 1996–97 entrant points for the first 20 positions and the remaining eight went to top practice times from Thursday.
Phoenix: Scott Sharp had 7 points deduction, because his car failed the post-race fuel capacity inspection.
Pikes Peak: Tony Stewart and Robbie Buhl had 15 points deduction each, because the rear wings of both Team Menard cars were found to be in violation of technical specifications.
See also
Footnotes
- Injured at New Hampshire.
- Used from Atlanta onwards.
- Initially replaced by Brian Tyler on Bump Day for the Indy 500, before Tyler relinquished the seat after practising.
- Joe Gosek passed his Indianapolis rookie test in the car.
- Used from Charlotte onwards.
- Used at Phoenix, Indianapolis and Pikes Peak.
- Signed after being injured at the Indy 500 while driving for ISM Racing.
- Used at New Hampshire, Charlotte, Atlanta and Texas 2.
- Not considered rookie for the Indy 500.
- Considered rookie only for the Indy 500.
- Used at Charlotte, and from Atlanta onwards.
- Injured at Dover.
- Injured in a practice crash at Dover.
- Injured in a NASCAR Busch Series test at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- Used by J. J. Yeley at Phoenix and Indianapolis.
- Used by Eddie Cheever. Robby Unser used it at Indianapolis and New Hampshire.
- Used at Walt Disney World. Tony Stewart used it at Phoenix and Dover.
- He replaced Danny Ongais, who got injured in a practice crash.
- Used at Las Vegas.