2002 Indy Racing League

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.

2002 Indy Racing League season
Indy Racing League
2002 Indy Racing League
Season
Races15
Start dateMarch 2
End dateSeptember 15
Awards
Drivers' championUnited States Sam Hornish Jr.
Manufacturers' CupUnited States Chevrolet
Rookie of the YearFrance Laurent Rédon
Indianapolis 500 winnerBrazil Hélio Castroneves
Sam Hornish Jr. (left) won his second Drivers' Championship (second straight title) while Hélio Castroneves (right) finished second in the championship.

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.

Confirmed entries
Team Chassis Engine # Drivers Rounds
United States Team Menard Dallara Chevrolet 2 United States Jaques Lazier 1–4
United States P. J. Jones[N 1] 5
Brazil Raul Boesel 5–6
United States Mark Dismore 7–11
Brazil Vítor Meira  R  12–15
31 United States Robby Gordon 5
United States Marlboro Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet 3 Brazil Hélio Castroneves All
6 Brazil Gil de Ferran 1–14
Italy Max Papis 15
United States Panther Racing Dallara Chevrolet 4 United States Sam Hornish Jr. All
15 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon  R  14–15
United States Treadway Racing G-Force
Dallara[N 2]		 Chevrolet 5 United States Rick Treadway  R  5
55 1–4, 6, 9
Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 5, 11
United States Anthony Lazzaro  R  7
United States Will Langhorne  R  12, 14–15
United States Robby McGehee 13
United States Kelley Racing Dallara Chevrolet 7 United States Al Unser Jr. 1–9, 12–15
United States Tony Renna  R  10–11
78 12–15
8 United States Scott Sharp All
United States Target Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force Chevrolet 9 United States Jeff Ward All
22 Sweden Kenny Bräck 5
33 Brazil Bruno Junqueira 5
United States Cahill Racing Dallara Chevrolet 10 United States Robby McGehee 1–5
United States A. J. Foyt Enterprises Dallara Chevrolet 11 Chile Eliseo Salazar 1–3, 10–15
United States Richie Hearn 4
United States Greg Ray 5–9
14 Brazil Airton Daré All
United States Donnie Beechler[N 3] 1
41 5
United States Greg Ray 10–13
United States Bradley Motorsports Dallara Infiniti 12 Japan Shigeaki Hattori 2–7
Brazil Raul Boesel 9–15
67 United States Rick Treadway  R  15
United States Walker Racing Dallara Chevrolet 15 Spain Oriol Servià 5
United States Racing Professionals G-Force
Dallara[N 4]		 Chevrolet 16 United States Jon Herb 1–8
United States Mo Nunn Racing G-Force Chevrolet 17 Brazil Tony Kanaan 5
21 Brazil Felipe Giaffone All
United States PDM Racing Dallara Chevrolet 18 United States Tyce Carlson 1–2
United States Jeret Schroeder 3
Australia John de Vries  R  6
United States Cory Kruseman  R  15
99 United States Anthony Lazzaro  R [N 5] 5
United States Jimmy Kite 5
United States Team Rahal Dallara Chevrolet 19 United States Jimmy Vasser 3, 5
United States Convergent Racing G-Force Chevrolet 20 Japan Hideki Noda  R  1–3
United States Sam Schmidt Motorsports Dallara Chevrolet 20 United States Richie Hearn 5, 7–12
United States Greg Ray 14–15
United States Anthony Lazzaro  R  13
99 1–2, 4
United States Richie Hearn 3, 6
United States Mark Dismore 5
United States Dreyer & Reinbold Racing G-Force Infiniti 24 United States Robbie Buhl 1–2, 5–15
United States Memo Gidley 3
United States Sarah Fisher 4
23 5, 8–15
United States Team Green Dallara Chevrolet 26 Canada Paul Tracy 5
27 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti 5
39 United States Michael Andretti 5
United States Indy Regency Racing G-Force Chevrolet 28 Japan Hideki Noda  R  13–15
United States 310 Racing G-Force Chevrolet 31 United States George Mack  R  All
United States Duesenberg Brothers Racing
United States CURB/Agajanian/Beck Motorsports		 Dallara Chevrolet 32 United Kingdom Johnny Herbert[N 6] 5
United States Memo Gidley 5
54 United States Robby McGehee 7–9
United States Conquest Racing Dallara Infiniti 34 France Laurent Redon  R  All
United States Brayton Racing Dallara Chevrolet 37 Australia John de Vries  R [N 7] 1–5
United States Scott Harrington 5, 11
United States Blair Racing Dallara Chevrolet 44 United States Alex Barron All
United States Red Bull Cheever Racing Dallara Infiniti 51 United States Eddie Cheever All
52 South Africa Tomas Scheckter  R  1–12
United States Buddy Rice  R  13–15
53 11–12
Italy Max Papis 5
United States Robby McGehee 15
United States Zali Racing G-Force Chevrolet 81 United States Billy Roe 1, 5
United States Hemelgarn Racing Dallara Chevrolet 91 United States Buddy Lazier All
United States CURB/Agajanian/Boat Indy Racing Dallara Chevrolet
Infiniti[N 8]		 98 United States Billy Boat All

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 United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Jeff Ward United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Sam Hornish Jr.
2 Phoenix Brazil Hélio Castroneves United States Robbie Buhl United States Sam Hornish Jr. Brazil Hélio Castroneves
3 Fontana United States Eddie Cheever South Africa Tomas Scheckter United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Sam Hornish Jr.
4 Nazareth Brazil Gil de Ferran South Africa Tomas Scheckter Brazil Gil de Ferran United States Scott Sharp
5 Indianapolis Brazil Bruno Junqueira South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter Brazil Hélio Castroneves
6 Texas 1 South Africa Tomas Scheckter United States Eddie Cheever South Africa Tomas Scheckter United States Jeff Ward
7 Pikes Peak Brazil Gil de Ferran Brazil Felipe Giaffone Brazil Gil de Ferran Brazil Gil de Ferran
8 Richmond Brazil Gil de Ferran United States Buddy Lazier Brazil Gil de Ferran United States Sam Hornish Jr.
9 Kansas South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter Brazil Airton Daré
10 Nashville United States Billy Boat South Africa Tomas Scheckter United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Alex Barron
11 Michigan South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter South Africa Tomas Scheckter
12 Kentucky United States Sarah Fisher South Africa Tomas Scheckter Brazil Felipe Giaffone Brazil Felipe Giaffone
13 Gateway Brazil Gil de Ferran United States Sam Hornish Jr. Brazil Hélio Castroneves Brazil Gil de Ferran
14 Chicagoland United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Buddy Rice United States Sam Hornish Jr. United States Sam Hornish Jr.
15 Texas 2 Brazil Vítor Meira United States Buddy Rice Brazil Hélio Castroneves United States Sam Hornish Jr.

BOLD indicates a Superspeedway. Note: All races running on Oval/Speedway.

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.

Final points standings
Further information: List of American Championship car racing point scoring systems
Pos Driver HOM
 PHX
 CAL
 NAZ
 INDY
 TXS
 PIK
 RIR
 KAN
 NSH
 MIS
 KTY
 GAT
CHI
 TXS
 Pts
1 United States Sam Hornish Jr. 1* 3* 1* 17 25 18 3 1 2 3* 7 2 5 1* 1 531
2 Brazil Hélio Castroneves 3 1 5 5 1 4 2 17 3 9 6 5 2* 4 2* 511
3 Brazil Gil de Ferran 2 2 4 3* 10 16 1* 2* 5 2 5 21 1 23 443
4 Brazil Felipe Giaffone 7 19 6 2 3 5 4 3 4 7 3 1* 21 6 17 432
5 United States Alex Barron 8 23 12 6 4 10 10 10 8 1 12 9 3 12 5 366
6 United States Scott Sharp 20 16 8 1 27 14 5 21 6 8 9 4 18 7 4 332
7 United States Al Unser Jr. 19 5 11 12 12 2 6 5 17 6 7 2 20 311
8 United States Buddy Lazier 22 7 7 23 15 8 15 18 7 12 13 3 15 3 7 305
9 Brazil Airton Daré 10 12 13 11 13 3 9 6 1 17 23 23 11 16 12 304
10 United States Eddie Cheever 25 15 20 7 5 19 8 14 16 6 22 11 10 5 8 280
11 United States Jeff Ward 4 18 10 19 9 1 20 8 12 11 25 16 13 21 25 268
12 France Laurent Redon  RY  15 14 3 15 22 15 7 15 22 16 11 20 22 25 10 229
13 United States Billy Boat 16 8 18 8 18 7 14 22 9 14 14 19 23 19 24 225
14 South Africa Tomas Scheckter  R  6 24 24 21 26* 17* 16 4 15* 13 1* 22 210
15 United States Richie Hearn 14 14 6 9 12 7 10 4 10 24 204
16 United States George Mack  R  13 20 16 18 17 21 13 20 18 15 20 17 16 14 28 184
17 United States Robbie Buhl 12 13 Wth 16 20 23 13 21 21 24 10 6 20 18 177
18 United States Sarah Fisher 4 24 16 14 22 8 8 20 22 11 161
19 Brazil Raul Boesel 21 13 11 5 15 13 8 11 22 158
20 Chile Eliseo Salazar 5 4 15 19 19 14 14 18 16 157
21 United States Robby McGehee 14 21 17 13 DNQ 17 9 13 12 13 142
22 United States Buddy Rice  R  2 12 4 9 6 140
23 United States Greg Ray 33 12 18 12 19 20 17 25 19 17 14 128
24 United States Tony Renna  R  10 4 7 24 15 9 121
25 Brazil Vítor Meira  R  15 9 8 3 96
26 United States Jaques Lazier 18 6 2 20 90
27 Japan Shigeaki Hattori 25 26 10 20 6 19 78
28 United States Rick Treadway  R  24 9 22 16 29 23 23 19 76
29 United States Mark Dismore 32 11 11 20 18 18 73
30 United States Anthony Lazzaro  R  9 17 9 Wth 22 DNS 70
31 United States Jon Herb DNS 11 19 22 DNQ 22 21 19 70
32 Japan Hideki Noda  R  23 10 25 17 24 27 54
33 Australia John de Vries  R  17 22 23 DNS Wth 11 53
34 Canada Paul Tracy 2 40
35 United States Will Langhorne  R  18 13 23 36
36 United Kingdom Dan Wheldon  R  10 15 35
37 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 14 16 30
38 United States Michael Andretti 7 26
39 United States Robby Gordon 8 24
40 United States Jimmy Vasser 9 30 23
41 United States Tyce Carlson 11 Wth 23
42 Sweden Kenny Bräck 11 19
43 Italy Max Papis 23 21 16
44 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti 19 11
45 United States Billy Roe 21 DNQ 9
46 United States Memo Gidley 21 DNQ 9
47 United States Scott Harrington DNQ 21 9
48 United States Cory Kruseman  R  26 4
49 United States Jeret Schroeder 27 3
50 Brazil Tony Kanaan 28 2
51 Brazil Bruno Junqueira 31 1
– United States Donnie Beechler Wth DNQ 0
– United States Jimmy Kite DNQ 0
– Spain Oriol Servià DNQ 0
– United States Scott Mayer DNS 0
– United Kingdom Johnny Herbert Wth 0
– United States P. J. Jones Wth 0
Pos Driver HOM
 PHX
 CAL
 NAZ
 INDY
 TXS
 PIK
 RIR
 KAN
 NSH
 MIS
 KTY
 GAT
CHI
 TXS
 Pts
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th & 5th place
Light Blue 6th–10th place
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 10)
Purple Did not finish
(Ret)
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
(2 points)
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
(1 point)
DNS Any driver who qualifies
but does not start (DNS),
earns all the points
had 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
  1. Injured during a practice crash at Indianapolis.
  2. Used by Anthony Lazzaro at Pikes Peak; entry run in cooperation with Sam Schmidt Motorsports.
  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.
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